Restaurant Fundraiser

Restaurant Night Fundraising

Many restaurants offer nonprofit groups a popular way to fundraiser with “Restaurant Night” fundraisers.

Here’s how it works: The restaurant gives your group a percentage of the sales on a designated night for all the customers that your organization brings to their business. 

A restaurant night fundraiser requires virtually no planning and very little investment from your group. If the restaurant requires a flyer or coupon to be presented for your group to receive credit, it will often print those up themselves.

Choose the Restaurant

A lot of restaurants will help with a community fundraiser if you ask, but unless the chain has a clear policy for fundraisers, it will be up to each restaurant manager whether they will help or not.

The website, GroupRaise.com, has an interactive map that lets you search for restaurants in your area. This website also helps you book the restaurant on its website

Listed below are restaurants that help not-for-profits raise money. Details vary by location.

• 54th Street : 54th Street restaurants are located in St Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, and San Antonio and Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas. A fundraising event for your can earn 15% of the sales.

• Arby’s: US Beef Corp gives back 15% and owns many Arby’s restaurants across the western part of the country from Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas to Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado.

• Applebee’s: Groups can earn 10% to 20% of sales, depending on the number of flyers that are brought in. Note: If fewer than 20 flyers are brought back, the group will get no donation.

• Baja Fresh: Details vary by location, so contact your local manager to arrange a fundraising night.

• BD’s Mongolian Grill  BD’s offers two ways to raise money: the Guest Griller program and Benefit Nights. As a Guest Griller, you can talk up your organization and earn donations by setting up a tip jar or by selling tickets ahead of time. Through a Benefit Night, BD’s Mongolian Grill will donate a percentage of all receipts generated by supporters who show a card.

• Bertucci’s – Bertucci’s:  DINING FOR DOLLARS allows your organization to enjoy a great meal and raise money for a great cause. Bertucci’s is located in the northeast of the United States and gives back 15%.

• BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse Fundraisers: BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse will host a fundraising event for your organization. The standard fundraiser donates 15% of the total food and soft beverage purchase from guests who bring in flyers for your event.

• Blaze Pizza: Blaze pizza is located across the United States and provides 20% back to the organization.

• Bob Evans: Restaurants donate 15% of sales to the organization for all guest checks that present a flyer for the event.

• Boston Market: Boston Market provides a 15% donation on sales. They provide you with a flyer and event tickets. Restaurants are located throughout the United States.

• Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
  Provide “celebrity scoopers” to take orders at the store window during a Scooper Night, and Bruster’s will donate a percentage of sales to your organization. Get started by reserving a night online. Events must be planned at least one week in advance..

• Buffalo Wild Wings
  Each restaurant can help raise funds for organizations in the community through the Eat Wings, Raise Funds program. Fill out an online application to get started.

• Buca di Beppo: A Buca Fundraising Event will earn 15% for your non-profit organization. These Italian restaurants offer family-style dishes great for sharing with all the participants in your fundraiser.

• Buona Beef: Chicago area Buona Beef restaurants have a Buona Benefits Night program, with 15% going back to the non-profit. If you like Italian Beef sandwiches that rival Portillos, this is your fundraiser.

• Burger King stores operated by Tri-City Foods: Tri-City Foods operates Burger King restaurants in six Midwestern states. They donate 20% of event sales (from a limited menu) to your not-for-profit organization.

• Burgerville: Earn 10% of sales during a partnership event. Specific details vary by location so contact your local restaurant manager.

• California Pizza Kitchen: CPKids FUNdraisers offer 20% of sales from people who present a flyer in support of your group. Fundraising events are usually arranged for a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

• Carrabba’s Italian Grill : Commonly, groups will sell tickets to a dinner event on a given night and keep all proceeds above the cost of each ticket. Details vary by location, so contact your local restaurant manager to arrange an event.

• Cheeburger Cheeburger: Contact your local restaurant manager to arrange the event. They will create a flyer for you and then will collect the flyers and receipts at the event.

• Chevys Fresh Mex: Chevys will donation 15 % of sales generated by patrons who present a flyer.

• Chick-Fil-A: Chick-fil-A offers a variety of fundraising programs, including Spirit Nights, but all are done at the local level. Contact your local Chick-fil-A Restaurant to inquire about their events and community involvement.

• Chili’s: A Chili’s Give Back Night takes place at a local restaurant on a specified evening. The benefiting organization receives 10 % of sales (excluding tax and gratuity) from guests who present an event voucher. Give Back Nights are usually held on a Tuesday or Wednesday, with the timing determined by the local unit manager.

• Chipotle: Chipotle offers in-restaurant fundraisers to certain types of nonprofits. An online application is required.

• CiCi’s Pizza Buffet: Cici’s says to contact individual stores about fundraisers.

• Cosi: Benefit Nights offer a portion of the proceeds of qualifying sales as a donation back to the qualifying nonprofit 501(c)(3) groups. Contact your local Cosi location for more information.

• Culver’s: Culver’s restaurants are usually locally owned and the owners are usually kid friendly.

• Dave & Busters: When the group gets together at a local Dave & Buster’s for a Spirit Night, the organization earns up to 10% of the night’s total.

• Elevation Burger: Receive a 10% pretax donation through Elevation Burger Community Nights. Contact your local restaurant manager to arrange the event.

• Elmer’s Restaurants: Not all Elmer’s Restaurants participate in Restaurant Nights, so be sure to call your local Elmer’s in the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and California.

• Foster’s Grille: Home Of The Charburger: Foster’s “Dining for Dollars” program will give back 10% to your non-profit organization. Foster’s Grille has family restaurants in Virginia, Florida, Maryland, and North Carolina.

• Friendly’s – Fundraising: Nonprofit organizations can hold a Friendly’s FUNraiser and receive 20 % of all sales for dine-in and carryout purchases showing an event flyer.

• Fuddruckers: On the night of your Benefit Night Fuddraiser, all you have to do is show up during your event time and eat. At the end of the event, the store totals up all the sales and your group receives a donation based on the entire amount of sales made during that time. Contact your local Fuddruckers general manager to set up a Benefit Night.

• Go Roma: Choose a date and time for your event and distribute announcement flyers. Go Roma will give back a percentage of every entrée ordered.

• Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille: The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille helps local organizations through its Funds for Friends program on selected Tuesdays. This restaurant is in Virginia and Maryland.

• Isaac’s Famous Grilled Sandwiches: A community night at Isaac’s will earn your organization 25%. Issac’s are located in south-central Pennsylvania.

• IHOP:  Many IHOP locations support local organizations through sponsorships, events, and fundraisers. Details vary by location, so contact your local restaurant manager to plan an event.

• Jamba Juice: Jamba will deliver smoothies to your door, staff your event, take care of collecting money, and promote the event. A percentage of sales generated at the event are donated to your organization.

• Kona Ice: Kona Ice will provide the material to promote the event and will send a shaved-ice truck to your event. A portion of sales will be returned to your group.

• Laughing Plantet Café:  The restaurant has a limited number of donation days that are scheduled each season. Check the website for the latest info and to sign up. Only federally recognized nonprofit organizations are eligible.

• Logan’s Roadhouse:  Through the “Raise the Steaks” fundraising program Logan’s Roadhouse will donate 15% of a group’s pretax dining checks back to the organization. If group orders exceed 50 adult entrees, Logan’s will donate 20% of the pretax dining checks. Events may be held Monday through Wednesday from 4 p.m. to close.

• Lone Star Steakhouse: Lone Star’s Dine & Donate is an easy way to raise money for your charity. They will donate 15% of your guests’ checks back to you.

• Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria: Another favorite Chicagoland pizzeria offering a fundraiser night with 20% going back to the non-profit.

• Maggie Moo’s: Call your local Maggie Moo’s ice cream place to see if they participate in an event you can host that’s called Celebrity Scoop Night.

• Marie Callender’s Restaurant & Bakery: Marie Callender’s offers two types of fundraisers: pie sales and dining-in (percentage policy for the latter not explicit on the website).

• Margaritas Mexican Restaurant: Margaritas Mexican Restaurant offers a unique and authentic Mexican dining experience featuring traditional Mexican recipes and decor.

• Max & Erma’s: Max & Erma’s advertise 20% return on their website and give some great tips for a successful fundraiser.

• McDonald’s:“Family Fun Nights”- 20% of sales goes to your company’s charity of choice.

• Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt: Fill out a form with your group’s fundraising objectives. Menchie’s provides tools to promote your event. The fundraiser proceeds go directly to your organization.

• Moe’s Southwest Grill: Moe’s makes fundraising for your non-profit organization fun and easy. Contact the manager at a Moe’s restaurant near you. Details vary by location.

• Nicolosi’s Italian Restaurant: Nicolosi’s will provide flyers and marketing materials; your group will receive 15 % of sales back to your group for the customers who present the flyer at the restaurant on your particular night.

• Noodles & Company Fundraisers: Noodles & Company offers fundraising events yielding a percentage of sales. Contact a local manager for details.

• Not your Average Joe’s: Each location sponsors a different local nonprofit every Tuesday in a given month through the Not Your Average Cause program. During that month, the selected organization receives 15 % of all purchases made by supporters who show a certificate

• Oberweis Ice Cream Stores: When you visit an Oberweis Ice Cream store, bring along your group’s 501(c)(3) documentation and you will receive a fundraising kit consisting of posters, an application form, and a coupon flyer personalized with your group’s information and shopping dates. Coupons must be presented at time of purchase and then signed. Your group can earn between 10 and 30% of purchases depending on total sales.

• Outback Steakhouse: Outback Steakhouse has a stated commitment to giving back but conducts all programs at the local level. Contact your local restaurant directly regarding sponsorships; the restaurant requests that a written proposal be submitted for review.

• Panda Express: Let Panda Express help you raise money for your organization. Tell friends and family to dine in or take-out at Panda Express and 20% of the event sales will be donated to your organization.

• Panera Bread: Fundraising Nights: Panera has a sliding scale for payouts with the top payout at 20%. On the minus side is that if you don’t get at least 20 orders, then you don’t get a dime.

• Papa Gino’ Pizzeria:The Papa Gino’s Five-Hour Fundraiser offers nonprofit groups the opportunity to earn 20% of sales during a predetermined time frame

• Pei Wei Asian Diner: Pei Wei will donate 20% of proceeds to your non-profit organization that supports culture, art, and diversity. You can choose lunch or dinner fundraisers.

• Pizzeria Uno Chicago Grill: Dough Raisers:Dough Raisers earn up to 20% of sales.

•  Pizza Hut: Pizza Hut fundraising events are handled at the local level. Contact a local restaurant for details.

• Ponderosa Steakhouse: During a Ponderosa Benefit Night, 10% of sales generated by your group will be donated back. Check with your local restaurant to confirm whether they participate in the fundraising program.

• Portillo’s: Chicagoland has been waiting a long time for this one. 20% return on a Portillo’s hotdogs restaurant fundraiser.

• Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Raise 25% for your not-for-profit organization by hosting a Restaurant Night. Or for smaller organizations, run a Shake Fundraiser.

• Pusser’s Caribbean Grille: Pusser’s Caribbean Grille will offer 10 % of sales from people who present a flyer in support of your group. Fundraising events are usually arranged Monday through Thursday.

• Qdoba Mexican Eats: Qdoba Mexican Eats donates 20% to 30% of sales above $1,000 from people who support your organization. An application and W-9 form must be submitted at least 12 weeks before a planned fundraising event; events can be held Tuesday through Thursday during lunch or dinner.

• Raising Canes: Great chicken and 15% back for your event.

• Red Robin Gourmet Burgers: A percentage of food sales from guests who bring in a flyer will be donated back. The event date and time are arranged with a local restaurant general manager.

• Roti Mediterranean Grill: Roti offers 20% to non-profit groups.

• Rubio’s: Rubio’s helps you plan your fundraiser and make it a success with flyers and delicious food. Guests bring a flyer to get credit for the purchase. Rubio’s will donate 20 % of total sales back to your group with at least a minimum of $250 net sales.

• Ruby Tuesday: Participating restaurants will donate 20% of sales generated by supporters who present a flyer when dining in or ordering takeout.

• Shakey’s Pizza Parlor:  Book an evening at Shakey’s and invite as many people as you’d like. Shakey’s will donate a percentage of your groups’ net food sales back to your organization.

• Sombrero Mexican Food:  Contact Sombrero Mexican Food’s support office to request a date for your event (Monday through Thursday between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.). Complete the agreement and forward to the support office for approval. Sombrero Mexican Food will create a “FIESTA” flyer for you to distribute. Your supporters present the flyer to the cashier when ordering, and 20% of the event’s total pretax sales will be donated to your group.

• Sonic: Most Sonic restaurants are franchises, so details will vary by individual location. Contact the manager of your local restaurant to find out what programs are supported.

• Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes: Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes advertise their Fun-Raisers. Give it a try if you have one in your neighborhood. 15% is returned to the organization.

• Spartans Family Restaurant: Host a Spirit Day—yes, all day. Set the date, then make flyers for the event. Spartans Family Restaurant will donate 10 % of sales from people that bring in your flyer or sticker.

• SweetFrog Premium Frozen Yogurt:  SweetFrog is always looking to hold fundraisers to assist groups in reaching their dreams. Contact your local SweetFrog manager to see how they can help.

• Taco Bueno:  Use an online template to print announcement posters and invitations. Taco Bueno will send a check for 15% of net sales from diners with invitations.

• TGI Friday’s: Through Fundraise @ TGI Friday’s, earn 20% of all pretax sales generated by supporters who present a ticket. Fill out an online form to get started. Note: The online form lists only 27 locations in New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida; if your location is not listed, contact the manager directly to ask about community fundraising programs.

• The Greene Turtle:  On a selected day, participating The Greene Turtle locations will host a Funds for Friends event. The benefiting organization hands out flyers to encourage supporters to dine at the restaurant, which will donate a percentage of the day’s receipts.

• Uno Pizzeria and Grill: Earn up to 20% of dine-in or takeout sales from supporters who present a donation ticket when they arrive at the restaurant. If total pretax sales are less than $1,000, the Uno Dough Raisers program will give a 15% donation; above $1,000, the program will give a 20% donation. Download an application to get started.

• Wendy’s: At locations in Baltimore, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C., community groups can sign up for a Wendy’s GetTogether and earn 10 % of total sales during the fundraising period. (A second GetTogether in 12 months will earn a 15% donation, and a third in the same 12-month period will get a 20% donation.) There is a minimum attendance that must be met for each event.   Other Wendy’s locations also do fundraising nights, but details vary by location; contact your local restaurant manager for more information.

• Willie’s Grill and Icehouse:  Willie’s Grill and Icehouse will offer 15% of sales (excluding tax and tip) from people who are supporting your organization’s Spirit Night. Fundraising events are held Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday from 4 p.m. until closing.

• Yogurtini Fundraisers:Yogurtini will host nonprofit groups in the store along with friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, and anyone wanting to help your cause. A percentage of event sales will be donated to the organization. Submit an online fundraiser request form to get started.

For more information contact Believe@dup15q.org