Fundraiser Nights: The Complete Guide
A fundraiser night is one of the easiest and most effective ways for schools, churches, and nonprofits to raise money. No product selling, no door-to-door — just a fun night out that generates real donations.
What Is a Fundraiser Night?
A fundraiser night — also known as a "spirit night," "dine-out night," or "give-back night" — is a community event where a local business partners with a school, church, or nonprofit for a specific date. During that time window (usually one evening, like 5-8pm), the business donates a percentage of sales from participating families back to the organization.
The concept is simple: families eat dinner (or bowl, skate, or shop) at the participating business, mention their organization at checkout, and the business donates 15-33% of those sales. It's a win-win-win: families get a fun night out, the business gets increased traffic, and the organization raises money with zero upfront cost.
How Fundraiser Nights Work
The typical fundraiser night follows five steps:
- Partner selection: The school or nonprofit contacts a local restaurant or venue and agrees on a date and donation percentage.
- Date confirmation: Both parties agree on the event date, time window, and tracking method.
- Promotion: The school promotes the event via flyers, email, social media, and word of mouth.
- The event: Families visit the business during the designated time and identify themselves at checkout.
- Donation: After the event, the business calculates qualifying sales and writes a check to the organization.
Typical Donation Percentages
Donation rates vary by business type and size. Here are the typical ranges based on industry data:
| Business Type | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fast food / casual dining | 15-20% | Most common tier |
| Pizza restaurants | 15-25% | #1 fundraiser night category |
| Ice cream / desserts | 15-20% | Family-friendly favorite |
| Chipotle | 33% | Online orders only, highest in industry |
| Entertainment venues | 10-20% | Bowling, trampoline parks, skating |
| Retail | 10-15% | Growing category |
How Businesses Track Fundraiser Sales
One of the most common questions about fundraiser nights is: how does the business know which sales count? There are five primary tracking methods:
- Verbal mention: Families say "We're with ABC Elementary" at checkout. Simple but relies on the honor system.
- Physical flyer: Families show a printed or digital flyer at the register. More accurate than verbal.
- Unique promo code: Used by chains like Chipotle. Families enter a code when ordering online for precise tracking.
- Platform-managed: Services like GroupRaise provide RSVP systems and reconcile headcounts with the restaurant.
- POS button integration: Companies like DonationScout add a "Fundraiser" button to the point-of-sale system for the most accurate tracking.
Types of Businesses That Participate
While restaurants are the most common fundraiser night partners, many other types of businesses participate. The addressable market includes approximately 2.3 million establishments across the US:
- Restaurants and pizza shops (most popular)
- Ice cream parlors and dessert shops
- Fast food chains (Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, Panera)
- Bowling alleys and trampoline parks
- Skating rinks and family fun centers
- Coffee shops and bakeries
- Retail stores (clothing, books, specialty)
- Grocery stores (via loyalty card programs)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fundraiser night?
A fundraiser night (also called a "spirit night" or "dine-out night") is an event where a local business — typically a restaurant — donates a percentage of sales from a specific evening back to a school, church, or nonprofit. Families dine at the participating restaurant, and the business writes a check to the organization, usually donating 15-33% of qualifying sales.
How much do businesses donate during fundraiser nights?
Donation percentages typically range from 15-33% of qualifying sales. Pizza restaurants and casual dining chains commonly offer 15-25%. Chipotle is the industry leader at 33% (online orders only). Entertainment venues like bowling alleys and trampoline parks generally offer 10-20%.
How do businesses track which customers are from our school?
There are five common tracking methods: (1) verbal mention at checkout, (2) showing a printed or digital flyer, (3) using a unique promo code, (4) platform-managed RSVPs through services like GroupRaise, and (5) POS button integration where the cashier presses a dedicated button.
Do fundraiser nights cost anything for the school?
No. Fundraiser nights are completely free for schools, churches, and nonprofits. The business absorbs the donation from their own revenue. The only effort required is promoting the event to families.