info@dig.edu

313-312-4025

Building For The Future

Every contribution—large or small—helps us empower future culinarians through hands-on training, mentorship, and meaningful career pathways.

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Give to DIG

Invest in the
Future of Hospitality

If you are a corporate donor or wish to support a specific DIG initiative, we encourage you to contact us directly so we can align your generosity with your goals.

We are deeply grateful for your consideration and invite you to join us in shaping the future of food, hospitality, and community health. DIG is accepting donations to help reach our goals for the endowment fund.

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Strategic Goals

Endowment Fund Spending Objectives

Generational Neutrality

The fund is considered to be permanent, and its benefit to future generations should be equal to its benefit to the current generation. The key is that the amount spent annually should remain as close to constant as possible, when measured over time on an inflation-adjusted (“real”) return basis. Investments and spending are to be coordinated in a manner so that the Fund’s income will maintain its real purchasing power into the future.

Maximum Sustainable Spending

Income from an endowment is to be spent, not hoarded. It is the Detroit Institute of Gastronomy’s policy to use the earnings of the fund, on generation-neutral basis, to help meet the needs of the Detroit Institute of Gastronomy and fulfill it’s mission.

Minimize Volatility

Because many of the needs and uses of the fund’s income are recurring and ongoing nature, the fund’s asset management policies and spending strategy are structured in a way that attempts to minimize the year-to-year volatility of the amount available for spending.

Restrictions

Those who manage and spend endowment funds exercise those duties in a special position of trust and fiduciary responsibility, both to the beneficiaries and to the donors. When endowment gifts are accepted that are restricted by the donor (either time restrictions or use restrictions), those restrictions will be honored to the extent permitted by law.

Use Of Funds

Spending Strategies

Funds available for distribution will be determined by using a total return principle, i.e., return derived from dividends and interest as well as realized and unrealized capital gains.

50%

Supports Student Scholarships & Grants

The fund will maintain a minimum balance equal to $2,300.00 per active student. 50% of the excess funds will be used to directly support student scholarships and grants.

25%

Supports Teaching, Research & Public Service

Professional development of faculty and staff is a critical component to the educational success of student apprentices. Funds are allocated to promote development through research and community engagement.

25%

Supports Expansion & Growth Goals

Spending is restricted to 25% of the amount allocated to future expansion and growth of DIG. Examples of expansion and growth include increased student support services and technological improvements.

Help the hospitality industry rebuild

Through apprentice education, students work in the industry with approved, registered chef-mentors in quality places of employment. The mentor-apprentice relationship builds a strong foundation in the operation which leads to a long-lasting employee with incredible skills combined with quality education. DIG is assisting in rebuilding the culinary workforce to provide higher skilled employees through apprentice education.

Culinary education in an innovative environment

The founding concept of DIG is to change the methodologies of culinary education. Through apprenticeship, students track the skills developed while working with approved places of employment online. While they advance through a progression of skills,, students attend classes online in an asynchronous environment which doesn’t interfere with their place of employment’s schedule. Through this program design, DIG meets the needs of today’s student and accommodate the demands of the hospitality industry. Through DIG, students can receive nationally recognized third-party certifications in less time than traditional culinary school’s programs.

Non-Profit School with a Mission

DIG is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education corporation with a mission to advance culinary education through distance learning and paid, chef‑driven apprenticeships. We prepare skilled, ethical culinary professionals through a holistic, hands‑on model that emphasizes career readiness, sustainability, and service excellence while helping students graduate debt‑free. Guided by our core values, DIG empowers the next generation of culinary professionals for meaningful, resilient careers.

Thank You!

Thank you to those who have contributed to the fund! Your generosity has helped build the success of DIG!

All ongoing donors who wish to be recognized will be included on the "thank you" page. Donor restrictions may be implemented with a gift of $5,000.00 or more.

Individual Contributions
OVER $1,000.00

Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Eliza Hix
Mr. and Mrs. John and Julie Piazza
Mr. Jeremy Abbey
Mrs. Danielle Todd

Corporate Contributions
OVER $5,000.00

The Detroit Institute of Gastronomy is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Your donation may be tax deductible.
Contact your tax professional for more information.

Please contact the team at info@dig.edu if you have any questions! info@dig.edu if you have any questions!