Most Chick-fil-A restaurants are independently owned and operated, so donations are decided locally by the franchise Operator rather than by corporate headquarters. Requests are usually filled with food rather than cash, and there is a separate corporate grant for larger needs. Here is how to ask and what to expect.
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Because each Chick-fil-A restaurant is independently owned, sponsorships and donations for local events are at the discretion of the individual Operator. Find your nearest restaurant through the Find a Restaurant tool on the Chick-fil-A website, then reach out to that location directly. There is no single national form; the decision is made store by store.
Submit your request well before your event. Many Operators ask for four to six weeks of notice, and some require forms at least 30 days in advance. Applying early gives the restaurant time to consider and prepare, and it improves your chances of a yes.
Give the Operator what they need to evaluate the request: your organization's full legal name, 501(c)(3) status, EIN, and mission statement; a brief description of the community you serve; and your event details, including the name, date, location, expected attendance, and type of fundraiser. A complete request is far easier to approve than a vague one.
Many Chick-fil-A locations state that they do not provide monetary donations, but can often accommodate requests for food products. Frame your ask around food, such as catering or product for an event or raffle, rather than a check, and you will be working with the grain of how most restaurants give.
For larger needs, Chick-fil-A, Inc. runs the True Inspiration Awards, a corporate grant program with awards ranging from $30,000 to $350,000 and roughly $5 million given collectively each year. This is separate from a local restaurant donation and is aimed at nonprofits doing significant community work. Review the current criteria and application window on Chick-fil-A's giving pages.
Last updated June 2026. Errors: [email protected]
The single most important thing to understand about Chick-fil-A giving is that the restaurants are independently owned and operated. That means there is no central department approving local event donations; the franchise Operator makes the call for their store. This is why a request sent to corporate often goes nowhere, while the same request handed to a local Operator gets a real answer. Treat each location as its own decision-maker.
Operators see many requests, so make yours easy to say yes to. Lead with your organization's legal name, 501(c)(3) status, and EIN, then your mission and the community you serve. Spell out the event: what it is, when and where, how many people will attend, and how a donation would be used. Be specific about what you are asking for, which is usually food, and how the restaurant will be recognized. A tidy, complete request respects the Operator's time and stands out.
The True Inspiration Awards are Chick-fil-A's flagship corporate grant program, distinct from local restaurant giving. Grants range from $30,000 to $350,000, with roughly $5 million awarded each year to nonprofits doing meaningful work in their communities. If your organization is seeking program-level funding rather than food for a single event, this is the channel to research. Check the official giving pages for the current application period and eligibility, which can change year to year.
A no from one Operator is not the end. Another nearby Chick-fil-A may decide differently, and other restaurant chains run their own giving programs. Chipotle, for example, hosts fundraiser nights that share a portion of sales, and many grocery chains offer gift cards or sponsorships. Spreading a few well-targeted requests across brands is more productive than pressing a single location that has already said no.