Successful Fundraising Ideas for Groups and Clubs

Restaurant Fundraiser Idea for Non-profits

How to organize a successful restaurant fundraiser for nonprofits

Chances are, in just about every major city in the country, there’s a restaurant fundraiser taking place to benefit a local team, club, group, school, or church. Restaurant hosted fundraisers are one of the easiest fundraisers to put on. Other than telling people about the event, there’s not much else that you need to do, which is why of course, they’re so popular. There are essentially no upfront costs, and all event operations are handled by restaurant staff, even the clean up! While you’re not going to generate a huge amount of funds with a single restaurant fundraiser, hosting an event monthly can prove to be profitable for your organization.

Restaurant fundraisers benefit the participating restaurant just as much as they benefit you. You get a small portion of all the food and drink sales made during the event, and the restaurant gets a bunch of customers, perhaps some of them remaining loyal customers. It’s a win, win for both of you.

To begin planning and organizing your restaurant fundraiser, reach out to local restaurants in your community and inquire about their interest in hosting a fundraiser. Look for restaurants that have the capacity to accommodate your group and supporters. Consider factors such as location, menu offerings, and seating capacity. Chances are, people in your group or organization already have great restaurant contacts, so ask around.

A number of national chain restaurants work with local non-profit groups to host fundraisers, such as Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, Pizza Hut, Applebee’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, and others. However, you should definitely check with popular local non-chain restaurants as well, as people may have more interest in trying them out and you could draw a bigger crowd.

Once you’ve identified a restaurant willing to participate, negotiate the terms of the event. Discuss details such as the date and time of the fundraiser, the percentage of proceeds to be donated to your organization, any special menu offerings or promotions, and any requirements or restrictions the restaurant may have. Consider factors such as weekday vs. weekend, evening vs. lunchtime, and potential conflicts with other events or holidays. Aim for a date that allows for maximum attendance and participation. Try and book your event at least 1-month in advance to give you enough time to build awareness an accommodate everyone’s schedules.

Once you’ve set the date for the event, start promoting to your group’s supporters and the greater community. Leverage all of your social media channels, send emails, hand out flyers, and have everyone you know spread the word. Clearly communicate the details of the event, including the restaurant name, date, time, and purpose of the fundraiser on all of your creative materials.

Encourage supporters to RSVP to the event to give the restaurant an estimate of attendance and help with planning, and make sure that there is clear communication between your group and the restaurant leading up to the event. On the day of the event, arrive early to set up any signage or decorations and coordinate with restaurant staff. Greet attendees as they arrive, and thank them for their support!