Outreach toolkit
Print-ready referral cards, counter signs and help sheets with QR codes, for restaurant partners, community partners and volunteers. The help sheets cover the Phoenix metro. Free to print on plain US Letter paper.
How the codes work
Every QR code ends in a short code, like ?ref=card. When someone arrives with it and later reserves a meal, gives, applies or writes to us, we add one to that code's count.
Reservations and messages are only ever counted as totals per code. Nothing ties the code to the person, so a card from a shelter never sits next to someone's name. Gifts and partner applications keep the code with the gift or application, so we can see which cards lead to them.
Before you hand out meal cards
Check Find a meal for restaurant partners near the people you serve. Where there aren't any yet, hand out the help-sheet cards instead: they list free food, shelter and crisis lines in each city.
Rather have them printed for you? Tell us what you need and where, and we'll be in touch.
Use your own code (optional)
Outreach partners can put their own code on everything here, so their cards are counted together (for example mesa-outreach). Use letters, numbers and dashes. Not sure what to use? Ask us when you request printed copies.
Language on neighbor printables
Referral cards, help-sheet cards, the community partner handout and the top half of the counter sign print in English, Spanish, or both on one card. Many partners hand out the bilingual version. Spanish QR codes open the Spanish pages; bilingual ones open the English page, which offers Español.
For community partners and volunteers
Shelters, outreach teams, food banks, churches, and anyone who meets people who could use a meal.
Neighbor referral cards
Pocket-size cards to hand to someone who could use a meal. The QR code opens the page that explains how to get one, and every card points to 211 for other help.
- Print 8 to a page on card stock or plain paper.
- Cut along the dashed lines.
- Hand one over the way you'd share any good tip. No questions needed.
Code on these QR codes: card
Community partner handout
One page: how to get a free meal, step by step, plus QR codes for the help lists in Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Phoenix.
- Hand it out with meals you pick up, or keep copies at your front desk.
- It reads fine in black and white.
Code on these QR codes: partner-handout
Help-sheet cards by city
Cards that open a city's free help list: shelter, food, medical care and 24-hour crisis lines. Useful anywhere, even where there's no restaurant partner yet.
- Pick one city, or print a mix of all four.
- Cut along the dashed lines.
Code on these QR codes: help-card
For restaurant partners
Signs that show neighbors how to reserve a free meal, and let customers give one.
Counter sign
For the counter or the register. The top shows neighbors how to reserve a free meal; the bottom lets customers give to the community meal pool, which pays restaurant partners for the meals they serve.
- Put it where people order, at eye level.
- Make sure everyone on shift knows how to enter a meal code, and can show someone how to scan the sign to reserve a meal (or use your counter tablet, if you have one).
- Color is best, but it works in black and white.
Code on these QR codes: counter-sign
Window sign
Lets people walking by know you're part of Pay It Forward. Please only put it up once you're an active restaurant partner.
- Tape it inside a front window or door, facing out.
- The QR code opens pifboard.com, where people can get a meal or give one.
Code on these QR codes: window-sign
Help us find more partners
Every new restaurant partner is another place to get a meal, and every community partner reaches people who can't easily get to one. If you know a restaurant owner or a program director, these make it easy to introduce us. They're for partners, donors, volunteers and anyone else who wants to help.
Introduce us
Know an owner, a shelter director or an outreach lead? Send them the link with a note in your own words, or start from one of these. Fill in the words in [brackets].
The link
Subject: A way to serve free meals and get reimbursed for each one
Hi [name], I wanted to pass along a program I think [restaurant] would be great for. Pay It Forward sends neighbors who need a meal to local restaurants. Donors pay for the meals ahead of time. A neighbor reserves one and shows a short code at your counter, and you serve the meal and get reimbursed for it. It costs nothing to join, you choose the meal you serve, and nobody is asked for ID or proof of need. It's a program of the Foundation for Innovation in Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, starting in the greater Phoenix area. Here's how it works for restaurants, with a short application: https://pifboard.com/partners/restaurants?ref=invite-link [your name]
Text message
Have you heard of Pay It Forward? Donors pay for meals ahead of time, neighbors reserve one, and local restaurants serve it and get reimbursed for every meal. Free to join. Here's how it works: https://pifboard.com/partners/restaurants?ref=invite-link
Social post
Know a restaurant that would serve free meals to neighbors and get reimbursed for each one? Pay It Forward is looking for restaurant partners in the greater Phoenix area. Free to join. https://pifboard.com/partners/restaurants?ref=invite-link
Questions they'll ask
No. It costs nothing to join Pay It Forward. Donors fund the meals, and you're reimbursed for every meal you serve. You're never asked to donate food.
Through Stripe payouts to your bank account. After you're approved, we email you a secure Stripe link to connect your account once, and you can follow meals served and payouts in Partner settings.
They show a short meal code on their phone or on paper. Your staff enter the code, or find it on Today's meals and tap it, then serve the meal. No ID or proof of need is asked for.
An optional counter tablet lets walk-in neighbors reserve a meal right at your counter. Community partners such as shelters and outreach teams also pick up meals and bring them to people who are hard to reach by phone.
It depends on how quickly the steps come together: the intro call, the agreement, payouts, adding staff and a short training. We email you at each step, and you can check your status online any time.
Rather we reached out?
Tell us the name, where they are and how you know them, and we'll get in touch and say you sent us.
Tell us about a restaurantRestaurant partner one-pager
One page that answers what owners ask first: how the counter works, what they serve, how they're reimbursed, what it costs (nothing) and the steps to go live. The QR code opens the restaurant partner page and its short application.
- Leave it with the owner or manager, or send the link below instead.
- Write your name on the "Introduced by" line so we can thank you.
- It reads fine in black and white.
Code on these QR codes: recruit-restaurant
Community partner one-pager
One page on what community partners do: pick up donor-funded meals and hand them out, reserve a meal for someone without a phone, or host a tablet. Plus who can join and the steps to a first pickup.
- Leave it with a program director, or at the front desk.
- Write your name on the "Introduced by" line so we can thank you.
- It reads fine in black and white.
Code on these QR codes: recruit-community
Partner invite cards
Pocket-size cards to leave at a restaurant counter or a front desk, for restaurants, community organizations, or half and half. Each QR code opens the right partner page.
- Print 8 to a page on card stock or plain paper.
- Cut along the dashed lines.
- Write your name on the card if you like.
Code on these QR codes: invite-card