One great way to celebrate fallen soldiers this Memorial Day is by raising awareness and funds for a related organization. Sounds like a great idea, but what would be the best fundraiser for this holiday? Well, nothing other than a good, old-fashioned cookout!
If you’re looking to do some good and see your restaurant give back this year, consider hosting a Cookout for a Cause. By following a few simple steps, you can create the ultimate Memorial Day celebration in your community.
Step 1: Locate and select an organization that supports military personnel and/or their family.
- You will need written permission from an organization in order to use their name and logo. Militaryoneclick.com and the U.S. Army offer comprehensive lists of military-related causes.
- Plan to run the event on your own – without their help, but ask for materials or staff who can run an informational table.
Step 2: Choose partners, if desired, and plan the menu.
- Using your own donations and those of sponsors allows 100% of the money spent by attendees to go to the charitable cause.
- Split the costs of a larger event, or make it a grill-off between local restaurants.
- Classic grilling foods like hot dogs, burgers, and chicken are sure to please the crowd. To draw more attention, consider offering unique items.
- Performances and kid-friendly activities will keep guests longer which could equate to more purchases.
- If all of your costs are covered by sponsors and donations, you could make the event/food free to those who participate in raffles and auctions.
Whether donating sales from your burger menu or hosting a town-wide cook-off, cookouts focused on giving back are fun for everyone.