A Subway fundraiser can be a Dine to Donate event, gift card sale, or donation request. Learn how each type of fundraising works here.
All aboard the sandwich express, because today we’re exploring the Subway fundraiser!
If you’ve been looking for a fresh ‘n’ zesty restaurant fundraising idea, then your train has arrived.
We’re about to chomp our way through a footlong journey of giving, garnished with a healthy sprinkle of community spirit.
In this article, we’ll explain how Subway fundraising works and how to start your own.
So, get ready to transform our favorite sandwich stop into a powerful platform for change, one Italian BMT at a time!
A Subway fundraiser involves collaborating with your preferred sandwich shop to raise funds for your cause.
There are three different types of fundraising options:
We delve into how each one works further down.
It’s important to remember that not every Subway location offers every type of fundraising. The opportunities they provide are at the discretion of each individual restaurant.
Additionally, the Subway Cares Foundation offers grants, but they don’t accept solicitations. Instead, they are invite-only.
We’ll touch on the Subway Cares Grant at the end of this post.
There are no defined guidelines for who can organize a Subway fundraiser. Instead, it’s up to each individual restaurant owner to decide what their location offers.
However, if you belong to one of the following groups, you can likely assume you’re a qualifying organization:
The only way to determine if your chosen Subway restaurant offers fundraising opportunities is to reach out to them directly.
Fortunately, the company has plenty of locations across the country. In fact, they boast over 20,000 sandwich shops across the country.
There are three different types of fundraising you can do with Subway. Just keep in mind that the dine to donate and donation request options aren’t offered by every restaurant.
Meanwhile, gift cards for fundraising are sold by a third-party company, and they are valid at every location.
A Subway Dine to Donate fundraiser takes place at a specific restaurant during a designated day and time.
During this period, a percentage of your supporters’ purchases is donated back to your cause. This percentage is usually 15%.
To raise funds, supporters can use a code when they make a purchase so your group gets credit.
Alternatively, if they order in the restaurant, they can simply inform the cashier that they’re participating in the fundraiser.
Once the fundraiser is over, Subway will calculate your net sales and give you your percentage.
Another exciting Subway fundraiser involves selling gift cards through RaiseRight.
Supporters can help your cause by purchasing these gift cards using your dedicated fundraising code. Then, 7.5% of each Subway gift card sale goes back to your cause.
Better yet, supporters have a broad selection of other companies to choose from, too!
To get started, you first need to register your group on RaiseRight. Once approved, you can send out your unique link and code to your supporters.
Finally, use your RaiseRight Dashboard to monitor fundraising progress and transfer funds to your organization.
The final Subway fundraising idea involves submitting a donation request.
Like dine to donate events, you usually need to reach out to your selected restaurant to check if this option is available.
However, you can also apply on TheShareWay. Just bear in mind that the approval rate for requests through this platform is only 3%, and 52% received no response.
Typically, these requests are for either food or cash donations.
If you’re coordinating a high-attendance event, the restaurant may view it as a worthwhile sponsorship opportunity.
The same holds true if you boast a strong social media presence or big email list. If the restaurant can gain exposure to a larger audience, it might be in their best interest to contribute.
Remember though, each Subway location has its own distinct guidelines regarding donation requests. The company also states that they aren’t able to reply to all requests.