Fundraising Made Easy with ‘Happy Valley Eats for Good’

Your community group or good cause is strapped for cash and needs an easy fundraising solution.

You could go the usual route and organize a bake sale or sell $20 popcorn.

But one Penn State alumnus has a better solution. It’s called Happy Valley Eats for Good.

Happy Valley Eats for Good is an inclusive, community-wide digital fundraising campaign sponsored by Nittany Co Op that any good cause can join for free. This innovative approach to fundraising allows any group to easily raise money as part of a larger community campaign.

Community groups can fundraise with Happy Valley Eats for Good from Nov. 15 until Dec. 31. New fundraising groups and merchants can join at any time at no cost.

By partnering with over 90 generous local restaurants and merchants, Happy Valley Eats for Good has organized a digital deal book with over $1,150 in savings that groups can offer to their supporters, donors and alumni in exchange for a donation of $10 or more. Each group keeps 70 percent of the revenue they generate. In other words, why bake brownies when there’s an easier and more profitable fundraising option that’s ready to go?

“The Eats for Good platform was designed to support social media fundraisers for clubs, teams and youth groups,” McCarthy said. “In fact, the platform was built after a request from Boy Scouts who wanted an easy way to fundraise without sending Scouts door to door or asking them to handle money. Apparently, money was stolen and there were hard feelings. One of the co-founders is a Scouting board member. The Scouts wanted a platform that takes advantage of social media too, to bring youth group fundraising into the digital era. What works for the Scouts will work great for almost any community group as well.”

As McCarthy puts it, “It’s a win-win-win. Good causes easily raise the money they need without the hassle of organizing an event or bake sale. Local businesses can give back and win new customers while supporting community groups. And supporters receive more than a thousand dollars in restaurant and merchant deals for a donation of as little as $10. We find that lots of people give digital deal books as holiday gifts too.” 

Happy Valley Eats for Good makes it easy for any organization or good cause interested in participating to sign up and create their own campaign page. Now fundraising is as easy as sharing a link with your email list and on social media. “The groups that really crush it ask their supporters to reshare their campaign link too. It is amazing how many new donors groups can reach via social media and friends of friends. Each campaign creates tens of thousands of new connections, people helping people. I like that,” says McCarthy.

Participating groups include Youth Services Bureau, the United Way, various THON groups and committees, and many more. The deal book includes savings from The Tavern, DP Dough Rotelli, Dickey’s, Cold Stone Creamery, Appalachian Outdoors, Lions Pride, and many more. 

“Happy Valley Eats for Good is a ready-made fundraiser,” says McCarthy. “And Nittany Co Op will even market your campaign for you on the radio, Facebook, and social media for free.” It only takes two minutes to sign up and get started. “And if you’re a college student or simply like to eat out, you’d be nuts not to contribute $10 to charity to enjoy these deals.”