Effective Fundraising Approach: SOP Template for Prompt Disaster Relief
Restaurant Partners Management, LLC, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, recently utilized a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document to rapidly organize a fundraising promotion for disaster relief following Hurricane Helene.
Restaurant Partners Management, LLC, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, recently utilized a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document to rapidly organize a fundraising promotion for disaster relief following Hurricane Helene.
Restaurant Partners, which manages 21 restaurants across 14 brands, created an SOP to provide clear instructions for restaurant managers and employees on implementing the fundraising initiative. This streamlined approach enabled all their restaurants to participate effectively and raised over $7,000 for the North Carolina Hospitality Workers Relief Fund and Mercy Chefs.
An SOP template is vital for quickly mobilizing resources in response to unexpected situations like disaster relief or charitable fundraising. It is a comprehensive planning guide containing essential elements such as a title, ID code, revision date, overview, scope, responsibilities, required materials, communication plans, and tracking instructions.
The SOP title should be distinctive and easily identifiable. The ID code or number, while not obligatory, can assist in organizing and tracking various projects. The revision date informs everyone about the latest updates to the SOP. An overview or summary explains the objective, expected outcome, and significance of the event or fundraiser.
The scope of the SOP defines the staff involved, the project's duration, and the target audience. It should also delineate each team member's roles and responsibilities. The SOP should list all the materials needed for awareness creation, such as posters, buttons for employees, and donation jars.
Communication plays a crucial role in the success of any initiative. The SOP should detail how employees and vendors will be informed about key dates and objectives. It should also specify who is responsible for public relations tasks such as posting event details on your website, managing social media platforms, and liaising with local media outlets.
The SOP should also provide instructions for tracking donations and following up post-event. These could include using a QR code for direct online donations, separate depositing of cash donations and creating systems to record the company's contribution from sales or profits. Post-event follow-up instructions are also part of the SOP, such as leaving up signage until total donations are tallied and publicizing the funds raised.
