Donation Requests
To request a donation for your non-profit organization’s upcoming event, please use our online Donation Request Form or submit your request in writing according to the following guidelines.
Donation Request Procedures
- Please mail or fax a one-page typewritten request on your organization’s letterhead.
- All requests should be received a minimum of six (6) weeks prior to the date of the event. Requests will be considered up to six (6) months in advance of the event.
- One letter per event, please. If you have additional events planned, please submit a separate letter for each request. Letters with more than one event included will only be considered for one donation.
- The request must include the following:
- Your name and contact information
- Name and a brief description of your organization and the event
- Date and time of your event
- Number of people expected to attend the event
- Specific donation you are requesting
- A copy of your organization's IRS tax-exempt letter (for non-profit organizations only)
Items Considered for a Donation May Include
Bread For a Year Certificate — A free loaf of bread every month for one year.
Bagels For a Year Certificate — A free Bagel Pack (13 bagels and two tubs of cream cheese) every month for one year.
Food Donations — Please specify item(s) you are requesting and the Panera Bread® location from which you would like to pick up your donation. Panera Bread does not allow our food to be resold for any reason including fundraisers. Leftover food is donated to local foodbanks and shelters on a weekly basis and therefore cannot be donated for one-time events.
Where to Send Donation Requests
Donation requests can be mailed to:
Panera Bread
Attn: Donations Department
2095 North Calhoun Road
Brookfield, WI 53005
If you prefer, you can fax your donation request to the attention of our Donations Department at (262) 786-6999.
To inquire about sponsorship support or other marketing relationships, please contact the Donations Coordinator, Donations Department, at patti.baker@panerabread.com.
Responses
We do our best to mail response letters within two weeks of receiving the request. Responses will be mailed to the address indicated on the letterhead only (if you prefer that a response be mailed directly to you, please list your personal mailing address underneath your signature). It is not necessary to follow up with a phone call. If you have not received a written response within two weeks, please re-fax a copy of your request with the original date circled. All responses are final, including dates, times, locations and items. If the date of your event changes, you will need to resubmit your written request with the new date and time included. We cannot guarantee a donation due to date change. Most importantly, please understand that we receive hundreds of donation requests each week. We do our best to fulfill each request, but unfortunately, we may not be able to fulfill every request.