We believe that the Universal Spirit of Bread is Sharing®. That’s why we’re committed to the communities we serve. We show our appreciation not only in our bakery-cafes but also by participating in charitable events through the donation of bread and bakery-product, gift certificates and more.
Our Commitment to Our Communities
Due to our extensive community involvement, many organizations contact
Panera Bread of Iowa seeking charitable donations. We value
corporate citizenship and regularly makes in-kind donations or participates in
charitable community events.
If you would like to request a donation from Panera
Bread of Iowa for an upcoming event in Central or Eastern Iowa and the Quad Cities of Iowa/Illinois, please follow the steps below:
Donation Request Process
For Central and Eastern Iowa,
Including the Quad Cities of IA/IL
- Plan: Be specific in the date and request for you donation (see the Donation's Tips section to the right for a list of guidelines to follow). Submit your request at least six (6) weeks prior to your event.
- Applications: Submit a Donations Request Form. Pick one up at your neighborhood bakery-cafe or download here: PDF | MS Word
- Submit: Submit your application by mail (1241 Park Place NE, Ste. C, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52402), fax (319.365.9128) or e-mail (donations@paneraiowa.com). Please allow at least three weeks for a response.
Donation Request
For Council Bluffs, IA or Souix City, IA
- Click here to submit your request to our parent company, Panera Bread, LLC.
Donation Request Outside of Iowa
- Click here to ensure you are put in touch with your neighborhood Panera Bread bakery-cafe.
Donation Tips
What to Request : To help as many community organizations as possible we limit our donations to: bakery product (bagels, bread, etc), Bread for a Year Gift Certificates (great for raffles and silent auctions) and Product Purchase Certificates (gift certificates - great for door prizes). Due to food safety issues we typically do not donate soups, sandwiches, salads or cream cheese. We also limit cash donations only to our partner charities. If you would like us to sponsor or participate in a booth at your event, please contact our marketing and public relations manager at marketing@paneraiowa.com.
How to Request: Please fill out the donation request form in its entirety. Be sure to include the number of people expected at the event (to help us estimate the amount of product needed), the specific product and quantity of the donation, the date and time you'll need to pick up the donation, and your federal tax id number.
Timeline: We need 6 weeks notice to process all donation requests. This gives us time to receive your request and respond. We also need this time to make sure your neighborhood bakery-cafe has time to prepare if you are requesting an in-kind bakery product donation.
We try to send a written response within two-three weeks of receiving the request. It is not necessary to follow-up with a phone call. If you have not received a written response within 3 weeks of your request, please resend or refax a copy of your request with the original date circled.
