| Many restaurants offer nonprofit groups a popular | | | | The secret to having a successful restaurant night |
| way to fundraise with "Restaurant Night" | | | | fundraiser rests with you. You must advertise the |
| fundraisers. | | | | event to your members and make sure they |
| Here's how it works: The restaurant gives your | | | | show up. Ensure a large turnout by asking your |
| group a percentage of the sales on a designated | | | | members to encourage family and friends to |
| night for all the customers that your organization | | | | attend the restaurant night too. |
| brings to their business. Most of the time the | | | | Many restaurants will allow your members to |
| restaurant will limit your available nights to a week | | | | work behind the counter during your restaurant |
| night- usually one their slow nights. | | | | night. This can be especially effective for schools |
| A restaurant night fundraiser requires virtually no | | | | when the familiar faces of teachers, staff, and |
| planning and very little investment from your | | | | administrators are encouraging your members to |
| group. If the restaurant requires a flyer or coupon | | | | spend more by upgrading to a special meal or add |
| to be presented for your group to receive credit, | | | | a desert to their order. |
| it will often print those up themselves. | | | | Sometimes the restaurant will allow you to set up |
| Why does a restaurant participate and even | | | | an area to inform the public of your cause and |
| encourage this type of fundraiser? | | | | solicit donations via a donation box by the cash |
| | | | register. A popular method is to ask customers to |
| 1. It makes the restaurant look good. Giving back | | | | donate the change they receive back from their |
| to the community enhances their corporate | | | | meal purchase to your cause. |
| image. | | | | What to look for when soliciting restaurants for a |
| 2. It fills the restaurant on a slow night. | | | | restaurant night fundraiser. |
| 3. It introduces people to the restaurant that | | | | There are many variables to consider when |
| might not visit otherwise. | | | | choosing a restaurant to host your fundraiser: |
| What kinds of restaurants hold restaurants night | | | | |
| fundraisers? Almost every kind: | | | | 1. What percentage will our group receive? Local |
| McDonalds | | | | restaurants tend do donate higher percentages |
| Burger King | | | | while chains and franchises trend toward the low |
| Subway | | | | side. Usually the range is between 10 and 25%. |
| KFC | | | | 2. What day or days are available? Some local |
| Jack-in-the-Box | | | | restaurants will agree to a week long promotion, |
| Sonic | | | | but usually it is limited to one day or night. |
| Carl Jr's | | | | 3. What hours are available? Obviously the more |
| Wendy's | | | | hours available the more potential for income. |
| Pizza Hut | | | | 4. Is it limited to just my group? Or will we |
| CiCi's Pizza | | | | receive a percentage from everyone who dines |
| Chick-fil-A | | | | during our time period? |
| Friendly's | | | | 5. If take out or drive through is available will we |
| La salsa Fresh Mexican Grill | | | | receive income from these sales? |
| Applebees | | | | 6. Can our members work behind the counter or |
| Chili's | | | | as "celebrity servers"? |
| Boston Market | | | | 7. Can we set up an informational display and |
| Be aware that although many chain and franchise | | | | solicit funds during our restaurant night? |
| restaurants are available for fundraising, the | | | | A restaurant night is a very popular fundraiser for |
| decision to do so is up to the individual restaurant | | | | small groups like school PTO/PTAs, scout groups, |
| operator. And terms of the fundraiser will vary | | | | sports teams, and other groups with a good size |
| from restaurant to restaurant, even within the | | | | member base but few volunteers. While the |
| same chain and city sometimes. | | | | potential for large profits from this fundraiser |
| Many locally owned restaurants are also eager to | | | | aren't very likely it can provide a steady source |
| host your restaurant night fundraiser too. Don't | | | | of income for your group with very little effort. |
| forget to add them to your potential list of | | | | And this discretionary spending by members of |
| restaurants to call on. They often will offer you a | | | | your group won't affect the regular fundraising |
| better deal than the chains and franchisees. | | | | dollars they give. |
| Any restaurant that you, or a member of your | | | | Just think of how many times your family eats |
| nonprofit group, have a personal connection to via | | | | out each month. If you could hold a restaurant |
| the owner, operator, manager, or worker also | | | | night fundraiser once a month during the school |
| may offer you a better deal. | | | | year the money could add up. Make sure to |
| How to hold a successful restaurant night | | | | rotate your restaurants for the best results. |
| fundraiser | | | | |