Does Panda Express donate to fundraisers?

Neighborhood Fundraiser: hosted at your local Panda, with in-store and online ordering; Panda lists a 20% giveback.

Virtual Community Fundraiser: online ordering for pickup or delivery at Panda locations nationwide; Panda lists a 28% giveback.

Panda provides digital promotional materials for your fundraiser, which you can customize with your organization's logo.

Panda Cares food donations are for 501(c)(3) nonprofits that directly support the health or educational needs of underserved youth, at events where youth eat the food. Events serving adults do not qualify.

Panda Cares lists its eligibility as "Non-political" and "Non-religious", and its FAQ says support is "strictly limited to 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-political and non-religious organizations that benefit the health and education of underserved youth."

Panda Cares food donations exclude sporting events, gift card requests, monetary donation requests, fundraisers, walks and runs, open houses, graduation or related festivities, and community carnivals.

Tips from the program page: Panda associates serve the food at accepted events. Delivery or onsite serving depends on the local store, and in-store pickups are not permitted. · Allow 1 to 2 weeks for a food donation application to be processed; organizations that do not qualify are notified by email.

What Panda Express donates

Panda Express donates fundraiser giveback.

Panda Express has typically donated: Neighborhood Fundraiser (20% giveback) or Virtual Community Fundraiser (28% giveback); Panda Cares also donates food for youth events. Gift card requests do not qualify.

Who can apply

Panda Express donates to organizations with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Panda Express does not donate to individuals.

Panda Express limits donation requests by area: Food donations: an event within 5 miles of a Panda Express.

How to apply

Panda Express asks every request to include the following.

• Fundraisers: create an account on Panda's community programs site, which gives access to all of its community programs.
• Food donations: apply online at least 6 weeks and no more than 3 months before the event. Mail-in requests are not considered.
• Food donations: sign the Food Donation Agreement and submit it with the application; applications without it are not accepted.
• Food donations: the event must serve 50 to 500 attendees and be within 5 miles of a Panda Express.
• Food donations: one request per nonprofit per calendar year.

What Panda Express will not fund

Panda Express states in its own published guidelines that it will not fund the following.

• Political or religious organizations (food donations)
• Events or organizations serving adults (food donations)
• Sporting events
• Gift card requests
• Monetary donation requests
• Fundraisers
• Walks/runs
• Open houses
• Graduation or related festivities
• Community carnivals

This covers only what Panda Express states. A request can still be turned down for reasons a company does not publish.

Common questions

Do I need to be a 501(c)(3) to request a donation from Panda Express?

Yes. Panda Express' donation program is limited to organizations with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, so you will need your determination letter and Tax ID before you apply.

Can a school, team, or individual apply to Panda Express?

Panda Express states that it will not fund: Political or religious organizations (food donations); Events or organizations serving adults (food donations); Sporting events; Gift card requests; Monetary donation requests; Fundraisers; Walks/runs; Open houses; Graduation or related festivities; Community carnivals. Check your organization and your event against that list before you apply — those are the restrictions Panda Express publishes itself.