NHSBBQA - Education Foundation

BBQ Education Foundation

Supporting Students. Empowering Teachers. Expanding Opportunity.

The BBQ Education Foundation is a mission-driven nonprofit organization established to expand educational access, equity, and opportunity for students participating in Career & Technical Education (CTE), applied learning, and workforce-ready programs connected to live-fire cooking, culinary arts, food science, agriculture, and skilled trades.

The BBQ Education Foundation supports students, teachers, and schools through scholarships, grants, and educational resources aligned with Career & Technical Education (CTE).

While the Foundation shares a common educational mission with the National High School BBQ Association®, it operates as a separate legal entity with its own board of directors and financial oversight.

The Foundation does not control NHSBBQA® programs, competitions, or governance.

Modeled after the foundations that support nationally recognized CTSOs, the BBQ Education Foundation exists to remove barriers for students and schools while strengthening education-based programs nationwide.

OUR PURPOSE

The purpose of the BBQ Education Foundation is to:

• Support student access to high-quality educational experiences

• Provide financial assistance and resources to schools and educators

• Fund scholarships, grants, and educational tools

• Advance workforce development and career pathways

• Promote safe, inclusive, and hands-on learning environments

The Foundation operates exclusively for educational and charitable purposes and does not operate competitions, curriculum, or leagues.

HOW THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS STUDENTS

The BBQ Education Foundation supports students by:

• Awarding student scholarships

• Providing equipment and program grants to schools

• Supporting teacher professional development

• Assisting schools with startup and sustainability funding

• Funding educational resources and safety initiatives

All support is provided in a way that respects:

• District policies

• Campus administration authority

• Teacher-led instruction

ALIGNMENT WITH NHSBBQA®

The Foundation is mission-aligned with the National High School BBQ Association (NHSBBQA®), which serves as the national educational league and program provider for high school and middle school barbecue and live-fire learning initiatives.

Clear Separation of Roles

NHSBBQA®	BBQ Education Foundation
Programs & competitions	Scholarships & grants
Curriculum & events	Financial assistance
School charters & licensing	Charitable fundraising
Governance & standards	Educational support

The Foundation does not govern, control, or manage NHSBBQA® programs, competitions, or operations.

CTSO-STYLE FOUNDATION MODEL

This structure mirrors the model used by nationally recognized CTSOs, where:

• The operating organization delivers programs

• The foundation provides charitable and financial support

This separation ensures:

• Transparency for schools and districts

• Compliance with education and nonprofit regulations

• Clear financial accountability

• Protection of students and public institutions

SCHOOL & DISTRICT ASSURANCE

• Participation in NHSBBQA® programs does not require fundraising

• Schools are never obligated to engage with the Foundation

• All grants and scholarships are optional and voluntary

• No instructional decisions are influenced by donations or sponsors

The Foundation exists to support—not burden—schools.

GOVERNANCE & COMPLIANCE

The BBQ Education Foundation:

• Is independently governed by its own Board of Directors

• Maintains separate finances and records

• Complies with IRS, state, and charitable regulations

• Upholds the highest standards of ethics and transparency

SHARED MISSION, SEPARATE ENTITIES

Together, the BBQ Education Foundation and NHSBBQA® share a common goal:

To support students through education, applied learning, and real-world career pathways—while respecting the structure, authority, and integrity of public education.

Foundation + NHSBBQA® Relationship Diagram

The BBQ Education Foundation and the National High School BBQ Association® (NHSBBQA®) are separate legal organizations that share a common educational mission while maintaining clear governance, financial, and operational boundaries.

This relationship mirrors the structure used by nationally recognized Career & Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs).

ROLE OF THE BBQ EDUCATION FOUNDATION

The Foundation exists to support students and schools, not to operate programs.

Primary functions include:

• Scholarships for students

• Grants for teachers and schools

• Equipment and safety assistance

• Program startup and sustainability support

The Foundation does not:

• Operate competitions

• Control curriculum

• Approve schools or teams

• Govern NHSBBQA® programs

ROLE OF NHSBBQA®

NHSBBQA® serves as the national educational program and competition provider.

Primary functions include:

• Educational programming & curriculum

• School chartering and licensing

• Competitions and events

• Student safety standards

• Brand and intellectual property governance

NHSBBQA® does not require fundraising or donations as a condition of participation.

WHY THIS STRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT FOR SCHOOLS

This separation ensures:

✔ District-approved governance
✔ No private benefit concerns
✔ No commingling of funds
✔ No instructional influence from donations
✔ Clear audit and compliance boundaries

Schools may participate in NHSBBQA® programs with or without any involvement in the Foundation.

STUDENTS • TEACHERS • SCHOOLS

│

│

┌───────────────────────┴───────────────────────┐

│ │

┌──────────────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────────────┐

│ BBQ EDUCATION FOUNDATION │ │ NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL BBQ │

│ Non Profit │ │ ASSOCIATION® (NHSBBQA®) │

│ │ │ Texas S-Corporation │

│ • Scholarships │ │ │

│ • School & teacher grants │ │ • Programs & curriculum │

│ • Equipment assistance │ │ • Competitions & events │

│ • Educational access │ │ • School charters │

│ • Workforce opportunity │ │ • Safety & standards │

│ │ │ │

│ Independent Board │ │ Board & Executive Team │

│ Separate finances │ │ Licensing & governance │

└──────────────────────────┘ └──────────────────────────┘

│ │

└─────────────── Mission-Aligned ──────────────────┘

(No shared control • No commingled funds)

SCHOOL & DISTRICT ASSURANCE STATEMENT

Participation in National High School BBQ Association® programs is never contingent upon fundraising, donations, or engagement with the BBQ Education Foundation.

All instructional decisions remain under the authority of schools and districts.

Legal Notice
The NHSBBQA BBQ Education Foundation is a separate legal entity from the National High School BBQ Association® (NHSBBQA®).
Donations made on this page support the Foundation’s charitable mission and are not payments to NHSBBQA®.