The fine print, in plain English

Where the money goes. Donations pool into community meal funds. Every redeemed meal is reimbursed to the restaurant at its agreed value (typically $10). If a community's fund runs short, the shared general fund covers its meals — surplus in one town feeds another.

What donors get. A receipt for every donation and a monthly note showing where your meals landed. SparePlate is not yet a registered 501(c)(3), so donations are generous gifts rather than tax-deductible contributions — we'll update this the moment that changes.

What pass holders get. One covered meal per day at any participating restaurant, for 90 days at a time, renewable. No documentation required. We never share your identity with restaurants — staff only ever see a green check.

What restaurants get. Full reimbursement per redeemed meal, weekly statements, and payouts by direct deposit or check.

Keeping it fair. Passes are one per person (verified by phone number). Codes rotate every minute and can't be screenshotted or shared. We monitor for unusual patterns to protect the fund — donors' money should buy meals, not fraud.

Refunds. If a donation is refunded, we remove it from the fund. Meals already served stay served.