Pick a restaurant, pick a night, and invite everyone you know to eat there. The restaurant donates a share of what your supporters spend, usually 10 to 30 percent, and mails your group a check. This guide compares 47 restaurant fundraising programs, plus 16 franchise and local options where each owner decides, shows the math behind a realistic check, and walks you through booking and promoting a night that actually earns money.
- Typical give-back: 10% to 30% of sales
- Upfront cost: $0
- Planning time: 3 to 6 weeks
- Best for: schools, teams, churches, nonprofits
What Is a Restaurant Fundraiser Night?
A restaurant fundraiser night is a scheduled event where a restaurant donates a percentage of the sales your supporters generate, typically 10 to 30 percent, to your school, sports team, church, club, or nonprofit. Your group books a date, spreads the word, and supporters simply show up and buy meals they would have bought anyway. There is nothing to sell, no inventory, no upfront cost, and no cleanup, which is why this is one of the easiest fundraisers any group can run.
The same idea goes by many names. If you hear any of these, it is the same fundraiser:
- Spirit night
- Dine to donate
- Give-back night
- Restaurant night
- Benefit night
- Community night
- Profit share night
- McTeacher's Night
- Dough raiser
Quick Picks: The Short Answer
If you just want a name to start with, these are the standout choices from the full list below, based on published program terms and how these events are structured.
How a Restaurant Fundraiser Night Works, Step by Step
Every program has its own fine print, but the shape is the same everywhere. If you have never organized one before, this is the whole process:
- Pick a restaurant and apply.
Big chains use an online application portal. Independent restaurants and franchise locations usually want an email or a quick conversation with the manager. Have your organization's legal name and tax ID (EIN) ready, because most chains require it before they can mail a check.
- Get approved and lock a date.
Most events run on a weeknight, often in a 4 to 8 pm window, because restaurants want your crowd on their slow nights. Approval can take a few days to a few weeks depending on the chain.
- Promote for two to three weeks.
The restaurant sends you an official flyer and, for many chains, a unique online ordering code. Your only real job is getting that flyer and code in front of every family, member, and follower you have, more than once.
- Supporters eat and identify themselves.
Depending on the chain, supporters show the flyer, mention the fundraiser at the register, or enter your code when ordering online. Orders that are not identified do not count, so this step decides your check size.
- The restaurant counts qualifying sales and pays you.
After the event you receive a sales total, and a check usually arrives within a few weeks, though some programs, like Panera, take up to two or three months. Many chains share results within a day or two of the event.
Applications throw around a few tax and accounting words. Here they are in plain English, so nothing on a form slows you down:
Quick Comparison: The Best-Known Programs at a Glance
These are the national programs most groups start with. The full list below adds regional chains, sell-style programs, and franchise-owned brands you have to ask locally.
| Restaurant | Give-back | Minimum | Which orders count | Book ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rubio's | 30% of pre-tax sales | $150 in net sales | In restaurant or online pickup with code; no third-party delivery | 14+ days |
| Panda Express (virtual) | 28% (33% with a referral code) | $150 pre-tax | Online code, pickup or delivery, any US location | 10+ days |
| Chipotle | 25% of pre-tax sales | $150 in sales | In restaurant, or app and website pickup with your code. Delivery does not count | About 3 weeks |
| Shake Shack | 25% of meal purchases | $100 donation threshold | All day, open to close; dine-in, to-go, and pickup with code; no delivery | 2+ weeks |
| Panera Bread | 20% or 25% of net sales, set per cafe | $100 to $150, set per cafe | Flyer or online code; dine-in, drive-thru, pickup; no third-party delivery apps | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Qdoba | 25% of pre-tax sales | $150 in qualifying sales | QR code in restaurant, code online; catering can count | A few weeks |
| Noodles & Company | 20% of qualifying sales | Ask when booking | Unique code at checkout, online or in app; no other promo codes | A few weeks |
| Panda Express (in person) | 20% (25% with a referral code) | $100 pre-tax | Show the flyer at the register | 2 weeks |
| Chuck E. Cheese | 20%, with a promotional 25% tier above $2,500 at many locations | $250 in sales | Mention at register; game play, food, and merch count; site orders with the fundraiser item | 21+ days |
| Pizza Hut | 20% on event day | $400 in sales, or a food credit instead | Flyer, screenshot, or online code; each order must subtotal $15+ | A few weeks |
| Blaze Pizza | 20% | None published | In store and online | A few weeks |
| Portillo's | 20% | $200 in sales | Dine-in, carryout, drive-thru with flyer or mention | A few weeks |
| Red Robin | 20% event, or 10% gift card sales | Ask locally | Event orders with flyer | A few weeks |
| Texas Roadhouse | Set by the local Managing Partner | Ask locally | Dine-in with flyer; sell-style options at many locations | Ask locally |
| Buffalo Wild Wings | 15% | Location must participate | Flyer or mention at checkout | A few weeks |
| Raising Cane's | 15% | None published | Event orders | A few weeks |
| Applebee's | 25% via the national platform; franchise formats vary | $150 in qualifying sales | In restaurant or online with code; some franchisees use flyers | A few weeks |
| Krispy Kreme | Up to 50% (sell-style) | None published | Digital Dozens and presales you organize | Flexible |
Rates and rules come from each chain's official fundraising pages and current program materials. Chains change terms and some let every location set its own, so always confirm the details when you book.
Which Restaurant Fits Your Group?
The best partner is the one your specific crowd will actually turn out for. Match your audience first, then compare percentages within that shortlist.
How Much Can You Actually Raise?
The honest answer: most single restaurant nights raise a few hundred dollars, and well-promoted ones by larger groups can clear four figures in sales. The formula is simple enough for a middle schooler, and it is worth doing before you book:
| Scenario | Supporters | Avg spend | Event sales | Check at 15% | Check at 20% | Check at 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small club night | 30 | $11 | $330 | $50 | $66 | $83 |
| Solid school night | 75 | $12 | $900 | $135 | $180 | $225 |
| Big community push | 150 | $14 | $2,100 | $315 | $420 | $525 |
Illustrative examples of the formula, not promises. Real results depend on turnout, spend, and each program's counting rules; checks are rounded to whole dollars.
Restaurant Night Estimator
Type your numbers and the estimate updates. It runs entirely on this page.
60 supporters at $12 each is $720 in event sales. At 20%, your estimated check is $144, and you clear a $150 sales minimum with room to spare.
Estimate only. Most minimums apply to event sales; a few, like Shake Shack's, apply to the donation amount instead. Programs also count qualifying orders differently, so confirm the rules for your chosen restaurant in the list below.
Two levers matter more than the percentage. First, turnout: do not skip reminders in the final 48 hours, because an announcement made two weeks out is easy to forget by event day. Second, qualifying correctly: every supporter who forgets to show the flyer, or orders delivery when only pickup counts, is revenue you already earned and did not collect.
The Highest Give-Back Programs: 25 Percent or More
Percentage is not everything, but when two restaurants are equally popular with your supporters, start here. These programs return the biggest share of every dollar your crowd spends.
Rubio's Coastal Grill
30% backRubio's runs one of the most generous dine-to-donate rates in the country at 30 percent of pre-tax sales. Supporters show the flyer's QR code at the register or enter the code DONATE on online pickup orders, and the event must reach $150 in net sales for a donation to be made. Groups can book one event every 30 days, submitted at least 14 days ahead, results appear in the fundraiser dashboard the next day, and checks arrive within four to six weeks. Apply through rubios.com/fundraisers.
Good to know: alcohol, gift card purchases, and third-party delivery orders are excluded, so point supporters to in-restaurant and direct pickup orders only.
Panda Express: Virtual Community Fundraiser
28% backThe virtual format removes geography from the equation. Supporters order online from any participating Panda Express in the country using your fundraiser code, which means grandparents two states away and college kids on campus can all contribute to the same event. Panda gives back 28 percent of pre-tax event sales, and orders can even be scheduled up to a week ahead. Book at community.pandaexpress.com.
Good to know: Panda's referral program adds 5 points when you sign up through an existing partner's referral link, lifting the virtual rate to 33 percent, the highest event rate on this page.
Chipotle
25% backThe classic. Chipotle donates 25 percent of pre-tax event sales, usually in a 4 to 8 pm window, and its own program guidance estimates supporters spend about $8 to $11 each. Supporters either mention the fundraiser at the register, show the flyer, or order pickup through the app or website with your unique promo code. Apply about three weeks ahead at community.chipotle.com; checks follow roughly 30 to 45 days after the event.
Good to know: delivery orders do not count, and orders at the wrong time or location do not count either. Put that on the flyer, in bold, or you will lose sales you earned. Chipotle also asks each organization to wait six months between events.
Shake Shack
25% backShake Shack's Donation Days return 25 percent of meal purchases, and the event runs all day, open to close, which is rare in this space. Supporters mention the fundraiser at the register or enter your promo code on the app, website, or kiosk; dine-in, to-go, and pickup orders count, while delivery, including third-party apps, does not. Eligibility is limited to recognized 501(c)(3) organizations and school groups, requests go in at least two weeks ahead at shakeshack.com/fundraising, and the calculated donation must reach $100; below that, the group receives a donation card instead of a check.
Good to know: the all-day window plus app ordering suits student groups whose supporters trickle in at lunch, after school, and after practice rather than in one dinner rush.
Panera Bread
Up to 25%Panera donates either 20 or 25 percent of net food and beverage sales, with the exact rate and a $100 to $150 minimum set by each bakery-cafe and confirmed during registration. Coverage is flexible: dine-in with the flyer, drive-thru, and direct pickup orders with your promo code all count, and code orders often count all day, not just the evening window. Gift cards, catering, and third-party delivery apps are excluded. Tax-exempt groups can book one event every 30 days at fundraising.panerabread.com, and should plan on 45 to 60 business days for the check.
Good to know: set expectations honestly. Panera's own reported figures from 2021 showed 3,805 events raising about $390,000 combined, roughly $103 per event on average. Treat that historical average as context, not a prediction; results vary widely with audience size, promotion, and qualifying-order rules.
Qdoba
25% backQdoba's current program donates 25 percent of qualifying pre-tax sales, with supporters showing the flyer's QR code in the restaurant or entering your event code online, and catering orders can qualify too, which is rare in this space. Alcohol, gift card purchases, and third-party delivery are excluded, and the event needs $150 in qualifying sales for a donation to be made. Apply through the fundraising platform at qdoba.force4good.com.
Good to know: catering eligibility is the quiet advantage; one office or team lunch order can carry you a long way past the minimum.
Strong Everyday Programs: About 20 Percent Back
This is the biggest tier and where most groups find their best local match. Twenty percent of a well-attended night is real money, and several of these brands are beloved enough to fill a dining room on a Tuesday.
Noodles & Company
20% backNoodles & Company gives back 20 percent of all qualifying sales from its Fundraiser Nights, with supporters entering your organization's unique code at checkout online or in the app, and fundraising codes cannot be combined with rewards points or other promo codes. Details live at noodles.com. The kids' menu breadth makes it an easy sell to families with picky eaters.
Good to know: code-based programs live or die on code usage, so repeat the code in every reminder; some franchise groups, like Hamra Enterprises, advertise higher rates at their own locations, so check who runs yours.
Panda Express: Neighborhood Fundraiser
20% backThe in-person sibling of the virtual program: supporters show a printed or digital flyer at your chosen location and Panda gives back 20 percent of pre-tax sales, with a friendly $100 minimum. Events can run all day or in a set window, and groups can book as often as every 30 days.
Good to know: run the neighborhood and virtual formats in alternating months and you effectively have a Panda pipeline all season. The same referral bonus applies here, lifting 20 to 25 percent.
Chuck E. Cheese
20% backChuck E. Cheese fundraisers return 20 percent of all event sales, and game play, food, drinks, and merchandise all count, which quietly grows the sales base since kids do not stop at pizza. A $250 minimum in event sales is required to receive any donation, events run Monday through Friday between 3 and 9 pm, and booking needs at least 21 days of notice at chuckecheese.com. Many locations currently advertise a promotional tier that lifts the donation to 25 percent for events topping $2,500 in sales; treat that as a bonus to confirm when booking, not a guarantee. Direct chuckecheese.com carryout and delivery orders can also qualify when the fundraiser item is added to the cart before checkout.
Good to know: frame it as a family night rather than a drop-off, so parents' food orders count toward the total alongside the kids' game play.
Pizza Hut
20% backThrough Pizza Hut Gives Back, your group earns 20 percent on supporter orders that subtotal at least $15, covering pizza, pasta, wings, sides, desserts, and drinks; gift cards, bulk pricing, and liquor are excluded. Orders count with a printed flyer, a screenshot, or the online code. Two rules shape the whole event: the program requires a nonprofit with a valid tax-exempt number, and if total fundraiser sales land under $400, the group receives a food credit instead of the standard donation check. The program runs through participating locations, so confirm yours on the booking site at pizzahutgivesback.com before promoting.
Good to know: pizza nights convert well with a simple hook: tell families to skip cooking on a specific weeknight, for a reason.
Blaze Pizza
20% backBlaze gives 20 percent back on in-store and online event orders, booked through blazepizza.com/fundraising. The build-your-own format plays well with teens, and the online channel means supporters who cannot attend can still count.
Good to know: dual-channel programs deserve dual promotion, one message for the "come at 6 pm" people and one for the "order from your couch" people.
California Pizza Kitchen
20% backCPK's Pizza with a Purpose donates 20 percent of sales from supporters who dine in or take out during your event. Book through cpk.com/events/fundraisers. The sit-down setting suits parent-heavy groups that want the night to feel like an occasion.
Good to know: sit-down checks usually run well above counter-service orders, so a smaller crowd can still build a comparable sales base; ask the location for a typical event sales range.
Cafe Rio
20% backCafe Rio keeps its Funraiser refreshingly simple: pick a location, pick a date, bring your crowd, earn 20 percent of sales. Details at caferio.com/fundraiser.
Good to know: booking runs through a self-serve online form, with no manager negotiation step.
Round Table Pizza
20% backRound Table pledges 20 percent of proceeds from your fundraiser night, booked at fundraising.roundtablepizza.com. A long-established family pizza brand across the West, and a natural pick for Little League and scout groups.
Good to know: pizza orders are naturally sized for whole families, which suits group turnout.
Red Robin
20% backRed Robin offers two routes: a fundraiser event that returns 20 percent of food sales from guests with your flyer, or a gift card program that returns 10 percent of card sales. Details at redrobin.com/fundraisers.
Good to know: the event route pays twice the gift card route, so default to the event unless your supporters are too far away to attend.
UNO Pizzeria & Grill
20% backUNO's Dough Raiser gives 20 percent back to school groups, sports teams, churches, nonprofits, scouts, and more, via unos.com/raisers. Deep dish is an easy headline for your promo posts.
Good to know: sit-down chains run these events to fill quiet weeknights, so midweek dates are usually easy to get.
Which Wich
Commonly 20%Participating Which Wich locations commonly offer 20 percent back, but availability, dates, minimums, and qualifying orders vary by restaurant, so confirm the terms shown during booking. Counter-service sandwiches make this one of the few programs where a lunch-hour event, aimed at office workers and teachers, performs as well as a dinner event.
Good to know: a lunch window doubles your shot at people who cannot make evening events.
Portillo's
20% backPortillo's donates 20 percent when supporters show your flyer, even on a phone, or mention your organization at checkout, and that includes the drive-thru. There is a $200 minimum in total supporter sales to receive the donation, which a modest crowd clears easily. Apply for fundraising nights at portillos.com/good/apply.
Good to know: the drive-thru counting is rare and valuable. Busy families who cannot sit down can still support you in five minutes.
BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
20% backBJ's fundraising events earn 20 percent of all food and soft-beverage purchases, with in-restaurant dining on a shown flyer, takeout, and online orders with your unique promo code all eligible; alcohol and delivery orders do not count. Sign up at bjsrestaurants.com. The big menu makes it a safe pick for mixed adult and kid crowds.
Good to know: the dessert menu gives you an easy promotional hook for student groups.
Friendly's
20% backFriendly's FUNraisers return 20 percent of all dine-in and carryout sales from guests showing your event flyer. Apply at friendlysrestaurants.com with a W-9 ready. Ice cream is the built-in closer here.
Good to know: promote the sundaes, not the entrees. Dessert is why families pick Friendly's over the pizza place next door.
Burger King
20% above baseParticipating Burger King operators run Benefit Nights that typically donate 20 percent of sales above the location's predetermined base average during the event window, typically Monday through Thursday, 4 to 7 pm. Translation: you get paid on the extra traffic you bring, so the donation reflects your actual turnout.
Good to know: because only sales above the baseline count, small turnouts can earn very little. Bring a crowd or pick a flat-rate program instead.
honeygrow
20% backhoneygrow's fundraisers return 20 percent of all orders placed with your organization's unique promo code, in the restaurant, on the hg app, or at honeygrow.com; the request form and guidelines live at honeygrow.com/fundraisers. Events are hosted on the restaurant's slowest days, typically Sundays or Mondays, and flyers cannot be handed out at the restaurant, so all promotion happens through your own channels in advance.
Good to know: the code works across every ordering channel, so remind supporters they can order from home and still count.
Sombrero Mexican Food
20% backSoCal groups can book a Sombrero fundraiser and earn 20 percent of pre-tax sales via sombreromex.com/fundraising. A solid neighborhood pick where the big nationals are booked out.
Good to know: smaller regional chains can often offer prime dates that the national programs are already booked for.
Culver's
Rate set locallyCulver's restaurants are independently owned, and the chain's own Give Local page at culvers.com confirms that each fundraiser or sponsorship is decided by the franchisee, so there is no national rate. Individual ownership groups publish their own Share Night rules, often Monday to Wednesday evening windows with volunteer requirements, so ask what your location offers. Dense Midwest coverage means most groups have a location within easy reach.
Good to know: because terms are local, a friendly conversation with the owner can genuinely improve your rate, especially for a school they already sponsor.
Fuddruckers
Set locallyFuddruckers supports schools, charities, nonprofits, and sports organizations through its Burgers for Benefits nights, with terms confirmed per location at fuddruckers.com.
Good to know: build-your-own toppings bars are sneaky good for kid turnout.
Applebee's
Up to 25%Applebee's now runs a national fundraising platform where approved groups earn 25 percent of sales from online and in-restaurant fundraising, with a $150 minimum in qualifying sales, at applebees.force4good.com. Because most restaurants are franchisee-operated, some ownership groups still run their own formats instead: SSCP's Dining to Donate returns 15 percent of pre-tax checks with a flyer, and Apple Sun, with 128 locations across 14 states, offers pancake-breakfast Flapjack Fundraisers and gift card sales around 20 percent through applesunneighborhood.com. Start on the national platform, and if your location is not listed there, ask which franchise program it runs.
Good to know: if your location runs a flyer-based franchise format, assign someone to text the digital flyer to every family the morning of the event.
Dave & Buster's
20% or 50% cardsA Dave & Buster's Spirit Night returns 20 percent of the event's total qualifying sales, with food, non-alcoholic drinks, and game play all counting, hosted on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday nights and arranged through the youth and schools page at daveandbusters.com. Separately, groups can sell $10 and $20 fundraising Power Cards and keep 50 percent of the proceeds, with cards redeemable at any location and the usual activation fee waived. These are two different programs with different workloads, so compare expected earnings before choosing, or run the card sale in the weeks before your night.
Good to know: position it as the fun-night fundraiser of the season rather than one of many, and concentrate your crowd.
Buona
20% backBuona Benefit Nights return 20 percent of all pre-tax sales your supporters generate, reserved at any location through buona.com/fundraising, with current eligibility and qualifying-order rules confirmed during booking. If Portillo's is booked, this is the natural Chicagoland alternative.
Good to know: hometown-brand pride is a promotional asset; use it in your messaging.
Burgerville
20% backBurgerville Community Fundraising Nights return 20 percent of sales from guests who mention your organization when ordering during the designated window, typically 4 to 8 pm, requested through burgerville.com/communitygiving. A strong local-sourcing reputation makes it an easy community sell in Oregon and Washington.
Good to know: regional chains often offer more scheduling flexibility than the national programs.
Reliable Programs at 10 to 15 Percent
A lower percentage from a restaurant your community loves usually beats a higher percentage from one nobody visits. Several of the strongest turnout brands in America live in this tier.
Raising Cane's
15% backCane's gives 15 percent back on fundraiser events, requested through raisingcanes.com/community-partnerships. A short menu and fast counter service keep the line moving even when a whole team shows up at once.
Good to know: fifteen percent of a packed night beats 25 percent of an empty one, so weigh expected turnout, not just the rate.
Buffalo Wild Wings
15% backThrough Eat Wings, Raise Funds, participating locations donate 15 percent of sales from supporters who present the event flyer, with some franchisees setting their own rate, so confirm yours before promoting. Groups do not need 501(c)(3) status to participate, events are limited to one per quarter, and donation checks typically arrive within 45 days. Apply directly through the program portal at ewrf.buffalowildwings.com, which also covers Home Team Advantage, the season-long program built for sports teams.
Good to know: game-night scheduling cuts both ways. A big local game fills your event for free, but a big national game means your crowd gets lost in the noise.
BD's Mongolian Grill
15% backPick a day and time and 15 percent of your supporters' bills goes to the cause, booked at bdsgrill.com/fundraising. The build-your-own-bowl theater makes the night feel like an event, not just dinner.
Good to know: interactive dining formats keep groups together longer, which is great for community-building goals beyond the money.
Buca di Beppo
Commonly 15%Buca fundraising events at participating locations commonly earn 15 percent for your nonprofit, with terms confirmed when booking, and the family-style platters are built for exactly the kind of big shared tables a fundraiser night produces.
Good to know: encourage supporters to book large tables together; shared platters raise the per-table spend.
Bertucci's
Up to 15%Bertucci's Dining for Dollars events return up to 15 percent on brick-oven meals, arranged through fundraising.bertuccis.com.
Good to know: confirm your nearest location is currently participating before you print flyers; the footprint has shifted in recent years.
54th Street
Commonly 15%54th Street restaurants across the St. Louis, Kansas City, San Antonio, and Dallas-Fort Worth areas host fundraiser events commonly earning 15 percent of sales for your school, organization, or charity, with current terms confirmed when you book with the location.
Good to know: a broad scratch-kitchen menu keeps mixed groups happy, which protects turnout.
Arby's (US Beef locations)
15% at US BeefUS Beef, a large Arby's franchisee operating across states from Illinois and Missouri to Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado, advertises 15 percent back on fundraiser nights at its restaurants, with current terms confirmed when booking. Elsewhere, ask your local Arby's operator what they offer.
Good to know: franchisee programs like this are why "does my location participate" is always your first question.
Texas Roadhouse
Set by local partnerTexas Roadhouse fundraisers are arranged with each location's Managing Partner, who sets the percentage, available dates, qualifying orders, and payment schedule, so nothing here is a universal national policy. Locations commonly advertise dine-to-donate events where supporters show your flyer, printed or on a phone, to their server, with locally quoted rates often in the 10 to 15 percent range and events usually placed on quieter weeknight evenings or Saturday around lunch; treat all of that as examples to confirm, not guarantees. If your group is not a formal nonprofit, ask whether your location will accept W-9 tax information instead; policies differ by Managing Partner. Community details live at texasroadhouse.com/community-impact.
Beyond dine-to-donate, ask your Managing Partner about the companion sell-style options many locations offer, such as pre-selling the famous fresh-baked rolls with honey cinnamon butter, bagged peanuts, or gift cards; margins and availability are set locally.
Good to know: the steakhouse check size is the quiet advantage: higher per-table spending can offset a lower percentage, so compare expected sales, not just rates.
Godfather's Pizza
At least 10%Host a special night and a minimum of 10 percent of sales is donated to your organization, with details at shop.godfathers.com. Some locations offer more, so ask.
Good to know: a published floor of 10 percent means the number is negotiable in your favor, not against you.
Elevation Burger
Commonly 10%Elevation Burger Community Nights commonly return a 10 percent pre-tax donation, arranged directly with your local restaurant's manager, who confirms the current terms. The organic-beef positioning resonates with health-minded parent groups.
Good to know: smaller chains can be more flexible on dates than the big national programs.
Foster's Grille
10% backFoster's Dining for Dollars gives 10 percent back to nonprofits and youth sports groups across its Virginia, Maryland, Washington-area, and Florida footprint, via fostersgrille.com/community.
Good to know: the casual menu works well for post-practice team dinners.
Sell-Style Restaurant Fundraisers: When You Want Bigger Margins
These programs flip the model. Instead of hosting a night, your group sells the restaurant's product, cards, kits, doughnuts, rolls, and keeps a much larger share. They take more volunteer effort than a dine-out night, and they earn accordingly. If selling suits your group, our list of cheap things to sell at a fundraiser pairs naturally with these programs.
Krispy Kreme
Up to 50%Krispy Kreme's fundraising lineup, from Digital Dozens vouchers to classic doughnut presales, can return up to 50 percent of sales to your cause, among the highest shares in restaurant fundraising. Start at krispykreme.com/fundraising.
Good to know: digital voucher formats remove the box-hauling logistics that used to make doughnut sales a chore.
Little Caesars Pizza Kits
$6 per kitLittle Caesars runs kit-based fundraisers that earn your group a flat $6 per kit sold, ordered through fundraising.littlecaesars.com. Flat-dollar profit makes goal math simple: a 500-kit campaign is exactly $3,000.
Good to know: flat-per-unit programs are the easiest to gamify with per-seller leaderboards.
Papa Murphy's
Cards and donation daysPapa Murphy's supports schools, teams, and community groups with Peel-a-Deal discount card sales and donation days, via papamurphys.com/fundraising. Discount cards sell easily because buyers come out ahead.
Good to know: cards keep earning goodwill all year, which softens the next fundraiser's ask.
Hungry Howie's
Certificate programHungry Howie's Dough Raiser lets supporters use certificates that credit your group across hundreds of locations, organized through doughraiser.com.
Good to know: certificate models suit spread-out supporter bases that no single event night could gather.
Donatos
Nights and booksDonatos Dough Nights donate a share of the sales your supporters bring in when they mention your group, with dine-in, pickup, and delivery orders able to count, and events are booked through the fundraising platform at donatos.force4good.com, where your location's exact percentage and rules appear during application. Ask your restaurant about sellable Dough Books too, a coupon-book format some locations still offer.
Good to know: running the book sale in the weeks before your night compounds the same promotion effort.
Marie Callender's
Pies or dine-inMarie Callender's supports groups two ways: whole-pie fundraising sales and Dine In for Dollars events, outlined at mariecallenders.com/community. Pie presales in the weeks before Thanksgiving ride demand that already exists.
Good to know: collect orders and payment up front so the group carries zero inventory risk.
Jamba
Card resaleIn participating regions, groups buy Jamba BOGO cards for $5 and sell them for $10, keeping the difference, a clean 100 percent markup on every card. Local franchise sites, like the San Francisco area's, publish the details.
Good to know: card sales work year-round, but warm months make the pitch easier.
Ask Locally: Franchise-Owned Chains and Special Programs
These brands either leave fundraising decisions to each local owner or run a program with its own twist. None of them publishes one national rate, so your first step is a short, polite ask at the counter or through the site linked.
How to Find Participating Restaurants Near You
Corporate pages tell you a program exists; only the location can tell you it participates. The fastest manual process: search the restaurant's name plus the word fundraiser plus your city, open the individual location page rather than the corporate community page, and then call to confirm. Franchise-owned locations can opt out of national programs, and locally owned spots sometimes offer better terms than anything published.
Ask these six questions on that call and you will know everything the fine print usually hides:
- Do you currently host fundraiser nights?
And which days and time windows are open in the next two months?
- What percentage do you donate?
And is it calculated on pre-tax sales, net sales, or something else?
- Is there a sales minimum?
And what exactly happens if the event lands under it?
- Which ordering channels count?
Dine-in, carryout, drive-thru, direct online ordering, delivery?
- How do supporters identify the fundraiser?
Flyer, verbal mention, QR code, or an online promo code?
- When and how is the donation paid?
Check, transfer, or credit, and how many weeks after the event?
Booking and Promotion Timeline That Actually Fills the Room
- Five to six weeks out: choose and apply.
Shortlist two or three restaurants your community already loves, check the table above for rates and rules, and apply. Remember the outliers: Chipotle recommends about three weeks, Chuck E. Cheese requires 21 days, and manager-arranged sit-down spots can need four to six. Season matters too: school groups fill their fall calendars in August, so book September and October dates early, and steer clear of holiday weeks and big game nights when your crowd is already committed elsewhere.
- Four weeks out: lock details and collect assets.
Confirm date, time window, and exactly how orders will be counted. Download the official flyer and your online code. Put the event on every calendar your organization touches.
- Two to three weeks out: first promotion wave.
Email plus group chats plus social, with the flyer attached and the counting rule spelled out in one sentence. Ask teachers, coaches, and team parents to forward it; personal forwards outperform official posts.
- Final 72 hours: reminder wave.
Two reminders, one three days out and one the morning of, each repeating the code and the counting rules. This wave is where most of your turnout actually comes from.
- Event night: host, do not solicit.
Greet people, thank them, and remind arriving supporters how to be counted. Do not hand out flyers inside or around the restaurant; nearly every chain prohibits it and it can void your event.
- After: close the loop.
Sign any results acknowledgment quickly so the check gets mailed, then post the total with a thank-you. Publicly reported results are the best promotion for your next fundraiser.
Copy-Paste Promotion Messages That Do the Work for You
Most fundraiser nights underperform because the messages are vague. These three templates carry every event. Swap the bracketed parts, keep the counting rule in every single message, and send them on the schedule above.
[RESTAURANT] Night for [GROUP NAME]! Join us [DAY], [DATE], [4 to 8 pm] at [ADDRESS]. Tell the cashier you are with [GROUP NAME], or order pickup online with code [CODE], and [RESTAURANT] donates [X] percent of your order to [WHAT THE MONEY FUNDS]. No tickets, no extra cost, just dinner you were going to eat anyway. Flyer attached; save it to your phone.
Tomorrow is our [RESTAURANT] night, [4 to 8 pm] at [ADDRESS]! Show the flyer or say you are with [GROUP NAME] at the register. Ordering online? Pickup only, code [CODE]. Every order helps fund [GOAL].
Tonight! Skip cooking and support [GROUP NAME] at [RESTAURANT], [ADDRESS], [4 to 8 pm]. Mention us at checkout or use code [CODE] for online pickup, and [X] percent of your meal goes straight to [GOAL]. Bring the whole family. [FLYER IMAGE]
Thank you, [COMMUNITY]! Our [RESTAURANT] night brought in [SALES TOTAL] in supporter orders, which means about [CHECK AMOUNT] for [GOAL]. Huge thanks to the team at [RESTAURANT], [ADDRESS]. Next up: [NEXT EVENT OR DATE].
One writing rule: never say "please support us," always say what the meal buys. "Every burrito funds two new library books" outperforms a generic ask every time.
The Rules Nobody Tells First-Timers
These are the fine-print details that quietly decide whether your check is what you expected. Every one of them comes straight from the programs' own terms.
How to Stack Programs for a Bigger Check
One night is nice. A system is better. Groups that treat restaurant fundraising as a calendar, not an event, quietly out-earn everyone else with the same amount of work.
Rotate chains monthly. Frequency caps are per restaurant, not per group. A school can run Panda in September, Panera in October, Chipotle in November, and a local pizza night in December without breaking anyone's rules, and each event's promotion warms up the next.
Pair local with virtual. A neighborhood event captures your in-town crowd while a virtual format like Panda's 28 percent program captures relatives and alumni anywhere in the country. Same cause, two checks.
Add a year-round gift card layer. Card programs at chains including Panda Express, at around 8 percent through RaiseRight, and Red Robin, at 10 percent of card sales, pay out on cards your families would buy anyway, turning ordinary spending into a slow, steady drip of funding between events.
Attach a same-week raffle or auction. Announce a raffle when you announce the night and draw the winner right after it, using donated prizes so the revenue is nearly pure profit. Our guides to raffle prize ideas and silent auction items cover exactly what to ask local businesses to donate. Just keep ticket sales and bidding online or at your own venue, never inside the restaurant.
Slot nights into your bigger plan. Restaurant events are the low-effort layer of a season, not the whole season. Our master list of fundraising ideas, plus the dedicated playbooks for school fundraising and sports team fundraising, show where a monthly restaurant night fits among your bigger earners, and our creative fundraising ideas add fresh formats between restaurant months.
No Chain Nearby? Pitch an Independent Restaurant
Local restaurants say yes to these more often than people expect, because you are solving their hardest problem: an empty dining room on a Tuesday. You just have to ask like a partner, not like you are requesting charity.
Lead with what you bring. Name your reach in plain numbers: how many families or members you will invite, which channels you will use, and that you will handle every bit of the promotion. A restaurant hears "guaranteed extra covers on my slowest night, at zero marketing cost" and the conversation gets easy.
Ask for their slow night, not yours. Tuesday and Wednesday evenings are the classic offer. Giving the owner the night they need filled is the single biggest factor in getting a yes and a better percentage.
Propose simple, standard terms. A fair independent deal mirrors what the chains on this page do: a share of pre-tax food sales from identified supporters, in the 15 to 20 percent range, counted by flyer, mention, or a code word at the register. Modest and clear beats ambitious and vague.
Put one page in writing. Date, time window, percentage, how supporter orders are identified, what is excluded (alcohol, gift card purchases, delivery), and when and how the donation is paid. One page protects both sides and makes next year's repeat a two-minute conversation.
Think in seasons, not one-offs. Offer a quarterly series up front. Restaurants value predictable traffic even more than a single busy night, and your group gets a recurring line in its budget.
Here is a ready-to-send version of that pitch. Keep it this short; owners answer short emails.
Hi [OWNER NAME], I help run [GROUP NAME], which reaches [NUMBER] local families. We would love to host a fundraiser night at [RESTAURANT] on a slow evening of your choice. We handle all the promotion: email to our full list, flyers to every family, and social posts, so you get a busy dining room at zero marketing cost. In return we ask for [15 to 20] percent of pre-tax food sales from guests who mention [GROUP NAME]. Happy to put it on one page and, if the first night works well, make it a quarterly tradition. Could we grab ten minutes this week?
Before the first night, put these ten points on one page and give both sides a copy:
- Event date and time window
- Donation percentage
- What it is calculated on (usually pre-tax food sales)
- Sales minimum, if any, and what happens below it
- Eligible order channels (dine-in, carryout, drive-thru, online)
- Excluded items (alcohol, gift card purchases, third-party delivery)
- How supporters identify the event (flyer, mention, or code word)
- Payment method
- Expected payment date
- A named contact on each side
For Restaurant Owners: Should You Host Fundraiser Nights?
Most guides to this topic are written only for organizers. But the model has to work for the restaurant too, or none of it happens. If you own or manage a restaurant, here is the honest business case.
What you get. A motivated group fills your dining room on a night it would have been quiet, brings families who may have never tried you, and does all the promotion with its own credibility behind it. The donation comes out of incremental sales you would not otherwise have made, which makes a give-back night one of the cheapest customer-acquisition tools available to a local restaurant, with the added benefit of visible community goodwill.
How to structure your program. Follow the patterns the national chains have already tested: donate a fixed percentage of pre-tax food sales from identified supporters only, set a small sales minimum so tiny events do not consume staff attention, restrict events to your slow nights, cap frequency per organization, exclude alcohol and gift card purchases, and prohibit soliciting inside the restaurant so regular guests are never bothered. Most programs on this page land between 10 and 25 percent, which is the range organizers expect.
Treat it as marketing with a receipt. Track redemptions per event and compare the donation cost against what you spend to win a new customer through ads. The real bet is repeat visits: a fundraiser introduces new local families who may come back at full margin. And while the crowd is in the building, smart merchandising raises the ticket: our guide to the best products to sell in a restaurant covers retail add-ons that turn one busy night into extra margin.
Restaurant Fundraiser Nights: FAQ
How much do restaurants give back on fundraiser nights?
Most dine-to-donate programs return 10 to 25 percent of qualifying sales. At the top of the list, Rubio's gives 30 percent, Panda Express gives 28 percent on virtual events, and Chipotle and Shake Shack give 25 percent. Sell-style programs pay more per dollar: Krispy Kreme fundraising can return up to 50 percent of sales.
Do you have to be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to run one?
Often, but not always. Many national chains require nonprofit status or a school affiliation and will verify tax information, usually an EIN or W-9, before mailing a check. Some are more flexible and accept community groups that can provide W-9 tax information; ask about eligibility before you apply.
How far in advance should you book a restaurant fundraiser?
Three to six weeks covers most programs. Chipotle recommends applying about three weeks ahead, Chuck E. Cheese requires 21 days, and manager-arranged sit-down events can need four to six weeks. Booking early also gets you the best promotion runway.
Do delivery orders count toward the fundraiser?
Usually not. Chipotle counts in-restaurant orders and app or website pickup orders with your code, but excludes delivery. Panda Express virtual fundraisers are a notable exception that allows pickup or delivery with the code. Always check the counting rules for your specific program and put them on your flyer.
What is the difference between a spirit night and a dine-to-donate event?
Nothing meaningful. Spirit night, dine to donate, give-back night, benefit night, community night, and restaurant night are all names for the same fundraiser: a restaurant donates a percentage of your supporters' qualifying sales during a scheduled event.
How much does a typical restaurant fundraiser raise?
Plan on a few hundred dollars for a typical night. Panera's reported 2021 figures averaged roughly $103 per event, and Chipotle guidance suggests supporters spend about $8 to $11 each. Strongly promoted events can reach $1,000 to $3,000 or more in qualifying sales, which means checks in the low hundreds at most programs' percentages.
Can a group run more than one restaurant fundraiser per year?
Yes, and the best groups do. Frequency limits are per chain: Chipotle asks organizations to wait six months between its events, while Panda Express and Panera allow one every 30 days. Rotating different restaurants monthly keeps you inside every program's rules while fundraising all season.
What happens if you miss the sales minimum?
At many programs the donation is zero below the minimum. Chipotle and Rubio's require $150 in event sales, Portillo's requires $200, Chuck E. Cheese requires $250, and Panda's formats require $100 to $150. A few work differently: below $400 in sales Pizza Hut issues a food credit instead of a check, and Shake Shack requires the donation itself to reach $100. Know your target number and remind supporters until you clear it.
Do gift card purchases count toward event sales?
Buying a gift card during your event usually does not count, but paying with one often does, which is exactly how Panda Express handles it. Separately, standing gift card programs, like Red Robin's at 10 percent of card sales, can earn your group money year-round, outside any event.
Are supporters' meal purchases tax-deductible?
No. Buying a meal is a purchase, not a charitable donation, because the supporter receives food in return. The charitable transaction is the restaurant's donation to your organization. Groups should keep the event paperwork for their records and route tax questions to their treasurer or a tax professional.
Do restaurants host fundraisers on weekends?
Rarely on Friday or Saturday nights, because restaurants run these events to fill slow shifts, not busy ones. Weeknights are the norm. Sit-down chains are the most common exception, with some locations opening Saturday lunch windows; days and hours are set locally. If your group needs a weekend, ask about Saturday lunch or an early Sunday evening.
What do you need before you apply?
Have five things ready: your organization's legal name, its EIN, a signed W-9, a reliable mailing address and contact for the check, and two or three possible dates. Chains verify this information before paying, and Chipotle requires fresh tax details for every single event, so a shared folder with current paperwork saves the whole committee time.
Can you run a restaurant fundraiser for a personal cause?
Usually no. These programs support organizations, and Chipotle's guidelines specifically exclude individual causes such as personal scholarships, stipends, or medical expenses. If you are raising money for a person or family, crowdfunding or a community event at your own venue is the better-fitting route.
How we check these programs. Linked rates, minimums, and counting rules come from each restaurant's own fundraising pages, FAQs, and program terms; aggregator lists were used to discover programs, never as the final source, and entries without a linked program page describe how those fundraisers commonly run, to be confirmed with the restaurant. Where a brand leaves fundraising to franchisees or local operators, the entry says so, and where no public terms exist, the entry says to contact the location. Percentages apply to pre-tax sales unless the program states otherwise.
Restaurant programs change and locations can opt in or out, so always confirm details directly with the restaurant when booking. The math on this page illustrates the formula and is not a guarantee, BusinessNES is not affiliated with any restaurant listed, and if you spot a changed or discontinued program, tell us through the contact page so this list stays accurate.
Explore More on BusinessNES
Guides that pair naturally with a restaurant fundraiser night.
Plan the Whole Fundraiser
- Fundraising ideas: the master list Every proven format in one place, from bake sales to big-money events.
- School fundraising ideas High-earning, low-stress fundraisers schools repeat every year.
- Fundraising ideas for sports teams Cover equipment, travel, and fees with formats built for teams.
Make Event Night Bigger
- Raffle prize ideas Prizes people actually buy tickets for, plus pricing that works.
- Silent auction item ideas Items and experiences that drive real bids at any event.
- Best products to sell in a restaurant For owners: retail add-ons that raise the ticket on busy nights.
BusinessNES is where entrepreneurs and business thinkers come to find ideas worth building — and the knowledge to build them right.