Roll up your sleeves, butter your pancakes, and get ready to dive into the delicious world of the IHOP fundraiser!
When you think of the International House of Pancakes, your mind likely floods with thoughts of fluffy pancakes, crispy bacon, and warm syrup.
But did you know that these breakfast maestros are also turning their tables into powerful tools for fundraising?
In fact, IHOP has whipped up a restaurant fundraising idea that’s as sweet as their signature buttermilk stacks.
So, if you’re looking for a way to enjoy your favorite breakfast treats while raising funds for your cause, you’re in for a treat!
Ready to drizzle some philanthropy on your pancakes? Then join us as we explain how IHOP fundraising works and how to get started!
Table of Contents
- What Is An IHOP Fundraiser?
- Who Can Start An IHOP Fundraiser?
- How Does An IHOP Fundraiser Work?
- How To Start An IHOP Fundraiser
- Does IHOP Accept Donation Requests?
- Is IHOP Fundraising Right For You?
What Is An IHOP Fundraiser?
An IHOP fundraiser involves working with the pancake house restaurant chain to raise funds for your cause.
There are three types of International House of Pancakes fundraisers you can run:
- Dine To Donate
- RaiseRight Gift Cards
- FlipGive Cashback
While you can use RaiseRight and FlipGive at any IHOP location, the Dine To Donate option is only available at select restaurants.
We discuss how each one works in more detail later on.
Who Can Start An IHOP Fundraiser?
There are no set guidelines for who can start a Dine To Donate fundraiser. Fundraising eligibility is determined by each restaurant or franchisee.
For example, Sharp Holdings Inc. franchise locations require that you provide a nonprofit tax ID to qualify.
On the other hand, GroupRaise states that all types of groups qualify for their fundraisers, including:
- Elementary schools
- High schools
- College clubs
- Non-profits
- Church organizations
Meanwhile, if you want to start an IHOP gift card fundraiser with RaiseRight, you should be eligible if you fall into one of the following categories:
- Public and private schools (tuition costs, supplies, programs)
- Churches (operating expenses, mission trips, youth programs)
- Sports teams (travel expenses, uniforms, equipment)
- Booster clubs
- PTO/PTA
- Bands
- Other Nonprofits
Finally, FlipGive mainly focuses on sports team fundraising. However, other types of groups can qualify too, such as:
- Schools
- Churches
- Families using it for personal use
How Does An IHOP Fundraiser Work?
There are three different ways to raise funds with the International House of Pancakes.
We discuss how each one works below.
Dine To Donate
In a Dine to Donate fundraiser, you invite your supporters to eat at the restaurant on a specified night.
Then, a percentage of their purchases are donated back to your cause.
It’s worth noting that this event-based fundraising idea won’t be available at every restaurant. There are no corporate-wide fundraising guidelines, so it’s up to each franchisee to offer opportunities.
For example, Sharp Holding Inc. owns 14 IHOPs in five different states, and provides a detailed guide to fundraising. So, if you’re near one of their locations, you’re in luck!
Alternatively, you can search for participating restaurants using this tool from GroupRaise.
If you don’t see any good options after searching with the tool, you can also try contacting your nearest IHOP directly. You can search the closest pancake house using this location finder.
While the fundraising percentage can vary from restaurant to restaurant, 20% is typical based on numbers from Sharp and GroupRaise.
RaiseRight Gift Cards
The next IHOP fundraising strategy involves selling gift cards through RaiseRight.
When your supporters use your fundraising code to purchase these gift cards, a slice of the sale goes toward supporting your cause.
Your cause can earn up to 8% from an IHOP gift card. And the syrup on top? Your supporters can choose from tons of other companies!
To begin, register your group with RaiseRight. After approval, you can share your unique link and code with your supporters.
Finally, you can use your RaiseRight Dashboard to track progress, and transfer funds to your organization.
FlipGive Cashback
The last option for fundraising with IHOP is FlipGive. This platform lets your supporters earn cashback on everyday purchases for your cause.
In fact, for every purchase at the pancake house using FlipGive’s platform, your group can earn up to 5% back.
Better yet, supporters can also raise money with cashback and gift cards from tons of different companies.
Most of the biggest brands are listed on the platform, from Walmart and Lowe’s to Nike and Apple.
The great thing about this method is that supporters have to make these purchases anyway. This means it’s easy to convince them to sign up and help your cause raise funds.
How To Start An IHOP Fundraiser
The easiest way to start a Dine To Donate IHOP fundraiser is to search for participating locations and sign up via GroupRaise.
Alternatively, you can try contacting your nearby restaurants directly.
To start a RaiseRight gift card fundraiser, you need to enroll your organization on their website.
After receiving approval, you’ll get your fundraising code, which you can share with your supporters.
You can also start a FlipGive cashback fundraiser by signing up your group on their site.
Once you create your account, you can invite team members, and your supporters can start shopping. As your backers start making purchases, you’ll start earning money for your cause.
Finally, if you’re really looking to raise a lot of funds, fill out this form and we’ll connect you with one of our fundraising partners. They offer tons of great products to raise funds for your cause, and we believe it’s the most profitable type of fundraising venture.
Note: We do not work directly with any restaurant partners, so the best way to work with them is to contact your local restaurant directly. To work with our partners, fill out our form and we’ll help you get started in no time!
Does IHOP Accept Donation Requests?
IHOP only accepts donation requests at the local level. To request a sponsorship or donation, you need to contact your closest pancake house.
It’s up to each individual franchisee to determine whether or not they want to support your cause.
Meanwhile, IHOP does not accept donation requests at the corporate and national level.
However, they do provide charitable donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to help seriously ill and injured kids.
In fact, each year the restaurant holds National Pancake Day. As of 2020, the fundraiser had raised over $30 million for children’s charities.
Is IHOP Fundraising Right For You?
An IHOP fundraiser is an awesome fundraising idea if your supporters adore pancakes and yummy breakfasts!
After all, who says you can’t have your pancakes and do some good too?
While there are no corporate-wide fundraising guidelines, there are plenty of ways to support your cause with this restaurant chain.
Additionally, if you’re on the hunt for similar restaurant fundraisers, you can check out:
Keep in mind that you can really maximize your fundraising capabilities by utilizing multiple types of fundraisers.
So, if you want to raise as much money for your cause as possible, fill out this form and we’ll help you get on the path to success!
