Help Us Build a Bigger Future for Brewing & Distilling

The beer and spirits industry is changing. Growth isn't as easy or as obvious as it once was. But there's still plenty of opportunity ahead if we're willing to look in new places.

The Michael James Jackson Foundation is doing exactly that.

By funding technical education for brewers and distillers of color, we're helping bring new talent, new perspectives, and new energy into the industry. That means more people making great beer and spirits - and a stronger future for all of us.

But this work goes beyond production. It's about connection. Communities of color make up nearly half the U.S., and they represent a huge opportunity for our industry to grow - if we show up, engage, and invite them in.

That's how we move forward. Not by competing for the same audience, but by baking a bigger pie.

Join the 2026 Fundraising Drive

From now through the 2026 Craft Brewers Conference beginning on April 20, we're rallying the industry to support this work.

Your donation helps:

Fund scholarships and career pathways
Expand access and opportunity
Grow the culture and future of brewing and distilling

If you believe in where this industry can go next, join us.

Let's build it together.

What is the MJF?

The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling (MJF) is a grant-making 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that funds scholarship awards for technical education in brewing and distilling to Black, Indigenous, and people of color in the United States.

The program is open to candidates at the beginning of their careers as well as those looking to continue their education. The MJF awards present an opportunity for members and patrons of the brewing and distilling industries to directly fund a more just and dynamic future.

Fewer than 2% of brewhouse personnel in the United States are people of color. Meanwhile, people of color make up more than 40% of the U.S. population, many of whom are deeply passionate about the brewing and distilling arts. Technical brewing courses cost up to $27,000 and financing is a major barrier; the MJF is here to knock that barrier down. So far we have sent more than 20 brilliant people to brewing and distilling school in the past year. Let's keep it going!

The Michael James Jackson Foundation awards two named scholarships: the Sir Geoff Palmer Scholarship Award for Brewing and the Nathan Green Scholarship Award for Distilling.

The Sir Geoff Palmer Scholarship Award for Brewing funds the tuition and course materials for well-recognized practical courses in brewing science and technology. These include the courses offered by the Master Brewers Association of the Americas (MBAA), American Brewers Guild, UC Davis, The Siebel Institute of Technology, Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh) and others.

The Nearest Green Scholarship Award for Distilling will fund education in the science and technology of distillation. The award is named for Nathan “Nearest” Green, an African-American man now recognized as the first "head stiller" of the Jack Daniel's Distillery in the 1800s.

In addition to the financial awards, the scholarships will also pair grantees with an industry-specific mentor, who will provide hands-on coaching on professional development and career advancement.

About your tax-deductible donation: the proceeds from this campaign will be disbursed by The MJF. The organization, through its board committees, awards scholarship grants and makes direct payments to the educational institutions on behalf of the awardees.

2026 MJF Funding Campaign

Let's build the future of brewing & distilling together