Only 44.1% of Maryland residents ages 18-64 with a cognitive disability are employed, compared to 81.2% without cognitive disabilities. Recognizing the lack of workforce development opportunities tailored to adults with learning differences, Sunflower provides skilled job training in pastry and culinary arts, production baking, barista service, and front-of-house operations. With a low student-to-instructor ratio, students receive individualized attention as they spend 26 weeks building technical and soft skills in real-world production kitchens and storefronts. After-school classes introduce teens with learning differences to bakery and hospitality work, building early skills and exposure to future careers. Staff coach graduates and match them with over 100 employer partners, ensuring 82% of students have retained employment to date. As the only program of its kind in the region, Sunflower has supported successful careers for over 650 individuals and counting.

Headquarters: MD-Montgomery County

Where They Operate: MD-Montgomery County

Age Groups Served: Pre-teen/teen (12-17); Young adult (18-24); Adult (25-49)

Population(s) Served: Individuals with Disabilities; Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members; Men/Boys; Women/Girls; Students

Schools They Work In: Montgomery County Public Schools; Private schools in the MetroDC area


  • % of Pastry Arts graduates securing a job within 6 months of program completion:   80%

Awards & Recognition

Ruderman $50,000 Prize in Inclusion (2013)

Press

  • No stories found

Budget (FY2026)

  • $3 million or higher
  • The current budget for Sunflower Bakery is: $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

About Spur Local

Every year, 190+ local nonprofits (with budgets under $4M) apply to join the Spur Local network. 170+ community volunteers assess these applications for impact. 100% of organizations are site visited and financially reviewed. Finally, 76+ critical, local nonprofits are selected for inclusion in Spur Local's annual print and digital catalog, and enter a four-year partnership with us. Since 2003, we have raised over $65 million for nonprofits across the Greater Washington region. We charge no fees and raise funds separately to support our work.

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