Matching Donor Challenge
GivingTuesday
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 is GivingTuesday, the collective exhale after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when the world pauses and pivots from “What can I get?” to “What can I give?“.
Our GivingTuesday Matching Donor Challenge starts now!
Community Support
Since 1983, when the Stratford Chefs School enrolled its first class of eager student chefs, community support has been an essential driving force behind our ongoing success, and we need your help now more than ever.
Growth and Challenges
Much growth has happened over the 40+ years since the School was founded; we built our own dedicated Professional Kitchens and Dining Room facility in downtown Stratford nine years ago, and paid off the loan to the City that helped us build it. The COVID pandemic and the years following have been a major hurdle, but things are starting to improve.
Our enrolment of new students for this year is up more than 75% compared to 2024-25! Having said that, overhead costs, marketing expenses, food costs and the number of culinary schools in Ontario have all skyrocketed, making it challenging for our non-profit School to compete.
Matching Donor Challenge
We are thrilled to announce that a generous private Donor (and Chefs School superfan!) has committed to match up to $10,000 of YOUR GivingTuesday donations dollar-for-dollar!
By meeting our Matching Donor Challenge goal, the School will raise $20,000 in much-needed support!
Why Donate?
Your generosity will help us attract and continue training the best chefs and culinary entrepreneurs who shape and enrich our community and the food world at large. We have ONE WEEK to meet our goal by the end of GivingTuesday, starting now!
EVERY DONATION HELPS
Shaping Canada’s Culinary Future
Our mission is to be the primary training and education source of choice for tomorrow’s culinary leaders, and to train our students with a culture code of excellence, innovation, collaboration, and respect.
Stratford Chefs School sets the Canadian standard for excellence in Professional Culinary Training, but is much more than a Culinary School! The skills and values our students learn serve them well in life and in a multitude of career paths.
Your support of our GivingTuesday Matching Donor Challenge is critical to sustain the School for this year, and years to come.
Fund A Need
Our greatest need for this year’s GivingTuesday campaign is MARKETING dollars!! In order to compete, the School needs to expand our recruitment marketing footprint to generate greater awareness of the School and continue to grow enrolment for 2026-27.
Marketing the School requires a large investment – both to produce compelling creative and to pay for advertising media. Competition in the culinary education space has vastly increased since 1983; when the School was first founded, marketing was not required. The School was one of the only Culinary Schools in the province, but today it is one of dozens. The need for substantial marketing dollars is today’s reality. We all know Stratford offers an exceptional Apprenticeship program, but resources are needed to shout out that message loud and clear, far and wide!
Help Us Fund A Need and Raise $10,000+
Other ways your tax deductible donations help the School:
“Your donations empower aspiring chefs with world-class training, mentorship, and hands-on experience. You’re helping shape the future of Canadian cuisine – one student, one dish, one dream at a time.”
Kim Cosgrove | Class of 2003
Executive Director, Stratford Chefs School
“Stratford Chefs School gave me the structure, discipline, and perspective I needed to grow as a cook and eventually as a leader. The program balanced technical training with critical thinking, which shaped how I approach food and the kitchen as a whole.
What stood out most was the exposure to guest chefs – learning directly from people working at the highest levels of the industry made the possibilities feel real and attainable.
Stratford didn’t just prepare me for my first job – it set the tone for my career. ”
Miles Pundsack-Poe | Class of 2009
Executive Chef, Dorsia Restaurant, Montreal
THANK YOU!
Your support makes the difference.
Learn More
Learn more about Sponsoring School Events and Dinners.
Learn more about our Enriched Cook Apprenticeship 32 week program.
Learn more about our Student Chef Dinners, Wine Classes and other events.
Do you have questions about our Program?
Contact us by email admin@stratfordchef.com or call 519.271.1414