Being a part of the communities in which we operate, we understand that our outstanding service and hospitality does not stop with serving what is on our menu. This is why we continue to extend our hospitality beyond the walls of our restaurants and support local non-profits and community organizations with nourishing meals, helping hands, and financial support.
Ways We Give
The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated has partnered with Feeding America®, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, to provide relief to children and adults in need. Since 2008, we’ve donated more than $5.2M to Feeding America through the sale of our specially designated cheesecakes.
During September, in honor of Hunger Action Month, staff members volunteer to support the Foundation by contributing Peanut Butter to local Feeding America® member food banks. Through the annual Peanut Butter Drive, more than 100,000 pounds of peanut butter is collected, stocking food bank shelves just in time for Back-to-School lunches for hungry kids.
For more than ten years we have been collecting and donating the excess food from our restaurants to local soup kitchens, shelters, transitional housing and after-school programs. Since beginning our food donation efforts in 2008, we have donated more than 5.6 million pounds of food. In 2020, we reimagined what had been called our Harvest Program, renaming it the Nourish Program and utilizing a “zero food waste” technology platform called Copia. Our new program enables each restaurant to donate excess food when it is most convenient for them by submitting a request via Copia’s app which matches the donation to local nonprofits that need it most. Each donation is picked up on demand and delivered directly to nonprofits through Copia’s integration with DoorDash, our exclusive national delivery provider, which makes it seamless for our restaurants and the nonprofits receiving the donation.
The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated proudly supports charitable organizations and schools in the communities we serve. Each General Manager has a monthly charitable giving budget. Donations are made in the form of $25 gift cards for fundraising efforts of the non-profit organizations our guests care about. Please note that The Cheesecake Factory does not participate in food donations or food sampling for events, nor do we make cash donations or provide cash sponsorships of individuals, teams or organizations.
If your school or organization is interested in our program, please submit a donation request to your local Cheesecake Factory no later than 30 days prior to your event. Your request must be written on your school or organization’s official letterhead and should include the following:
- The specific purpose for the donation and how it will be used.
- Proof of the organization’s Federal Tax ID number.
- A copy of the organization’s current IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, if applicable.
- A contact name including address, phone number, and email, if available.
- Information, if any, concerning past or current involvement with our company.
Check that all details have been included in your letter. Unfortunately, requests that do not include all the above details will not be considered.
Sorry, we cannot support organizations that fall into the following categories:
- Programs that promote religion
- Individuals seeking aid
- Organizations lacking proof of 501(c)3 status
- Political organizations or candidates
- Conferences; seminars; or reunions
- Research projects
- Travel for individuals or groups
- Capital campaigns