Restaurant fundraisers help organizations raise money by partnering with community restaurants. Whether you’re cheering for your favorite sports team or supporting your school, restaurant fundraisers are a fun and engaging way to raise money. They are easy fundraisers, where supporters contribute just by dining out on a specified date. One of the best things about restaurant fundraising is its simplicity—there are few logistics to plan, and everyone needs to eat. This article covers what restaurant fundraisers are, lists popular restaurant partners, and offers tips to maximize your success when planning an event.
What We’ll Cover
- Key Takeaways
- Understanding Restaurant Fundraisers
- Benefits of Restaurant Fundraisers
- Popular Chain Restaurants that Offer Restaurant Fundraising
- Partnering with Local Restaurants for Fundraisers
- Successful Strategies for Organizing Restaurant Fundraisers
- More Food Fundraising Ideas
- Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions for Restaurant Fundraising
Key Takeaways
Restaurant fundraisers create a win-win situation, allowing organizations to raise funds by asking supporters to dine out at partnered establishments.
Many popular chain restaurants like Chipotle and Panera offer fundraising programs that help organizations maximize support and community engagement.
Partnering with local restaurants fosters community connections and creates memorable events that supporters will look forward to year after year.
Understanding Restaurant Fundraisers
A restaurant fundraiser is a partnership between a dining establishment and an organization to raise money for a charitable cause. Local or chain restaurants can host events, allowing participants to contribute simply by dining out or even ordering take-out online.
These versatile fundraisers can be organized by all types of groups, including nonprofits, schools and PTOs, and churches. Well-run restaurant fundraising events can significantly support the financial goals of community organizations, with restaurants often donating between 5% and 30% or even more of the event sales to the hosting organization.
Common examples of restaurant fundraiser events include dine-to-donate nights or school spirit nights, which offer unique ways to engage the community through a local fundraiser program.
Benefits of Restaurant Fundraisers
Restaurant fundraisers must be a win-win for your organization and the hosting business. Beyond raising funds, these events also increase the visibility of the hosting organizations, helping them reach new potential supporters and clients.
These events also help build relationships with restaurant owners, leading to valuable connections and potential mutual support. Hosting multiple fundraisers with the same restaurant throughout the year can help build popularity for the program and strengthen community ties.
The social environment of many restaurants makes them natural venues for community fundraising. Restaurant fundraisers can turn an everyday activity into impactful support for your cause, tapping into the communal love for dining out.
Popular Chain Restaurants that Offer Restaurant Fundraising
Many national chain restaurants have established fundraising programs that cater to schools and nonprofits. These programs are well-structured with online applications, making organizing and promoting your fundraising event easy. Also, partnering with well-known chain restaurants allows your group to utilize their brand recognition to attract a larger turnout.
Let’s take a look at a few of these casual dining restaurants and their fundraising programs.
Chipotle Community Fundraising
Chipotle’s fundraising program is a favorite among many organizations, as it’s easy to organize and works for online and in-store orders. Supporters show a flyer or enter their designated code at checkout, and 25% of their sales are donated to the organization.
Chipotle states that these are their favorite fundraisers:
K–12 Schools (PTAs/PTOs, STEM Clubs, Senior Prom)
University Groups (Intramural Sports, Greek Life, College Radio)
Youth Sports Teams (Little League, Soccer, etc.)
Libraries and Community Centers
Non-Profits (American Cancer Society, Animal Shelters, United Way)
Food and Sustainable Agriculture Groups (Future Farmers, Community Gardens, 4-H)
To host a local Chipotle fundraiser, organizations must submit an online application. The streamlined process simplifies getting started, and participants enjoy fresh Mexican food while supporting your cause.
Little Caesars Fundraising
The Little Caesars community fundraisers are run a little bit differently. They are not dine-and-donate events where organizations promote a certain date or pizza night. Instead, groups start a digital pizza fundraiser to sell Meal Deals. Meal Deals consist of a combination of pizzas, sodas, and desserts or sides – each one is themed, and they all sell for $26. With each Meal Deal purchase, a unique code is generated and sent to the code purchaser. When the supporter wants to order their pizza, they simply enter the code online and pick it up at their local store. Organizations earn a $6 profit on every Meal Deal sold.
Panera Fundraisers
Panera’s fundraising options are designed to support local organizations such as schools and charities. Events can be conducted through dine-in, drive-thru, pickup, or delivery, providing lots of flexibility for participating organizations. The variety of options ensures that more people can contribute, regardless of their dining preferences and budgets.
Panera’s fundraising campaigns are limited to once every 30 days and earn 20 to 25% of sales. The percentage of net sales donated and minimum sales requirement vary by bakery-cafe. Organizations can submit an online application to get started.
Buffalo Wild Wings Fundraisers
Buffalo Wild Wings offers a unique fundraising program called ‘Eat Wings, Raise Funds.’ This initiative allows participating groups to earn 15% of sales by promoting the restaurant fundraiser. Supporters participate by presenting a flyer or simply mentioning the fundraiser at checkout, ensuring their meal contributes to the cause.
Hosts must submit an online application and be paired with a local restaurant to start. Keep in mind that when we did an online search, we found that our local Buffalo Wild Wings were not enrolled in the program. So check to see if you have a local host restaurant before going too far with this program.
Partnering with Local Restaurants for Fundraisers
While chain restaurants make the process easy by offering structured programs, local restaurants provide a unique opportunity to foster community connections. Collaborating with local eateries brings residents together and strengthens community bonds while keeping more money raised local.
Many local restaurants are happy to participate in restaurant nights, as your group will introduce new clientele to their establishment. Hosting fundraisers on weekdays, particularly Tuesday or Wednesday evenings, can help restaurants fill up, as these are typically less busy times.
Selecting the right restaurant partner is vital for a successful fundraiser. So consider choosing a local restaurant for your fundraising event to support local businesses and create a special event that people look forward to year after year.
Successful Strategies for Organizing Restaurant Fundraisers
Organizing a successful restaurant fundraiser involves careful planning and execution. Start by planning well in advance to ensure high attendance and maximum donations. Engaging a fundraising committee can streamline the process, making it easier to organize restaurant fundraisers and manage all the details.
Combining dining with live entertainment, extra fundraising activities, or themed nights can create excitement and draw more participants.
Promoting Your Fundraiser
Promotion is key to a successful restaurant fundraiser. Use social media, email, fundraising flyers, and your website to spread the word and attract diners.
For local dine-and-donate events, an online registration platform can help manage attendee numbers and ensure smooth operations. Our free registration websites will allow your group to plan better and provide a seamless experience for everyone involved.
Maximizing Event Sales
If your fundraiser is a community event, adding extra activities will help you raise additional funds and make the event more engaging for participants. Here are some great ideas to boost excitement and participation at your restaurant fundraiser.
- Fundraising raffles and giveaways
- A silent auction
- Wine-pull fundraiser
More Food Fundraising Ideas
Of course, there are other ways to raise money with food. These food-based fundraisers offer a unique way to bring people together, enjoy a delicious meal or graze on a light snack, and raise money for your cause. Whether you’re aiming for a cozy community feel or an upscale experience, there’s a food fundraising idea perfect for every organization.
Here are some more popular and creative food fundraising ideas to boost your impact:
Farm-to-Table Events
Farm-to-table events offer a unique, sustainable dining experience that appeals to those interested in fresh, locally sourced ingredients. These events can be elevated with live music, guest chefs, and themed decorations, creating an unforgettable experience. Adding a silent auction or fundraising raffle is an easy way to raise more with this event.
Spaghetti Dinners
Spaghetti dinners are a classic, affordable fundraising option that encourages community participation. By serving a simple, universally loved meal like spaghetti, your organization can accommodate a large crowd with minimal setup and cost. Ask local grocery stores to donate ingredients or work with a nearby restaurant that can donate some secret sauce. Spaghetti dinners are great for schools, churches, and community centers, as they bring people together in a family-friendly atmosphere.
Breakfast Fundraisers
Breakfast fundraisers, like pancake breakfasts, are another community favorite that can draw large crowds. Local sponsors may donate ingredients, and volunteers can prepare and serve the food, making breakfast fundraisers cost-effective and straightforward to organize.
Bake Sales
Bake sales are timeless, flexible fundraisers that can be hosted almost anywhere. Ask volunteers to donate homemade baked goods like cookies, cakes, pies, and brownies. These treats can be sold individually or in packages, and you can increase participation by including allergen-friendly and gluten-free options. Bake sales are easy to organize and can even be added to restaurant fundraisers, provided the participating restaurant agrees.
Chili Cook-offs
Chili cook-offs are fun, competitive fundraisers that encourage attendees to get involved as participants or taste-testers. Enlist local chili enthusiasts to whip up their best chili recipes, then have attendees vote for their favorites. You can charge a fee for chili tastings, offer prizes for the best chili, and even bring in local chefs to cook or judge the competition.
Wine Tastings with Food Pairings
Wine-tasting events offer an elegant fundraising option that can attract an upscale audience. Partner with local vineyards or wine shops to provide a selection of wines and pair them with complementary foods, such as cheese, charcuterie, or small bites from local restaurants. This type of event can be paired with a silent auction and sommelier workshop for added fundraising opportunities.
Summary
Whether you’re a nonprofit, school, or community group, restaurant fundraisers offer a fun and impactful way to achieve your financial goals. You can create memorable events that support your cause by partnering with local restaurants. Careful planning, effective promotion, and additional fun activities are key to maximizing your success.
Frequently Asked Questions for Restaurant Fundraising
What is a restaurant fundraiser?
A restaurant fundraiser is an exciting way to support a cause by enjoying a meal at a partnering restaurant. A portion of the proceeds goes to the designated organization. Join in and make every bite count for something great!
How do I choose the right restaurant partner?
Choose a restaurant partner by evaluating your organization’s fundraising goals and potential income, as well as accessibility and capacity, to ensure a perfect fit. Several chain restaurants offer online applications to make signing up easy, but local restaurants can provide a more impactful community experience for supporters.
How can I promote my fundraising event?
Promoting your fundraising event involves leveraging social media, email campaigns, flyers, and local businesses for support. Use a free fundraising website from DoJiggy to take online registrations and sell related merchandise. Get creative and make it exciting, and participation will soar.
Are there benefits of hosting multiple fundraisers with the same restaurant?
Hosting multiple fundraisers with the same restaurant strengthens your relationship with the owners, paving the way for valuable connections and long-term support. These partnerships can not only boost your cause but also help the restaurant by increasing its visibility and customer base.
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