How To Run a Panda Express Fundraiser

If your school or parent association is looking for fundraising ideas that do not involve order forms, product inventory, or weekend events, a Panda Express fundraiser is worth a closer look.

Panda Express has run community fundraising programs for over a decade, working with more than 53,000 organizations nationwide. Groups have raised over $16 million through more than 129,000 events, showing the process is well established and easy for organizers to run.

This guide walks through everything your group needs to know about running a Panda Express fundraiser, from choosing the right format to promoting the event and making sure supporters actually show up.

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What is a Panda Express fundraiser?

A Panda Express fundraiser is a community fundraising program where your school or nonprofit partners with Panda Express, and the restaurant donates a percentage of qualifying sales back to your organization.

There are no products to sell and no cash to collect. Supporters order food as they normally would, and your group earns a cut.

The program comes in two main formats: a Neighborhood Fundraiser held at a specific local restaurant location, and a Virtual Community Fundraiser where supporters can order online from any participating Panda Express location across the country.

Both options give back a meaningful percentage of sales, and the virtual option in particular makes it easy to reach family, friends, and community members beyond your immediate area.

Panda Express fundraisers are especially well-suited for school communities because the brand is widely recognized, families are already regular customers, and there is very little ask involved beyond showing up and eating.

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Who can host a Panda Express fundraiser?

To start a fundraiser with Panda Express, your organization needs to be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a federal tax ID number. Parent associations, booster clubs, and school foundations that have their own nonprofit status are eligible to apply.

If your parent group does not have a separate tax ID, you may still be able to participate by routing the donation through your school district. Panda Express has a process for this that lets your school district receive the check on your organization's behalf, which is helpful for newer groups or smaller parent clubs.

The program is open year-round, which means you are not locked into a specific season or school calendar window when planning.

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How a Panda Express fundraiser works: your two main options

Neighborhood fundraiser (in-person)

A Neighborhood Fundraiser is an in-person dine-to-donate event at a specific Panda Express location. You schedule a time window, promote it to your community, and supporters visit the restaurant on that day. For their purchase to count toward your fundraiser, they need to mention the fundraiser to the cashier or show a fundraiser flyer, either printed or on their phone.

Your organization earns 20% of pre-tax sales from qualifying purchases made during your event window. There is a minimum of $100 in pre-tax sales required for Panda Express to issue your donation check. For most school communities with decent promotion, reaching that threshold is very achievable.

Events can be scheduled as frequently as once every 30 days and up to six months in advance. Panda Express provides a customizable flyer after your event is approved, which makes promotion straightforward.

Virtual Community Fundraiser (online)

The Virtual Community Fundraiser is the online version of the program, and it offers a higher earning rate. Your organization earns 28% of qualifying online sales when supporters use your unique fundraiser code at checkout through the Panda Express website or app.

The biggest advantage of this format is geographic flexibility. Supporters can order from any participating Panda Express location anywhere in the country, which means grandparents in another state, college students, and extended family members can all contribute just by placing an order and entering your code. For schools with tight community connections, this can meaningfully expand the donor pool.

To receive the 28% donation, your event needs to hit a minimum of $150 in pre-tax online sales. Events must be scheduled at least 10 days in advance, and online orders can be placed up to a week before your event date.

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How to start a Panda Express fundraiser step by step

Register your organization

The first step is creating an account on the Panda Express Community Fundraising portal at community.pandaexpress.com. You will provide your organization's name, tax ID information, and contact details.

Having your 501(c)(3) documentation accessible during registration helps speed things along. For groups routing donations through a school district, Panda Express has a specific process to follow that your school's office can help facilitate.

Schedule your event

Once your account is set up, you can request a fundraiser date and choose your format. For a Neighborhood Fundraiser, you will also select your preferred restaurant location.

Scheduling at least a few weeks in advance gives you time to promote effectively and ensures your preferred date is still available. Popular locations and dates do fill up, so do not wait until the last minute.

Promote your fundraiser

Panda Express provides a customizable digital flyer after your event is approved, which is one of the most useful promotional tools in the program.

The flyer includes your fundraiser code, event details, and instructions for supporters. Share it through every channel available to you: school newsletters, email, classroom communication apps, and social media.

Clear messaging about where the money is going tends to increase participation, so be specific about the goal.

For the Virtual Community Fundraiser, the fundraiser code is especially important to communicate clearly. Supporters need to enter it at checkout for your organization to receive credit for their order.

Make the code easy to find and repeat it in every communication leading up to the event.

Host your event and collect your earnings

On the day of your fundraiser, your main job is making sure supporters know what to do.

For in-person events, they need to show the flyer or mention the fundraiser at the register.

For virtual events, they need to enter your code during checkout.

After the event window closes, Panda Express processes your donation and sends a check within approximately 45 days. They also provide an accounting statement so you can see the final sales total from your event.

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How much can your school raise with a Panda Express fundraiser?

How much you raise depends on participation and which format you choose.

With a Neighborhood Fundraiser, your group earns 20% of in-person pre-tax sales.

With a Virtual Community Fundraiser, that climbs to 28% of qualifying online orders.

Both percentages are strong for restaurant fundraisers, which typically range from 15 to 25% among major chains.

As a rough example, if your event generates $1,500 in qualifying sales through the virtual format, your organization receives about $420. A well-promoted Neighborhood Fundraiser with solid family turnout might bring in $1,000 to $3,000 or more in sales depending on your school's size and community engagement.

Groups that actively promote across multiple channels and send clear, repeated reminders tend to see the best results.

One practical tip worth noting: hosting both an in-person and a virtual event strategically at different points in the year can meaningfully add up over time.

Because events can be scheduled as frequently as once every 30 days, schools that treat Panda Express fundraisers as a recurring part of their annual plan often raise more than those who do a single one-off event.

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5 tips for a successful Panda Express school fundraiser

1. Choose the format that fits your community

If most of your school families live close to a Panda Express location and you have strong in-person event turnout, a Neighborhood Fundraiser can be a great community-building event.

If your parent network is spread out, or you want to involve extended family and out-of-town supporters, the Virtual Community Fundraiser is the better fit because there is no geographic barrier to participation.

2. Make the fundraiser code impossible to miss

For Virtual Community Fundraisers, the fundraiser code is everything. If supporters forget to enter it at checkout, the sale does not count toward your total.

Put the code in the subject line of emails, at the top of your flyer, in the first line of social media posts, and in every reminder you send.

Repeat it often enough that families almost cannot forget it.

3. Be clear about what the money supports

Families are more likely to participate and bring others along when they know exactly what they are supporting.

A message like "Every order on Tuesday night helps fund new books for our school library" is far more motivating than a general fundraiser announcement.

Specific goals create a stronger emotional connection and tend to drive higher participation.

4. Send three reminders, not one

Many families intend to participate but forget when life gets busy.

A kickoff announcement when the fundraiser is first shared, a mid-week reminder, and a final "tonight is the night" message are usually enough to capture most of your potential participation without feeling excessive.

Keep each message short, include the code and event details, and you are set.

5. Promote to the whole community, not just school families

One of the best things about the virtual format is that participation is not limited to your school's immediate families.

Teachers, school staff, extended family members, neighbors, and community supporters can all contribute by placing an order and using your code.

Encourage families to share the fundraiser link in their own social networks to expand reach beyond the school's communication channels.

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Fundraising with All Things Science

Panda Express fundraising is an easy way for schools and parent associations to raise support without selling products or managing complicated logistics.

Families can participate simply by ordering a meal, which makes turnout easier to build.

Some schools also use these events to boost student participation in enrichment by offering incentives like free admission to after school STEM programs, in school labs, or summer camps with All Things Science.

A well planned fundraiser can support your school community while helping more students access enrichment opportunities.

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Panda Express fundraiser FAQ

How does a Panda Express fundraiser work?

Supporters order Panda Express and your group earns a percentage of sales. Panda Express donates 20% of in-person pre-tax sales (Neighborhood Fundraiser) or 28% of qualifying online sales (Virtual Community Fundraiser).

How much does a Panda Express fundraiser make?

You earn 20% in person or 28% online, depending on the format. Total results range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars based on participation.

Who can host a Panda Express fundraiser?

Your group must be a registered 501(c)(3). Parent associations, booster clubs, and schools with their own tax ID qualify, and some groups can route donations through the district.

What is a Panda Express fundraiser code?

It is the unique number for your Virtual Community Fundraiser. Supporters enter it at checkout on the website or app so their order counts toward your donation.

How do I start a Panda Express fundraiser?

Apply on the Panda Express Community Fundraising portal at community.pandaexpress.com. After approval, you pick a date and format and get promo materials.

How long does it take to receive the Panda Express fundraiser check?

Checks are mailed within approximately 45 days of the event date. You also receive an accounting statement with the sales breakdown.

Can you do a Panda Express fundraiser online?

Yes. Supporters order online from any participating location nationwide and enter your code, and your group earns 28% of qualifying pre-tax sales.

How often can you hold a Panda Express fundraiser?

You can host one fundraiser once every 30 days. You can schedule events up to six months in advance.

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