Catalyst Kitchens tries to help all our members with as wide of an array of resources, advice, connections, and partnerships as possible.
We also recognize that sometimes, certain projects get more complicated than a few emails, events, or resources can help with. That is why, in 2025, Catalyst Kitchens launched a dedicated technical assistance portfolio as an addition to our existing member services. You can read more about the exact details in our Theory of Change, which was published at the end of 2024 and written with the help and feedback of our members and our board.
The graphics on this page give an idea of the ways in which we support members on these more complex projects. For members that raise their own funding, we can develop scopes of work to meet their specific needs and timelines. We also strive to raise funds to provide free or low-cost technical assistance for any member in need of help, such as in 2025 when we launched our first ever Technical Assistance RFP, giving away $50,000 of work to our members thanks to support from Toast.org.
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Virtual Technical Assistance: Small to medium-sized projects that can be carried out through zoom, email, document sharing, and other virtual pathways. This might include something like a review of curriculum, the creation of a business plan, the restructuring of an annual giving calendar, grantwriting help, or assistance with organizational restructuring.
Timeframe and Structure: 30-40 hours of staff time, and involving 5-8 meetings. All taking place over 1-3 months.
Member to Member Site Visit: Sometimes the best way to grow, launch, or improve what you do is to see it being done elsewhere. With this type of technical assistance, the Catalyst Kitchens team matches you with another member that we believe to be an excellent example from which you can learn. Often this may be a model member, or another organization operating an exemplary program, type of kitchen operation, or possessing other relevant expertise.
Timeframe and Structure: 8-10 hours of setup and design, 2-day in-person site visit, 4-6 hours of debrief and resource capture. All taking place over 2-3 months.
In-Person Workshops: Currently including our Train the Trainer series aimed at frontline staff in program and operations roles, Catalyst Kitchens workshops aim to create immersive experiences at excellent member program locations around the country, and showcase the various ways our members approach teaching and preparing their students for careers. These workshops combine Catalyst Kitchens-developed content and resources with hands-on learning and examples from host staff and leadership of excellent practices in action. In 2025 and 2026, we plan to launch additional workshops that cover topics for the rest of our core audience – Kitchen Innovation workshops aimed at operations staff, Development workshops aimed at fundraisers, and Leadership workshops aimed at all those who manage a team or organizations.
Timeframe and Structure: 1-day, 8-10 hour workshop at member location.
Catalyst Kitchens National Staff Site Visit: For projects that need hands-on support, this option combines the advising and direct work of our national team, and the relevant expertise of a peer member. With this type of technical assistance, the Catalyst Kitchens team will work with you on your project, as well as bring in another member that we believe to be knowledgeable for your project. Often this may be a model member, or another organization operating an exemplary program, type of kitchen operation, or possessing other relevant expertise. The site visit can take place at that peer member, or the Catalyst team and the peer member may come to visit your location.
Timeframe and Structure: 10-15 hours of setup and design, 2-day in-person site visit, 10-20 hours of virtual engagement, debrief, and resource creation. All taking place over 3-4 months.
Multi-Program Accelerators: For projects where we can source a large amount of funding for a certain profile of work, type of enterprise, population served, or other clearly identifiable trend that need hands-on support, this option combines any and all of what is listed above to work with a group of member programs towards a common goal. With this type of technical assistance, the Catalyst Kitchens team will work with you on your project, as well as bring in a large group of other members to work collaboratively together in virtual and in-person environments. The work may take months or even years, and involve workshops, site visits, virtual engagements, member-to-member connections, and both member and outside partner expertise. Often it will involve funded travel, member hosts, and may overlap with existing events or other workshops.
Timeframe and Structure: between 6 months to 2 years of engagement, with specific timelines and goals built in coordination with participating members.
How to receive Technical Assistance with your organization?
Not a member? Join today!
Already a member? See the Technical Assistance page reserved for members only, which includes prices and links to any active RFP we may be running.