Catalyst Kitchens Works to End Joblessness Through Culinary Training

Toast.org and Catalyst Kitchens harness the power of people, products, and philanthropy to cultivate a diverse and thriving workforce of restaurant operators and employees.

Since 2022, Toast.org has proudly supported Catalyst Kitchens, a nationwide network of over 100 nonprofits and social enterprises. Spanning 39 states and all five regions in the U.S., members of Catalyst Kitchens empower individuals facing barriers to employment with culinary training programs, helping support economic mobility and stability. 

Each member organization has a unique model addressing the needs of the target population they serve, from the unhoused, to immigrants and refugees, to individuals coming out of incarceration, and more. Since its inception in 2011, Catalyst Kitchens has helped over 20,000 people secure employment.

After graduating, Henderson was offered a job as a line cook at Inspiration Kitchens. “Over the course of the 12 years that I was there, I was promoted to chef trainer and head chef. Within that time frame, I was able to go back to school, while still working full-time, and get my degree in culinary arts and hospitality management,” shared Henderson. About nine months ago, Henderson hung up her chef coat and made the move to working for Catalyst Kitchens’ national team, full-time. 

“Life-Changing” Prep with Restaurant Tech

Through Toast.org’s vendor partnership with Catalyst Kitchens, Toast provides donated and discounted hardware and software to many of the social enterprises within the network, including Inspiration Kitchens. The affordable pricing helps keep overhead costs low, promotes efficient operations, and gives program participants real-world experience with the Toast platform.

“When I was at Inspiration Kitchens, Toast hadn’t been truly implemented yet…We were still in the dinosaur age, using spreadsheets we’d update by hand. When I talk to my past coworkers who are still at Inspiration Kitchens, they say that using Toast and teaching the students on Toast has been life-changing,” shared Henderson. 

Through physically interacting with the technology, as opposed to video demos, Catalyst Kitchens participants gain comfort with the systems they’ll see in many restaurants before they head into job interviews. “They already have a leg up on some of their competition…it’s something you can give a nod to when you go in for an interview,” said Henderson.

Community Kitchen Pittsburgh participants using Toast technology.

Toast and Catalyst Kitchens Partner for Change

In addition to supporting Catalyst Kitchens through grant funding and access to product donations, Toast employees have also supported member organizations by volunteering locally—in commissary kitchens, reviewing resumes of trainees, providing product support, and serving as board and committee members.

“Volunteering at Café Reconcile has been one of the most inspiring parts of my journey with Toast.org,” shared Jenae Crain, Toast.org's Local Committee Chair in New Orleans. “The students radiate resilience and potential. Watching them grow into confident professionals through hospitality is both humbling and hopeful. It’s a privilege to support an organization that transforms lives through mentorship, community, and purpose-driven training,” Crain added. 

Catalyst Kitchens social enterprise members are also able to use Toast Fundraising to both educate their customers about their mission while generating additional revenue through donations provided at checkout. Emma's Torch, a culinary training program supporting new immigrants and refugees, uses Toast POS at its three cafes throughout Brooklyn, NY and Washington, D.C. Through the Toast Fundraising feature, they were able to raise approximately $45,000 in customer donations last year alone.

Additionally, recent grant funding provided by Toast.org has allowed Catalyst Kitchens to implement a Technical Assistance program, giving member organizations the opportunity to benefit from offerings such as member-to-member site visits, in-person workshops, staff visits, and more. This program will help build capacity and strengthen the strategy and operations of their members, leading to better outcomes for the communities they serve. 

Through Toast.org support, Catalyst Kitchens will provide travel stipends for over 80 Catalyst Kitchens members to attend the 2025 Catalyst Kitchens National Summit this August. The event is an opportunity for nonprofit leaders, social enterprises, and hunger relief organizations to gather to learn about best practices, emerging trends, and strategies to strengthen their programming. 

As the partnership with Catalyst Kitchens expands, Toast.org plans to help facilitate more connections between Toast employees and Catalyst Kitchens members, leveraging Toasters’ volunteer time to support the organization’s impactful work. 

“Everybody has something that they bring. Everybody has a success story that makes them who they are, and the reason why they’ve landed where they currently are in their journey,” said Henderson.

Samara Henderson is the Engagement & Communications Manager at Catalyst Kitchens. 

Learn more about Catalyst Kitchens on their website.

This information is provided for general informational purposes only, and publication does not constitute an endorsement. Toast does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of any information, text, graphics, links, or other items contained within this content.