How to Run a Chipotle Fundraiser for Schools

If your PTA, PTO, or school group is looking for school fundraising ideas, Chipotle fundraisers are a straightforward option to consider. Supporters dine at Chipotle on a designated date, and your organization receives 25 percent of the event’s sales.

Chipotle fundraisers are widely used by schools because they are easy to organize and familiar to families. There is minimal setup involved, no product handling, and supporters participate by doing something they already enjoy. For school communities balancing limited time and volunteer capacity, this approach is often appealing.

Whether you are a PTA board member planning upcoming fundraisers, a school administrator supporting parent volunteers, or a parent helping coordinate an event, this guide explains how Chipotle fundraisers work and what to expect when hosting one for your school.

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What is a Chipotle fundraiser?

A Chipotle fundraiser is a community fundraising event where a school, nonprofit, or other organization partners with a local Chipotle restaurant for one evening. During your scheduled event, supporters visit the restaurant or place online orders using a unique promo code, and Chipotle donates 25% of those sales directly to your cause.

Chipotle's community fundraising program is designed to be low effort for organizers and enjoyable for participants. There are no products to sell, no order forms to collect, and no deliveries to coordinate. Your group picks a date, promotes the event, and your supporters show up to eat.

The program supports a wide range of causes, from arts and music programs to science and technology, athletics, sustainability projects, and general community needs. If your organization has a federal tax ID or is part of a public school, you are likely eligible.

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How to start a Chipotle fundraiser step by step

Submit your Chipotle fundraiser application

The process starts with the Chipotle fundraiser application, which you can find on the Chipotle community fundraising website. The form asks for basic information about your organization, your preferred restaurant location, and your requested event date.

Approval typically takes about five to seven business days. If you have not heard back within that window, Chipotle recommends reaching out to fundraisers@chipotle.com for a status update. Planning ahead is important here because popular locations and dates fill up, and each restaurant can only host a limited number of fundraisers.

Complete your tax information

Once your application is approved, you will need to provide tax information so Chipotle can process your donation check. If your organization has a federal tax ID number (also called a TIN or EIN), you will submit that along with a W-9.

If you are part of a public school and do not have a separate tax ID for your group, no problem. Chipotle can make the check payable to your school district instead. You will follow the prompts in the approval process to select your district and school, which bypasses the W-9 requirement entirely.

For PTSAs, PTOs, and booster clubs that need the check written to their specific organization rather than the school district, you will need to provide your own tax information separately.

Promote your Chipotle fundraiser night

After your fundraiser is approved, Chipotle provides customizable flyers and an online ordering code for your event. Promotion is entirely up to your organization, and it is really the single biggest factor in how much money you raise.

Share the details through school newsletters, social media, class email lists, and word of mouth. Make sure families know the date, the restaurant location, the event hours, and most importantly, how to make their purchase count. Spanish flyers are also automatically generated for your event, which is a helpful detail for bilingual school communities.

One important rule: all promotion must happen before and outside the restaurant. Chipotle does not allow tables, signs, donation jars, or information distribution inside the restaurant or on the premises during your event.

Host your event and earn 25%

On the night of your fundraiser, supporters need to do one of the following for their purchase to count: tell the cashier they are there for the fundraiser, show a physical or digital flyer, or use the unique online ordering code when placing a pickup order through the Chipotle app or website.

After your event, Chipotle will send an acknowledgement letter for you to sign and confirm your results. Once you complete that step, their accounting team processes your check. Plan on about 30 days from the mail out date to receive payment via USPS.

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What does Chipotle support through fundraisers?

This is one of the most commonly searched questions about the program, and the answer is broad. Chipotle supports a wide variety of causes through their community fundraising program, including arts and music programs, clubs and athletic teams, science and technology initiatives, sustainability projects, and general community causes like playgrounds, libraries, and field trips.

If your organization is a registered nonprofit, a school group, or part of a public school system, you are likely eligible. The program is not limited to any single category, which is part of what makes it so accessible for different types of school organizations.

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How much can your school raise with a Chipotle fundraiser?

Chipotle gives back 25% of event sales (pre-tax) from your supporters. So if your group brings in $1,000 in sales during the event, your organization receives a $250 check. The math is straightforward, and the earning potential really comes down to how many people you can get through the door or ordering online.

There is one important requirement to keep in mind: your event needs to hit a minimum of $150 in total sales for Chipotle to issue any donation. According to Chipotle, that works out to roughly 15 to 20 people on average. For most school communities, that is very achievable with decent promotion.

Your organization is limited to one Chipotle fundraiser every six months at a single restaurant location. That means you will want to make each event count by maximizing turnout and encouraging online orders.

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How Chipotle fundraising works for online orders

One of the best features of the Chipotle fundraising program is that it works for online orders, not just in-person dining. When your fundraiser is approved, you receive a unique promo code. Supporters can enter this code in the promo field during checkout on the Chipotle app or website when placing a pickup order at your designated restaurant.

This is a big deal for participation. Not everyone can make it to the restaurant during event hours, but many families are happy to place a pickup order from home. It also makes it easy for extended family, coworkers, and community members to support your cause even if they cannot dine in.

There are a few key rules to know. Orders must be placed for pickup at the specific restaurant location during the fundraiser time window. Delivery orders do not count. Orders placed at a different location or outside the event hours are not included. And catering or Burritos by the Box orders for up to 200 people can also count toward your fundraiser, which is a nice option for larger supporters.

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5 tips for a successful Chipotle school fundraiser

A few smart planning decisions can make a real difference in your results. These tips are especially useful for PTAs and volunteer teams working with limited time and bandwidth.

1. Pick a date that works for your community

Chipotle fundraisers run during evening hours only, either 4 to 8 PM or 5 to 9 PM. Choose a night that does not conflict with other school events, sports games, or holidays. Midweek evenings like Tuesday or Wednesday tend to work well because families are looking for an easy dinner solution anyway.

2. Be specific about where the money is going

Families participate more when they understand the impact. Instead of a generic fundraiser announcement, explain exactly what the funds will support. "Join us at Chipotle to help fund new instruments for the school band" is much more compelling than "Come support our school."

3. Push the online ordering code hard

The unique promo code is one of the most valuable tools in your fundraiser toolkit. Make sure it is front and center on every flyer, email, and social media post. Some families will order online because it is more convenient, and others may not have known it was an option. Either way, online orders can significantly increase your total sales.

4. Send reminders without overdoing it

A kickoff announcement one to two weeks before, a midweek reminder, and a day-of "tonight's the night" message is a solid communication rhythm. Keep messages short, include the key details (date, time, location, promo code), and resist the urge to send daily updates. Families are busy, and a few well-timed reminders are more effective than a flood of messages.

5. Keep your Chipotle fundraiser flyer simple and visible

Chipotle provides the flyers for your event, and they ask that you do not make edits to the design. Use the flyers as provided and distribute them widely through backpack folders, school bulletin boards, classroom doors, and digital channels. The cleaner and more consistent your messaging, the easier it is for families to remember the event details.

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Fundraising with All Things Science

Chipotle fundraisers are a simple, low-logistics way for PTAs, PTOs, and school foundations to raise funds while bringing families together for a community event. With online ordering and in-store participation options, schools can generate support without managing inventory or product distribution.

Schools can also partner with organizations like All Things Science to help increase student participation in enrichment programs by offering fundraising prizes that include free admission to after-school STEM programs, in-school labs, and summer camps.

A successful fundraiser can strengthen school engagement while expanding access to enrichment for students.

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Chipotle fundraiser FAQ

How do you start a Chipotle fundraiser?

You start by submitting the Chipotle fundraiser application on the community fundraising website. After approval (typically five to seven business days), you complete your tax information and receive your event details, including flyers and an online ordering code.

What percentage does Chipotle give back for fundraisers?

Chipotle donates 25% of event sales (pre-tax) from your supporters. A minimum of $150 in total sales is required for your organization to receive any donation.

Can you do a Chipotle fundraiser online?

Yes. Supporters can place orders for pickup through the Chipotle app or website using your unique fundraiser promo code. Delivery orders do not count, and orders must be placed at the designated restaurant during event hours.

What time are Chipotle fundraiser nights?

Chipotle only hosts fundraisers during evening hours. The two available time frames are 4 to 8 PM and 5 to 9 PM. Lunch fundraisers are not available.

How often can you host a Chipotle fundraiser?

Each organization is limited to one Chipotle fundraiser every six months, and fundraisers can only be held at one restaurant location per event.

Does Chipotle have a minimum sales requirement?

Yes. Your fundraiser must generate at least $150 in total sales for Chipotle to issue a donation. On average, that is about 15 to 20 supporters.

Can we set up a table or promote inside the restaurant?

No. All promotion must be done before the event and outside the restaurant. Chipotle does not allow tables, donation jars, decorations, or distribution of materials inside the restaurant or on the premises during fundraiser events.

Can gift card purchases count toward the fundraiser?

Gift card purchases do not count as orders and are not included in fundraiser sales. However, supporters can pay for their meal with an existing gift card, and that purchase will count toward your fundraiser total.

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