We love to eat. And we love doing it with our family and friends. Eating at a fun restaurant with a table full of favorite people turns a meal into a memorable event. And if we go to restaurants that do fundraisers, all the better! This is precisely why “dine and donate” fundraising works so well.
Let’s look at restaurants that do fundraisers from their perspective. Community is an essential part of any restaurant. Restaurant owners like the opportunity to support it, and most offer discounted dining.
- No upfront costs, such as buying products, renting venues, or hiring staff.
- They can reach a large and diverse audience of potential supporters, as chain restaurants have established brands, reputations, and customer bases.
- They can create a fun and social event for their community, where people can enjoy a delicious meal with their friends and family while supporting a good cause.
- They can benefit from the professional management and experience of the chain restaurants that provide them with promotional materials, online tools, and guidance on hosting a successful fundraiser.
How to Get the Most out of Restaurants That Do Fundraisers
- Choose a chain restaurant that matches your group’s preferences, such as cuisine, location, donation percentage, and availability.
- Plan and book your fundraiser two weeks in advance, or more if possible. This will give you enough time to promote your event and get more RSVPs.
- Use the customized flyer and social media graphics the chain restaurant will provide you to spread the word about your fundraiser. You can also create your posters, newsletters, emails, or announcements to reach more people.
- Encourage your supporters to join their friends, family, co-workers, or neighbors at the fundraiser. The more people who attend, the more money you will raise.
- Remind your supporters to show the flyer, mention the organization to the cashier at the register, or use the unique code online or on the app. This will ensure that your group gets credit for the sales generated by your fundraiser.
- Thank your supporters and the chain restaurant for their participation and generosity. You can also share photos and stories from your fundraiser on social media or other platforms to celebrate your success and inspire others.
National Chain Restaurants That Do Fundraisers
These are the top 10 national restaurant chains that do fundraisers for organizations and schools, along with details of their fundraising programs: Share this list with someone by downloading it here.
- Chick-fil-A: Chick-fil-
A offers a fundraising program called “Spirit Night,” where organizations can host an event at their local Chick-fil-A restaurant. During the event, a percentage of the sales generated by supporters of the organization is donated back to the organization. - Panera Bread: Panera Bread has a
program called “Dough-Nation,” (clever, right?) where organizations can sell Panera gift cards at a discounted rate and keep a portion of the proceeds. Panera Bread also offers “Community Breadbox” events where a percentage of sales during a designated period goes to the organization. - Chipotle Mexican Grill: Chipotle has a
fundraising program called “Chipotle Fundraisers,” where organizations can host an event at their local Chipotle restaurant. Supporters of the organization can present a flyer or mention the fundraiser at checkout, and your organization gets a percentage of the sales back. - Pizza Hut: Pizza Hut offers a fundraising program called “Book It! Program,” specifically designed for schools. The program encourages students to read by rewarding them with free pizza certificates. Schools can use these certificates as incentives or rewards for various reading-related activities.
- McDonald’s: McDonald’s has a
fundraising program called “McTeacher’s Night,” where teachers and staff members from schools volunteer to work at McDonald’s for an evening. A percentage of the sales generated during that time is returned to the school. - Subway: Subway offers a fundraising
program called “Subway Fundraising Cards,” where organizations can sell Subway gift cards at a discounted rate and keep a portion of the proceeds. This allows supporters to enjoy Subway meals while supporting the organization. - Dairy Queen: Dairy
Queen has a fundraising program called “DQ Cakes for a Cause,” where organizations can sell DQ cake coupons. A percentage of the sales from these coupons is donated back to the organization. - Papa John’s: Papa John’s offers a
fundraising program called “Papa John’s Pizza Fundraiser,” where organizations can sell Papa John’s pizza cards. These cards offer discounts on pizza purchases, and a portion of the proceeds goes to the organization. - Applebee’s: Applebee’s has a
fundraising program called “Dining to Donate,” where organizations can host a fundraising event at their local Applebee’s restaurant. A percentage of the sales generated during the event is donated to the organization.
A offers a fundraising program called “Spirit Night,” where organizations can host an event at their local Chick-fil-A restaurant. During the event, a percentage of the sales generated by supporters of the organization is donated back to the organization.
program called “Dough-Nation,” (clever, right?) where organizations can sell Panera gift cards at a discounted rate and keep a portion of the proceeds. Panera Bread also offers “Community Breadbox” events where a percentage of sales during a designated period goes to the organization.
fundraising program called “Chipotle Fundraisers,” where organizations can host an event at their local Chipotle restaurant. Supporters of the organization can present a flyer or mention the fundraiser at checkout, and your organization gets a percentage of the sales back.
program called “Book It! Program,” specifically designed for schools. The program encourages students to read by rewarding them with free pizza certificates. Schools can use these certificates as incentives or rewards for various reading-related activities.
fundraising program called “McTeacher’s Night,” where teachers and staff members from schools volunteer to work at McDonald’s for an evening. A percentage of the sales generated during that time is returned to the school.
program called “Subway Fundraising Cards,” where organizations can sell Subway gift cards at a discounted rate and keep a portion of the proceeds. This allows supporters to enjoy Subway meals while supporting the organization.
Queen has a fundraising program called “DQ Cakes for a Cause,” where organizations can sell DQ cake coupons. A percentage of the sales from these coupons is donated back to the organization.
fundraising program called “Papa John’s Pizza Fundraiser,” where organizations can sell Papa John’s pizza cards. These cards offer discounts on pizza purchases, and a portion of the proceeds goes to the organization.
fundraising program called “Dining to Donate,” where organizations can host a fundraising event at their local Applebee’s restaurant. A percentage of the sales generated during the event is donated to the organization.10. Buffalo Wild Wings: Buffalo Wild Wings offers a
fundraising program called “Eat Wings, Raise Funds,” where organizations can host an event at their local Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant. Supporters of the organization can present a flyer or mention the fundraiser at checkout, and a percentage of the sales is given back to the organization.
Top 10 National Pizza Chain Restaurants That Do Fundraisers
In the United States, several national pizza chain restaurants that do fundraisers for organizations, nonprofits, causes, and schools. These opportunities allow groups to raise funds by partnering with pizza chains and receiving a percentage of the sales generated through their fundraising efforts.
Below are the top 10 national pizza chains that offer fundraising opportunities, along with details of their respective programs.
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Domino’s Pizza: Domino’s Pizza offers a fundraising program called “Dough Raiser.” Organizations can partner with their local Domino’s store and receive a percentage of the sales made during a designated fundraising period. Participants can promote the event by distributing flyers or sharing an online ordering code. The percentage of sales donated varies by location.
Papa John’s: Papa John’s has a fundraising program called “Papa Cares.” Non-profit organizations can partner with Papa John’s to host a “Pizza Night” fundraiser. During the event, participants can order pizzas using a unique promo code, and a percentage of the sales is given to the organization.- Pizza Hut: Pizza Hut offers a fundraising program called “Pizza Hut Fundraising Cards.” Organizations can purchase these cards at a discounted price and sell them to supporters. Each card typically offers discounts on multiple pizza purchases, and a portion of the proceeds goes back to the organization.
- Little Caesars: Little Caesars has a fundraising program called “Fundraising Kits.” Organizations can purchase these kits, which include vouchers for discounted pizzas. You can sell the vouchers to supporters, and the organization keeps a portion of the proceeds.
- Marco’s Pizza: Marco’s Pizza offers a fundraising program called “Dine to Donate.” Organizations can partner with their local Marco’s Pizza store and host a fundraising night where supporters dine in or order takeout using a promo code. A percentage of the sales generated during the event is donated to the organization.
Round Table Pizza: Round Table Pizza has a fundraising program called “Community Fundraisers.” Organizations can partner with their local Round Table Pizza restaurant and host a fundraising night. Supporters can dine in or order takeout, mentioning the fundraiser, and a percentage of the sales is donated to the organization.- Godfather’s Pizza: Godfather’s Pizza offers a fundraising program called “Pizza Dough for Dollars.” (Some say it’s an offer you can’t refuse.) Organizations can sell discounted pizza certificates to supporters, and a portion of the proceeds goes back to the organization. The certificates are redeemed at participating Godfather’s Pizza locations.
Sbarro: Sbarro has a fundraising program called “Slice of Support.” Organizations can partner with Sbarro to host a fundraising event at their local Sbarro restaurant. Supporters can mention the fundraiser when ordering, and you’ll get a percentage of the sales.
Donatos Pizza: Donatos Pizza offers a fundraising program called “Dough Raising.” Organizations can sell discounted pizza certificates to supporters, and a portion of the proceeds goes back to the organization. The certificates are redeemed at participating Donatos Pizza locations.- Hungry Howie’s: Hungry Howie’s has a fundraising program called “Howie’s Dough Raiser.” Organizations can sell discounted pizza certificates or coupon booklets to supporters, and a percentage of the proceeds goes back to the organization. The certificates or coupons are redeemed at participating Hungry Howie’s locations.
Domino’s Pizza:
Papa John’s
Little Caesars
Marco’s Pizza
Round Table Pizza
Godfather’s Pizza
Sbarro
Donatos Pizza
Hungry Howie’s
Regional Chain Restraunts That Do Fundraisers
For your convenience, we’ve separated the US into seven regions containing popular chain restaurants that do fundraisers for schools, causes, organizations, and nonprofits:
The seven regions are:
• Pacific Coastal
• Rocky Mountains
• Southwest
• Midwest
• Southeast
• Mid-Atlantic
• New England
MIDWEST Regional Chain Restaurants That Do Fundraisers
Midwest regional chain restaurants that do fundraisers for schools, causes, organizations, and nonprofits:
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse: This chain of casual dining restaurants serves various dishes, such as pizza, pasta, burgers, salads, and desserts. They also have their own craft beers and root beer. They offer a local fundraiser program where they give back 20% of sales to your cause.
Bertucci’s: This chain of Italian restaurants offers brick oven pizzas, pasta, salads, and more. They also have a Dining for Dollars program where they donate 15% of sales to your cause.
Culver’s: This chain of fast-food restaurants is famous for its butter burgers, frozen custard, and cheese curds. They also host fundraisers that give back 10-25% of sales to your organization.
Noodles & Company: This chain of fast-casual restaurants serves noodles, salads, soups, and sandwiches from different cuisines. They also partner with GroupRaise to host fundraisers that give back 25% of sales to your cause.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop: This chain of sandwich shops offers toasted sandwiches, salads, soups, shakes, and cookies. They also support local causes by hosting fundraisers that give back 25% of sales.
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
Bertucci’s
Culver’s
Noodles & Company
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
NEW ENGLAND Regional Chain Restaurants That Do Fundraisers
Regional chain restaurants in New England that do fundraisers for causes, schools, organizations, and nonprofits:
D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches: This chain of sandwich shops serves grilled sandwiches, salads, wraps, and more. They also host fundraisers that give back 20% of sales to your cause.- Bertucci’s: This chain of Italian restaurants offers brick oven pizzas, pasta, salads, and more. They also have a Dining for Dollars program where they donate 15% of sales to your cause.
Ninety-Nine Restaurant & Pub: This chain of casual dining restaurants serves American fare, such as burgers, steaks, seafood, and salads. They also support local causes by hosting fundraisers that give back 15% of sales.
Uno Pizzeria & Grill: This chain of pizza restaurants offers deep-dish pizzas, flatbreads, pasta, and more. They also host Dough Rai$ers, donating up to 20% of sales to your organization.
Papa Gino’s Pizzeria: This chain of pizza restaurants serves hand-tossed pizzas, calzones, subs, and more. Their fundraiser program gives back 20% of sales to your cause.
D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches
Ninety-Nine
Uno Pizzeria & Grill
Papa Gino’s Pizzeria
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS Regional Chain Restaurants That Do Fundraisers
Regional chain restaurants that do fundraisers in the Rocky Mountains for causes, schools, organizations, and nonprofits:
Illegal Pete’s: This chain of Mexican restaurants serves burritos, tacos, nachos, bowls, and more. They also host fundraisers that give back 50% of sales to your cause.- Smashburger: This chain of burger restaurants offers fresh and juicy burgers, fries, salads, shakes, and more. They also partner with GroupRaise to host fundraisers that give back 25% of sales to your organization.
- Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh: This chain of fast-casual restaurants serves healthy and flavorful Mediterranean food, such as pitas, falafel, salads, and hummus. They also support local causes by hosting fundraisers that give back 20% of sales.
- Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom: This chain of pizza restaurants offers handcrafted pizzas, calzones, pasta, sandwiches, and beers. They also host fundraisers that donate 15% of sales to your cause.
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar: This chain of burger restaurants serves gourmet burgers, salads, fries, shakes, and more. They also offer a local fundraiser program where they give back 20% of sales to your cause.
Illegal Pete’s
Smashburger
Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh
Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
PACIFIC COASTAL Regional Chain Restaurants That Do Fundraisers
Regional chain restaurants that do fundraisers in the Pacific Coastal region for causes, schools, organizations, and nonprofits:
- MOD Pizza: This pizza chain has over 400 locations across the US, including many on the west coast. They offer a 20% donation back to your cause when you host a fundraiser with them.
Rubio’s Coastal Grill: This chain specializes in fresh Mexican food with a coastal twist, such as fish tacos, burritos, and bowls. They partner with GroupRaise to host fundraisers that give back 30% of sales to your organization. 
The Habit Burger Grill: This burger chain offers char-grilled burgers, sandwiches, salads, and shakes. They also host fundraisers that donate 20% of sales to your school, organization, nonprofit, or cause. Like the name suggests, this chain restaurant has quite the following.
Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks: This chain serves burgers, fries, salads, and tropical drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. They also support local causes by hosting fundraisers that give back 20% of sales. - Sauce Pizza & Wine: This chain of pizza restaurants serves hand-stretched pizzas, salads, pasta, soups, and wine. They also offer a local fundraiser program where they give back 20% of sales to your cause.
MOD Pizza
Rubio’s Coastal Grill
The Habit Burger Grill
Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks
Sauce Pizza & Wine
MID-ATLANTIC Regional Chain Restaurants That Do Fundraisers
Regional chain restaurants that do fundraisers in the Mid-Atlantic region for causes, schools, organizations, and nonprofits:
- BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse: This chain of casual dining restaurants serves a variety of dishes, such as pizza, pasta, burgers, salads, and desserts. They also have their own craft beers and root beer. They offer a local fundraiser program where they give back 20% of sales to your cause.
Panera: This chain of bakery-cafe restaurants offers sandwiches, salads, soups, pastries, and more. They host dine-in fundraising events that give back 25% of sales to your cause. - Bertucci’s: This chain of Italian restaurants offers brick oven pizzas, pasta, salads, and more. They also have a Dining for Dollars program where they donate 15% of sales to your cause.
Friendly’s: This chain of family-friendly restaurants serves ice cream, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and breakfast items. They also host fundraisers that donate 20% of sales to your cause.
Friendly’s
SOUTHEAST Regional Chain Restaurants That Do Fundraisers
Regional chain restaurants that do fundraisers in the Southeast region for causes, schools, organizations, and nonprofits:
Chick-fil-A: This chain of fast-food restaurants serves chicken sandwiches, nuggets, salads, and more. They also support local causes by hosting fundraisers that give back a percentage of sales to your organization.
Zaxby’s: This chain of fast-food restaurants offers chicken fingers, wings, sandwiches, salads, and more. They also support local causes by hosting fundraisers that give back 10-20% of sales.
Chuy’s: This chain of Tex-Mex restaurants serves authentic and flavorful dishes, such as enchiladas, fajitas, quesadillas, and margaritas. They also partner with GroupRaise to host fundraisers that give back 15% of sales to your organization.
Moe’s Southwest Grill: This chain of fast-casual restaurants serves fresh and customizable Mexican food, such as burritos, tacos, nachos, and salads. They also host fundraisers that give back 15-20% of sales to your cause.
Tijuana Flats: This chain of Tex-Mex restaurants offers burritos, tacos, nachos, quesadillas, and more. They also offer a local fundraiser program where they give back 20% of sales to your cause.
Chick-fil-A
Zaxby’s
Chuy’s
Moe’s Southwest Grill
Tijuana Flats
SOUTHWEST Regional Chain Restaurants That Do Fundraisers
Southwest regional chain restaurants that do fundraising for causes, schools, organizations, and nonprofits:
Zoës Kitchen: This chain of fast-casual restaurants offers fresh Mediterranean food, such as hummus, salads, sandwiches, and kabobs. They also partner with GroupRaise to host fundraisers that give back 25% of sales to your organization.- Grimaldi’s Pizzeria: This chain of pizza restaurants offers coal-fired brick oven pizzas, salads, calzones, and desserts. They also host fundraisers that donate 15% of sales to your cause.
Sauce Pizza & Wine: This chain of pizza restaurants serves hand-stretched pizzas, salads, pasta, soups, and wine. They also offer a local fundraiser program where they give back 20% of sales to your cause.
Zoës Kitchen
Grimaldi’s PizzeriaYour fundraiser’s success directly relates to how many people know about it. Begin promoting it early by telling your friends, colleagues, and family. Use social media, email, flyers, and posters, plus add it to your website. Make sure your committee, board, and organization know the date and details of the fundraiser.
Restaurants that Donate Food to Events
While most of the restaurants we list here offer gift cards or have dine-in programs where portions of their sales will be given to a specific cause, you might be wondering if any will donate food to your fundraising event.
This is a complex question. Many of these brands are franchises, and their corporate office can’t necessarily commit a location to catering an event: after all, they don’t know what that location can afford to donate in terms of resources and time. So even if you just want a few celebratory pizzas at the end of your read-a-thon, you will need to ask your local general manager if they are willing and able to accommodate your request.
The good news is that many local restaurants are often willing to donate food, especially for smaller events. Reach out to the general manager of your local restaurants and ask if they are willing to donate food to your event, then work out how much food and when. Make sure you give them plenty of lead time to accommodate your order: asking the week-of is a bad idea.
It also isn’t realistic to ask a restaurant to cater a large event for free (with some exceptions, of course). Catering means making a lot of food, keeping it fresh before serving it, and getting it to your venue. This is no mean logistical feat, so keep that in mind when making your request.
If you make your realistic request respectfully, you’ll probably create a new relationship with the people who own or work at your local restaurants. In the future, you will be able to rely on them for food or other kinds of support. This type of community building is invaluable to any nonprofit.
How to Win Using Restaurants That Do Fundraising
Chain restaurants that do fundraising are faithful stewards of the community, just like your school or organization. You’re not simply doing a fundraiser together because that’s business. You are building a relationship, which is exactly what you want.
Regardless of the relationship-building stage, you’re in with your chosen chain restaurant that does fundraising, we can’t emphasize enough that your success is contingent on how well you promote it. Start promoting the time and date, and offer the second you have secured it. Seriously, go home and tell all your Facebook friends about it—invite them! Your entire staff should do the same until you’ve had your marketing team create all the collateral you need to promote it. Use social media! Have a writer on your staff write a blog about it. Create a press release and send it to the local newspaper—they love to print community events. Don’t let your promotional cadence lapse! Tell the world, or at least the people close to your restaurant partner.
The thing about a school or a nonprofit that engages with a chain restaurant that does fundraising is that no one will make a significant amount of money at it—certainly not anywhere close to what you can earn with an online silent auction. In terms of fundraising profitability, there are many other ways to make more money, but it takes more time, staff, upfront costs, etc. But restaurant fundraising has its place!
How to Exceed Your Annual Fundraising Goal
How do you reach or exceed your annual fundraising goals? You plan events, right? Most nonprofits and schools have one annual fundraiser designed to bring in the lion’s share of their annual fundraising goal—via a silent auction or a carnival, for example.
Let’s say your strategy is a big event every November. You’ve been doing it for years, making your goal, but you could do more! There is still plenty of time to find a handful of chain restaurants that do fundraising, right? You can plan one, two or even three different restaurant fundraisers each month. People have to eat and love it when they get a special deal at their favorite restaurants—in other words, they won’t get tired of it! If you do this for 10 months each year, the aggregate sum of the many fundraisers can be quite impressive and help you exceed your goal. Following the same promotional strategy with each fundraiser makes it even easier.
Being Good Community Stewards
A few paragraphs ago we mentioned building relationships with the restaurant owners and managers. The more fundraisers you have, the more opportunity to build these relationships. These relationships are valuable. When you’ve made a connection with a handful of restaurant owners, you’ve made friends who will help you as much as you help them. Two stewards of the community working together can accomplish great things. Who knows, you might create something totally new together that will be win-win.
