Operations

Chipotle using app to support back-to-school fundraiser

Provided

August 31, 2020

Chipotle Mexican Grill is leveraging its fundraising technology to help support under-resourced students returning to school. Through its first-ever digital fundraising program, the chain will donate 33% of fundraiser event sales to local educational organizations using unique promotional codes, according to a company press release.

"The new digital fundraising program is another example of our relentless push to replicate the Chipotle restaurant experience digitally," Chief Technology Officer Curt Garner said in the release. "Customers can now contribute to impactful organizations in their community through delivery and pick-up orders."

More than 7 million children in the U.S. do not have computers at home, and this lack of access disproportionately affects children from Black, Latino and Native American households, according to the release. The achievement gap among these households is expected to worsen as the country leans on virtual learning to begin the school year. Chipotle hopes to narrow the digital divide and provide laptops for students without computers by leveraging its real change feature on the Chipotle app and Chipotle.com to support the Kids In Need Foundation (KINF.ORG), a national non-profit organization that partners with teachers and students in underserved schools to provide the resources needed for teachers to teach and learners to learn.

From Aug. 31 to Sept. 27, guests may round up their change to the next highest dollar amount on the Chipotle app or website to support under-resourced junior high and high school students returning to remote learning. The funds raised will go directly toward laptops and school supplies that will be delivered in Chipotle-branded backpacks with free meal cards to students across the U.S.

"As a society, our reliance on technology continues to grow. With many students learning part-time or exclusively at home, that dependence is mirrored in our schools. Without access to laptops and connectivity, under-resourced students are experiencing a gap in their education," said Corey Gordon, CEO of Kids In Need Foundation. "As a well-known national brand and leader in its local communities, we are grateful that Chipotle is acknowledging the challenges students are facing due to the digital divide and supporting those students with the technology they need to learn."

Chipotle has over 2,650 restaurants in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.