The Eat Out Restaurant Relief Fund is here to provide funds so you can keep putting food on the table for the growing number of hungry families around the country.
Please note - we're working hard to access more funds so we can keep supporting restaurants. We're paying out to successful applicants as fast as money is donated into the Fund.
Before you start
There’s quite a bit of paperwork (for the accountants and auditors), so before you get going, please make sure you qualify. Also, see Frequently Asked Questions below.
There are also requirements you will need to meet. Are you prepared to:
If you answered yes to all these, please apply, we want to help you!
If you can’t answer yes to all these, unfortunately, you don’t meet the minimum requirements to apply for funding right now – please get in touch if things change and we can help later on.
If you need an Essential Service permit, please visit https://www.bizportal.gov.za. If you want to help and are looking for a feeding scheme or project to support, please visit https://www.riseagainsthunger.org
If you need PPE equipment, contact the Community Chest, who may be able to help you source it. https://www.comchest.org.za
How to apply
Please go to the application form and complete it as carefully as possible. Once that’s done, please email us at help@eatout.co.za, and attach the following documents:
What happens now?
Your application will be assessed by the Applications Panel. If you’re successful, you’ll receive a funding notification letter. You will then need to submit an invoice so the funds can be paid to you. The amount granted will be guided by the number of meals you’re producing, capped at a maximum per restaurant of R50 000. The funds will be released to you as fast as possible – we want you to keep cooking!
Thank you for the good work you and your team are doing to help feed South Africa, we salute you!
Please note:
The Fund will support registered businesses within the restaurant and food industry that are operating and supplying meals to the community from their onsite/offsite kitchens.
Eat Out reserves the right to decline any application that isn’t an appropriate fit to our objectives or if entities do not meet the criteria. Donations will be capped at R50 000 per entity. You could receive any amount up to this and at the discretion of the Applications Panel. Funding must be used to subsidise expenses towards staff salaries and operational costs of your feeding project.
Eat Out strictly reserves the right to request any further information in order to confirm that applicants meet the qualifying criteria.
The Fund cannot arrange permits or create distribution channels.
Frequently asked questions
1. Can I still apply for funding if we now do deliveries as well as run a community feeding kitchen?
Yes, so long as the required amount of meals are going out to communities in need, we welcome any other ways you find to keep your business running.
2. I submitted my Essential Service Permit, but it wasn't accepted. Why?
Your Essential Service Permit needs to show your restaurant name, company name or your trading name. We can’t accept your certificate if there’s no link to your business unless you are operating from a registered offsite kitchen.
3. I’ve just been notified that my application was successful. When will I receive the funding?
The Eat Out Restaurant Relief Fund needs an invoice from you so we can pay as quickly as possible (within 2-3 days). Please check your funding notification letter, which outlines all the documents we need from you.
4. Do I need to include VAT in the invoice I send to the Eat Out Restaurant Relief?
As this is a donation, VAT isn’t required and shouldn’t be included.
5. I’ve managed to get all my food and produce sponsored. Can I use your funding to cover my operational expenses instead?
Absolutely! The objective of the Fund is to mobilise restaurants and help get them operational while feeding communities in need. We encourage you to source sponsored food items so that more of the funds donated can go towards your expenses like staff wages, rent, water, electricity, gas and so on.
6. I run an NPO that is feeding our communities in need. Can I apply for funding?
We commend the amazing work you’re doing to support our communities. However, as we aim to help restaurants to remain operational, we can only fund registered businesses in the restaurant and food industry. Hopefully one or more of the restaurants we support can supply you with cooked meals.