Which Candy and Chocolate Companies Donate to Fundraisers?

Several candy and chocolate companies donate to fundraisers, but almost all of them give only near their own factories or stores. The Hershey Company donates within 20 miles of its plants, Just Born in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley and near Northeast Philadelphia, Spangler Candy around Bryan, Ohio, Sarris Candies mainly in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, Munson's Chocolates in Connecticut, Sweet Candy Company in Utah and Creo Chocolate in Portland. Lindt, which gives near its New Hampshire headquarters, has paused its program until mid-January 2027. If none of these is near you, a candy sale program may be the better route.

This guide is part of our fundraiser donation answers library. It covers where each program gives, how to ask, who is excluded, and what to do if you are nowhere near a candy factory. Every detail comes from the company's own site.

Candy companies with donation programs

Where the big names give

The Hershey Company limits product donations to nonprofits within a 20-mile radius of its manufacturing plants. Its list of U.S. plants includes Hershey, Lancaster and Hazleton, Pennsylvania; Stuarts Draft, Virginia; Robinson, Illinois; and Memphis, Tennessee. The list also names sites in Austin, Texas, Boulder, Colorado and Charlotte, North Carolina, so check it against your address. Apply through its online system at least 30 days before the event. Hershey cannot provide product for resale, except for raffles, or when it will be used as an incentive or reward for participation or academic activities for school students.

Just Born gives to registered nonprofits in Lehigh and Northampton Counties and within 10 miles of its Goldenberg's Peanut Chews factory in Northeast Philadelphia, plus recognized support channels for U.S. military personnel. It allows one request per calendar year, supports one organization per local parade, and arranges a pick-up date about three weeks before your event if approved.

Spangler Candy, whose brands include candy canes and Dum Dums, reviews requests within 10 days of receipt and limits most donations to the Bryan, Ohio area.

Regional chocolatiers

• Sarris Candies reviews requests weekly and notifies approved organizations within a week. Approved donations must be picked up at its Canonsburg, Pennsylvania location, and it takes one request per organization per calendar year. It gives priority to groups that run one of its fundraising programs.
• Munson's Chocolates accepts requests only by letter to its headquarters in Bolton, Connecticut, not by phone, email or in its stores, and contacts only approved requests. It also gives priority to groups in its fundraising programs.
• Sweet Candy Company requires 501(c)(3) status and a Utah location, and approved product must be picked up at its Salt Lake City factory. It notifies you only if it can fulfill the request.
• Creo Chocolate supports fundraising auctions and raffles for Portland causes. It will not consider a request for an event within two weeks of submission.
• Winans Coffee & Chocolate requires 501(c)(3) status and reviews requests at the end of each month.

Read the exclusions before you ask

Candy programs are small, and many rule out exactly the groups most likely to ask:

• Sweet Candy Company asks schools, PTAs and PTOs, athletic and social clubs, Scout groups and churches not to apply.
• Winans does not currently donate to religious, political or sports organizations.
• Just Born does not generally donate to fraternal or social clubs, or to programs directly benefiting churches.
• Hershey excludes religious organizations except for community-wide events, as well as block parties and family reunions.
• Sarris does not donate for golf outings, holiday parties, door prizes, giveaways or incentive programs.
• Munson's does not donate to individuals or teams, such as walk-a-thon participants.

Hershey, Just Born and Spangler do not list schools among their exclusions, so a nonprofit PTA in their areas can ask them for raffle candy.

Programs that have changed

Lindt says its donations program is suspended through the end of the year and will resume in mid-January 2027. When it reopens, its page says it gives only near Stratham, New Hampshire, cannot ship product, and does not give gift certificates.

Ghirardelli's site describes partnerships with the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Leandro and other nonprofits. Check its site for how it handles requests before you ask.

If you are not near a candy factory

A sale program raises money from sweets without a donation request:

• Krispy Kreme fundraising lets a group sell doughnuts or digital dozens and earn up to 50% of the profit.
• Popcornopolis runs a brochure fundraiser through its partner Gateway Fundraising.

For a sweets raffle basket, a local candy shop or bakery is often the quickest yes. Build the rest of the basket from companies that donate raffle prizes.

A candy request checklist

1. Check the map first. Most programs give only near a plant or store.
2. Check the exclusions. Schools, churches and sports groups are ruled out by several.
3. Plan the pick-up. Sarris, Sweet Candy and Just Born expect you to collect the donation.
4. Send it early. Lead times run from two weeks to 60 days. The donation request timeline planner helps you work back from your event date.

For more food and treat donors, browse the food category, and see how far in advance to request donations.