Beyond the Kitchen: Launching Chicago’s Newest Apprentices

Big News!

We have incredible news: Impact Culinary is officially a Licensed Apprenticeship program. For years, our students have come to The Hatchery to learn technical skills. Now, thanks to the leadership of Chef Matt, we are transitioning from a training program to a career-launching pipeline that offers our graduates a structured, year-long journey with guaranteed wage increases and increased job security.

Milestones like this don't happen - or grow - without support. Advanced education requires advanced tools and resources. With your help, we can enroll more apprentices and partner with more employers who are ready to hire and advance local talent.

The Impact Snapshot

$6,000,000+ in Community Wealth: Since 2019, our graduates have infused over $6M into the local economy through sustainable, high-quality wages.
85% Job Placement Rate: Nearly 9 out of 10 graduates transition directly into professional kitchens.
82% Graduation Success: Our "wrap-around" support model ensures our students have what they need to cross the finish line and start their careers.

How You Can Help

To step into these official roles, our students need to move from "trainee" gear to "professional" kits. We are looking for Founding Partners to ensure our next cohort of students has industry-standard tools to build confidence and strong results.

What This License Means

This is more than a new title. For our students, this means:

Scheduled Wage Increases: Apprentices benefit from a clear path to higher pay as they progress throughout their first year of employment.
Transferable Credentials: Their hard work earns them credits toward other professional journey-worker programs.
Employer Incentives: By becoming an apprenticeship site, we help our hiring partners access tax incentives that encourage them to retain our graduates long-term.

Help us build the next generation of culinary professionals. Make a gift today.

The Apprentice Launchpad