An increasing number of franchise organizations, such as Panera Bread, are partnering with nonprofit organizations to give back. At the end of each day, Panera’s bakery-cafés donate their unsold bread and baked goods to local hunger relief and charitable organizations. By doing this, Panera Bread extends its goal of providing wholesome food to people in the communities in which it operates. For a franchise organization and a nonprofit to develop an authentic partnership, it is important that the franchise organization have “skin in the game.” Employees and customers respond more positively when they are not only being asked to donate money or time, but the franchise organization is making a sacrifice too. Sports Clips Haircuts sponsors an annual campaign titled “Saving Lives Never Looked So Good.” This is a partnership between the sports-theme barbershop franchise and the American Red Cross. Each September, Sports Clips gives a free haircut coupon to everyone who donates blood. Similarly, during the month of March, Jersey Mike’s Subs customers can make donations to various charities through the Jersey Mike’s mobile app or on-site. Charities include hospitals, youth organizations, food banks, and more. The campaign culminates on the last Wednesday in March, which Jersey Mike’s calls the “Day of Giving,” when 100 percent of the company’s sales go to nonprofits directly. In 2022, Jersey Mike’s and its franchisees raised \($20\) million for the Special Olympics USA Games from the one-day event.....

Discussion Questions:

1. Identify an ideal nonprofit partner for a fitness center franchise that caters to college students. Describe the rationale for your selection. You can pick a nonprofit that is local to your area or a nonprofit with a national presence.
2. If you worked for a home improvement or home repair franchise organization, to what degree would it enhance your commitment to the organization if that firm allowed you to donate a certain number of hours to a nonprofit such as Habitat for Humanity “on the clock”?
3. Do some Internet research to find a partnership between a franchise organization and a nonprofit that we do not mention in this feature. Describe the purpose of the partnership and how the franchise organization and the nonprofit both benefit from it.
4. Brainstorm a fourth potential rule-of-thumb that would facilitate a successful franchise organization/nonprofit partnership.