Hello there, caffeinated crusaders and java-loving philanthropists! You’ve stumbled onto the perfect place to brew up a Starbucks fundraiser.
After all, it’s the best blend of doing good while enjoying your favorite cup of Joe.
In this article, you’ll discover how to turn your love for that Grande Latte into the secret ingredient for making a difference.
We’ll discuss how this restaurant fundraising idea works, how to start your own, and even touch on Starbucks Foundation grants.
So, buckle up baristas and benefactors. Get ready to turn your passion for pumpkin spice lattes into purposeful giving!
Table of Contents
- What Is A Starbucks Fundraiser?
- Who Can Start A Starbucks Fundraiser?
- How Does Starbucks Fundraising Work?
- How To Start A Starbucks Fundraiser
- Starbucks Donation Request
- Is A Starbucks Fundraiser Right For You?
What Is A Starbucks Fundraiser?
A Starbucks involves working with your local Starbucks cafe to raise funds for your cause.
The company doesn’t have an official fundraising program, so there are no set guidelines. However, you can still contact your local restaurant to see if they’re willing to work with you.
Additionally, you can work with a third-party, like RaiseRight or FlipGive, to fundraise with gift cards or cashback donations on everyday purchases.
We discuss how all of the Starbucks fundraising options work below.
Who Can Start A Starbucks Fundraiser?
Starbucks provides no official guidelines about who can and can’t start a fundraiser.
Ultimately, it’s at the discretion of the owner of your nearest cafe. However, groups that typically qualify for fundraising include:
- K-12 schools
- Colleges and universities
- Sports teams
- Libraries
- Community centers
- Nonprofits
Additionally, if you want to start a Starbucks gift card fundraiser with RaiseRight, you should 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 Starbucks Fundraising Work?
There are three different ways to run a Starbucks fundraiser.
Discover how each one works below.
Local Starbucks Fundraiser
While Starbucks has no corporate guidelines around fundraising, you can contact your local cafe to see if they’re willing to work with you.
There are a few different ways you can work with your nearest restaurant.
First, you could collaborate on a Dine To Donate fundraiser, where a percentage of your supporters’ purchases are donated back to your cause.
Additionally, you could ask for in-kind donations, like coffee or food. This is a great idea for those organizing after-school or community programs.
You might also consider seeking a sponsorship if you’re putting together a high-attendance fundraising event.
Finally, you could organize a product fundraiser. See if the restaurant is willing to sell you products in bulk at a discount price so you can sell each one for a profit.
RaiseRight Gift Cards
The next Starbucks fundraising strategy involves selling gift cards from RaiseRight.
When your backers use your fundraising code to buy them, a portion of the sale supports your cause.
You can earn up to 4.5% from a Starbucks gift card. Better yet, your backers can choose from tons of other companies!
To start, register your group with RaiseRight. After approval, share your unique link and code with supporters.
Finally, use your RaiseRight Dashboard to track progress and transfer funds to your organization.
FlipGive Cashback
The final method for fundraising with Starbucks is FlipGive. This platform allows you to earn cashback on supporters’ everyday purchases and sell gift cards to support your cause.
Better yet, your team can shop from tons of different brands, from Walmart to Nike to Lowe’s.
It appears FlipGive previously had a cashback Starbucks option. However, the page is no longer findable in the site’s brand search.
Currently, the only Starbucks fundraising option with FlipGive is a gift card with 1% of the purchase going back to your cause.
So, if you’re mainly looking to raise funds with Starbucks, a RaiseRight card is probably the better choice.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to earn cashback from most of your everyday purchases, FlipGive makes a great option.
How To Start A Starbucks Fundraiser
To start a fundraiser with your local Starbucks, the first step is contacting your nearby restaurants.
You can use their location finder tool to find cafes close by.
When contacting the owner, be sure to have an idea of the type of fundraiser you’d like to run. This will help you seem prepared and increase the chances of them working with you.
To start a RaiseRight gift card fundraiser, you need to enroll your organization on the site.
Once you receive approval, you’ll receive your fundraising code and you can share it with your supporters.
You can also start a FlipGive cashback fundraiser by signing up your group on their site.
After creating your account, you can invite team members. From there, your supporters can start shopping and your group can start earning.
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!
Starbucks Donation Request
If you run a nonprofit, you may be eligible to submit a donation request to the Starbucks Foundation.
The Foundation’s areas of focus include:
- Advancing women in coffee-, tea-, and cocoa-growing communities
- Empowering youth and creating more equitable communities
- Promoting disaster response and preparedness in affected communities
If your nonprofit falls into one of the categories above, you could be eligible for a donation. The Foundation awards the following types of grants:
How To Apply For A Starbucks Foundation Grant
There is currently no way for a nonprofit to apply for a Starbucks Foundation grant.
According to the company’s website:
“Starbucks is not currently seeking opportunities for national or local partnerships or sponsorships. In addition, we are not accepting product or in-kind requests.”
The best way to get a donation from Starbucks at this time is to recruit Starbucks partners (employees) to volunteer or donate.
Partners can submit their volunteer hours and personal contributions through Community Service and Partner Match requests.
If you hope to work with Starbucks Foundation and apply for a grant at some point, connecting with Starbucks partners is a great first step.
Is A Starbucks Fundraiser Right For You?
A Starbucks fundraiser is a great way to raise funds if your supporters love coffee!
While there are no set fundraising guidelines for the company, there are plenty of ways to support your cause with restaurant chain.
Additionally, if you’re looking for similar fundraising ideas, you can check out Dunkin’ Donuts fundraisers and Krispy Kreme fundraisers.
Finally, 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!
