Thank You, Tap Project Participating Restaurants

Restaurant FAQ

How can my restaurant participate in the UNICEF Tap Project?

Step 1: Register to be a UNICEF Tap Project Restaurant Partner. (Registration for the 2010 campaign will begin in January.)

Step 2: Promote the UNICEF Tap Project to your customers using the materials in the Restaurant Activation Kit that you will receive in early March,

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF will also be working to promote the UNICEF Tap Project through tapproject.org, national and local media and press outreach.

Step 3: Train your wait staff. Your staff will be your patrons’ first point of contact with the UNICEF Tap Project. They are key to making patrons aware of the powerful commitment you’ve made in supporting water for the world’s children—engage them and have them engage your diners! We recommend that you conduct a training session for your wait staff before World Water Week, which is March 21 to March 27 . Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive training materials in your Restaurant Activation Kit. You may also contact the Volunteer with whom you registered to find out if a Volunteer can be available to help train your staff.

Step 4: Implement the campaign during World Water Week. Display your choice of Table Tents or Customer Donation Cards that describe the UNICEF Tap Project and invite patrons to donate. You’ll also receive simple programming instructions to guide you through integrating a UNICEF Tap Project donation line into your POS system.

Step 5: Submit submit the amount of donations collected from your customers by April 30, 2010. You can even use your credit card to donate easily and securely at tapproject.org.

The final step? Celebrate your contribution! Your restaurant’s support has played an instrumental role in helping to save children’s lives, and you should be proud of your contribution. Your efforts to give the world’s children access to clean, safe water are worth celebrating year-round. Leave your UNICEF Tap Project decals up, and stay tuned to tapproject.org to get ready for next year. Most importantly, know that you’ve helped UNICEF, and the world’s children, get one step closer to zero.

How will the UNICEF Tap Project donations be used?

All money raised will support UNICEF’s clean water programs. UNICEF works in more than 100 countries around the world to improve access to safe water and sanitation facilities in schools and communities and to promote safe hygiene practices. Funds collected will be allocated to the countries and areas UNICEF has identified as most in need.

In 2010, the UNICEF Tap Project funds will support water and sanitation programs in Haiti, Central African Republic, Guatemala, Togo and Vietnam.

Do our customers have to participate?

No, participation is optional, but encouraged.

What role do servers have to play?

Your wait staff plays a critical role in driving the success of the UNICEF Tap Project. Ideally, both the Table Tents and Donation Cards will be on display and in-use working jointly to notify and inform patrons of the campaign. Servers should call attention to these materials and invite patrons to make a difference through a donation. If you would like, you can also implement your own server incentive program to acknowledge top-performing server(s). To prepare your staff, please refer to page 11 for reference information and talking points your staff may find useful during conversations with patrons.

What if my patrons are having bottled water? Can they donate?

Yes. Whether your patrons are drinking bottle water, soda, or any other beverage, they are welcome to participate just like other patrons who ordered tap water. Please encourage your patrons to donate by verbally notifying the wait staff or using a donation card.

What if my patrons want to donate more?

Patrons are welcome to donate any amount, and undoubtedly larger donations make a greater difference. Please encourage patrons to donate any amount they wish, $1 or beyond via the Donation Cards provided, or through verbally notifying their server. Alternatively, patrons can also go to tapproject.org to make an online donation – or they can text the word “TAP” to 864233 (UNICEF ) to donate $5 on their mobile phone.* Standard text message rates will apply.

* A one-time donation of $5.00 will be added to the customer's mobile phone bill or deducted from their prepaid balance. Standard messaging rates and additional fees may apply. All charges are billed by and payable to the customer's mobile service provider. Service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF by the Mobile Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.mGive.com/A. You can unsubscribe at any time by texting STOP to 864233 (UNICEF).

Can customers receive a tax deductible receipt for their donation?

Patrons who wish to make a tax-deductible donation should do so at tapproject.org (the site is listed on the Table Tents and Donation Cards), and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF will send them a receipt for tax purposes.

Is my restaurant required to make a donation?

We welcome any additional amounts that you may wish to contribute in addition to the amount of patron donations collected during World Water Week.

What is the deadline to send in donations?

The deadline to send in donations is April 30, 2010.

How do I send in the donations my restaurant collected?

The preferred method for submitting the donations you collect is to make a safe, secure credit card donation online at tapproject.org. You can also send a check (made payable to "U.S. Fund for UNICEF") using the Donation Form and self-addressed envelope included in this Guide. You can note "UNICEF Tap Project" in the memo field.

Does my restaurant receive a tax deduction for participating in the UNICEF Tap Project?

If your restaurant collects and submit donations from patrons only, your restaurant is acting as an agent for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and is not eligible to receive a tax deduction. If your restaurant wishes to make a separate additional contribution to the UNICEF Tap Project (i.e. your own corporate donation – not in association with any funds collected from patrons), you may be eligible to receive a tax deduction for your contribution. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF recommends that you consult your tax attorney or accountant for further assistance or clarification.

Will my restaurant be recognized for its participation?

Soon after you register, your restaurant’s name will be posted on the “Restaurants” section of tapproject.org as well as highlighted on our partner sites at Zagat.com, OpenTable.com and SeamlessWeb.com. As a participating restaurant, you may also benefit from the public relations efforts surrounding the UNICEF Tap Project in your area.

What if I have questions or need additional materials?

Contact the UNICEF Tap Project volunteer with whom you registed or visit tapproject.org for the most up-to-date information about participating in the campaign, resources, questions, etc. You may also email tapproject@unicefusa.org for further support or call 1-877-PROJ-TAP.