How Restaurants can Profit from All Those Donation and Freebie Requests

As you already know, the number of charitable solicitations made to restaurants ramps up considerably during the holidays. From the Salvaton Army bell-ringers to the homeless veterans that post themselves dutifully at every busy intersection, to the local high school Student Council's "ACLU Approved, Politically Correct, Non-Religiously Affiliated, Winter Solstice Festivity Fundraiser Auction and Indian Taco Dinner", you see a steady parade of hands held out to your restaurant expectantly requesting donations of one sort or another this time of year. While many of these causes are worthwhile to support and it is certainly a marketing opportunity, privilege and even an obligation for a restaurant to give back to the community, you can't afford to give something to everyone. The question then is how to decide to which cause do you donate? This is where some creative criteria development comes into play.

Have the various requestors of freebies compete in some sort of hand to hand combat for your donation. Designate a time for them to meet at the restaurant to thumb wrestle, arm wrestle, even mud wrestle for the honor of receiving your coveted 2-for-1 coupons. Last man, woman or child standing wins. You could sell your staff tickets to the event and more than cover the cost of the donation!

If the Miss Junior College Pageant entrant desires the support of your restaurant, have her submit a framed essay of 1000 words (or more) written on parchment paper in calligraphy explaining why hers is a more worthy cause to donate to than the Saintly Sisters of Sacrificial Servitude. Be sure she includes in her essay exactly when she, the rail-thin beanpole of a coed last ate a meal at your restaurant (not a side salad with a squeeze of lemon, a real meal). Not only will you be able to better discern who really wants your free-appetizer-with-the-purchase-of-two-entrees-offer-that's-not-valid-on-Friday-or-Saturday-nights certificate, but you will certainly reduce the volume of applicants as the Sisters are not easily dismissed when it comes to getting what they want.

How low will they go? Predetermine a ridiculously low minimum limbo-bar height in the dining room which every donation seeker must be able to successfully negotiate. Only the limber need apply. You'll probably never have to donate to the Red Hat Ladies again (but it'd be fun for your guests to watch!)

Does the youth group from the Reformed Southern United Bretheren of the Apostolic Evangelical Trinitarianism Church want to hold a car wash fundraiser in your parking lot? Make sure the management team's cars are complementary (spouses included). Schedule the car wash immediately after the aforementioned mud wrestling and clean up is free!

In short, make sure you develop your own unique qualifiers to weed out the wimpier causes and derive some sort of profit, entertainment or service from your generous giving. So when those hands are held out to you for a donation, shake them heartily and direct them to the back of the limbo line.

Written by Brian Bruce  Brought to you by www.RestaurantManagerRescue.com