How to Choose a Chain Restaurant Fundraiser Near You
How to choose a chain restaurant fundraiser near your school, nonprofit, church, or team. Compare nearby participating locations first, weigh how supporters actually order, and use the full brand directory to widen your shortlist.
Jun 28, 2026
Chain restaurant fundraisers are one of the simplest ways for a school, sports team, church, or nonprofit to raise money, but choosing one is less about the logo and more about the location. A recognizable brand only helps if a nearby location accepts your group and counts the way your supporters actually order, whether that is drive-through, the app, or dine-in. This guide is about making that choice well: how to compare the participating locations near you, and how to use the full brand list to widen your shortlist when the obvious names do not fit.
Start with the locations near you, not the brand
For the full picture of which brands take part, the chain restaurant fundraisers list groups participating brands by category, and the brand directory links each one to its local pages. This guide is the companion to that list: once you know which brands are out there, the real work is picking the location your supporters will actually use.
The model itself is familiar. Your group books a fundraiser day or night with a participating location, supporters order during the approved window, and the restaurant returns a share of qualifying sales. For the mechanics, see how restaurant fundraisers work. Participation and terms vary by city, ownership, order method, and how far ahead you ask, so a brand that fits a PTO across town may not be the right pick for your team.
To make it concrete, participating brands run across categories: pizza like Mr Gatti's Pizza, wings like Buffalo Wild Wings and Slim Chickens, sandwiches like Panera Bread, McAlister's Deli, and Jason's Deli, a drive-in like Sonic Drive-In, and treats like Dairy Queen. These are current examples, not the whole list, and availability varies by location, so check the specific restaurant near you.
What to compare before you book a chain restaurant fundraiser
What to confirm before you book a date
- Local availability: is a participating location close enough to your school, church, practice, or commute route that supporters will actually show up?
- How supporters order: do the location's rules count the dine-in, takeout, drive-through, app, online, and delivery orders your group actually uses?
- Giveback terms: what comes back, and are there minimums or excluded items under the location's current rules?
- Lead time: how far ahead does the location need the request, especially before back-to-school, tournament season, and the holidays?
- One clear action: do you know exactly what supporters mention, enter, or show for the order to count?
How DonationScout helps you choose
Knowing a brand runs fundraisers does not tell you which nearby location will say yes to your date. That is the part DonationScout handles: instead of chasing one brand at a time, find restaurant fundraisers near you by city, compare the participating locations side by side, and start a request directly. When the closest options do not fit, widen the search using the full brand list.
Compare the participating locations near you
Search by city or zip to compare nearby participating locations first, then use the full brand directory to widen your shortlist when you need more options.
Frequently asked questions
- What chain restaurants do fundraisers?
- Many fast casual, pizza, sandwich, burger, chicken, and dessert brands offer fundraiser programs, and the chain restaurant fundraisers list groups the ones participating through DonationScout. Participation still varies by location, so the best next step is to check nearby restaurants and confirm current rules before promoting an event.
- How much do restaurant fundraisers give back?
- Restaurant fundraiser giveback is usually a share of qualifying sales, but the exact terms depend on the brand, the location, the order method, and the event details. Compare the giveback against expected turnout, and get the current terms from the location before you promote.
- Do online orders count for restaurant fundraisers?
- Sometimes. Some locations count online or app orders when supporters use a code or fundraiser link, while others only count in-person orders. Confirm the rule with the location before promoting the event.
- How far ahead should I request a chain restaurant fundraiser?
- Ask the location for its stated lead time and plan back from there. Busy school and nonprofit seasons usually need more runway, so request earlier when you can.
- Are chain restaurant fundraisers good for schools?
- Yes, especially when the location is close to the school, family-friendly, easy to order from, and simple to promote through existing parent communication channels.
- Can a group run more than one chain restaurant fundraiser per year?
- Yes. Many schools, nonprofits, and teams run several restaurant fundraisers across the year. Rotating brands, neighborhoods, and event timing helps avoid fatigue and reach different supporters.