Does Stop & Shop Supermarket donate to fundraisers?

Stop & Shop's giving program site runs two store-level programs: the Community Bag Program and the Bloomin' 4 Good Program.

Each $2.50 Community Bag sold gives $1 to a local nonprofit chosen each month by store leadership. Its beneficiaries focus on education, civic, health & wellness, hunger relief or military/veterans causes.

Each specially marked $11.99 Bloomin' 4 Good bouquet sold gives $1 to a local hunger organization chosen for the month. Only hunger organizations can benefit from Bloomin' 4 Good.

Approval puts your organization on a list that store leadership may choose from in future months; approval does not guarantee selection. If chosen, you are notified before the benefiting month starts.

About one week after the selection month ends, Stop & Shop emails the total raised and the date a donation check will be mailed.

The submission form is only for these two programs. For other donation requests, the site says to contact your local Stop & Shop store.

Requests that do not qualify include fundraisers that benefit a for-profit business or specific individuals or families, political or lobbying groups, religious organizations (except where a food pantry is involved), private clubs, requests to cover fundraiser or event expenses, and organizations that discriminate.

Tips from the program page: If your organization is chosen, the program suggests promoting the bag to your supporters by email, social media and flyers, and visiting the store to meet its leadership.

What Stop & Shop Supermarket donates

Stop & Shop Supermarket has typically donated: Stop & Shop Supermarket Cash Donations.

Who can apply

Stop & Shop Supermarket donates to organizations with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Stop & Shop Supermarket does not support events run for profit.

Stop & Shop Supermarket limits donation requests by area: Regional.

How to apply

Stop & Shop Supermarket asks every request to include the following.

• 501(c)(3) status.
• A direct local connection to a specific Stop & Shop store, and a commitment to use the funds in that store's community.
• A mission clearly focused on hunger relief, education (all aspects), health & wellness, or civic or military/veterans causes.
• Complete the Submit Your Organization form on Stop & Shop's giving program site: organization name, website or social link, address, contact person and the Stop & Shop nearest to you.

When to ask

Stop & Shop Supermarket states a lead time of 6-8 weeks. Count back that far from your event date and send the request no later than then.

Across more than 25,000 fundraising events in our own records over fifteen years, March, April and May are the busiest months for fundraisers, October is the next busiest, and July and December are the quietest.

Work backwards from your event rather than forwards from today, and if your event falls in the spring peak, ask earlier than the stated lead time rather than later.

Common questions

Do I need to be a 501(c)(3) to request a donation from Stop & Shop Supermarket?

Yes. Stop & Shop Supermarket's 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.

How far ahead should we ask Stop & Shop Supermarket for a donation?

Stop & Shop Supermarket's stated lead time is 6-8 weeks. Work backwards from your event date: count back that far from the day of the event and send your request before that point.