---
title: "Pokeworks Partners with GroupRaise to Support Local Communities"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/985b66c7-e3de-4850-bba5-95674ed8bc8b
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20221025_pokeworks_partners_with_groupraise_to_support_local_communities.html
category: "Restaurants"
industry: "Restaurants"
published: 2022-10-25T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T01:08:59.889Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1555396273-367ea4eb4db5?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Pokeworks Partners with GroupRaise to Support Local Communities

**TL;DR:** Pokeworks is partnering with GroupRaise to support local communities through an online fundraising platform. The platform will connect with current and future Pokeworks locations, allowing the brand to give back to its community.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2022-10-25. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20221025_pokeworks_partners_with_groupraise_to_support_local_communities.html).*

## Story

The fast casual brand known for its craveable poke bowls is doubling down on community involvement through its new partnership with GroupRaise, an online marketplace and booking engine that helps local schools, organizations and non-profits request fundraising support more efficiently. The online fundraising platform will be connected to current and future locations, giving Pokeworks an easy way to connect with its community to give back.

“We are committed to supporting various organizations and our local communities, so this is an exciting way for us to do both,” said Pokeworks Chief Marketing Officer Jayson Tipp. “GroupRaise offers an extremely easy-to-use mobile platform that makes connecting with our community streamlined for everyone.”

GroupRaise operates through a simple calendar system that lets local groups, within a five-mile radius, schedule fundraising events with their favorite restaurants. Those groups then promote the fundraiser, driving new and returning customers to the restaurant for dine-in or takeout orders that give back a percentage of the event’s sales.

"Our goal at GroupRaise is to make it extremely easy for local organizations to discover business in their communities who are committed to giving back and are great partners. We are thrilled to partner with Pokeworks as they exemplify the kind of community-committed brand we love to help local organizations discover and build lasting relationships with,” said GroupRaise CEO Devon Baptiste.

Pokeworks showed its commitment to making a difference in the communities it serves this past summer by donating proceeds from every Spicy Crunchy Surimi Bowl sold to Heart of Dinner, a non-profit helping to end food insecurity. The fundraising effort, in partnership with Aquamar, led to a donation of $30,000 to the New York City-based organization.

Pokeworks was founded in 2015 with the simple mission of spreading its love of poke – the crisp, fresh, healthy Hawaiian favorite – with the world. Pokeworks’ innovative Poke Your Way™ approach is groundbreaking, offering guests limitless ways to customize their poke order to match their eating preferences including vegan, gluten-free, and other mindful diets. The Poke Burrito has developed a cult-like following, much like Pokeworks' proprietary sauces, which range from sweet and spicy to savory.

Pokeworks believes in living a healthy lifestyle and eating meals made from the freshest, highest quality ingredients from sustainable food sources. In 2022, the brand was honored to be named the “Top Poke Franchise” by Startups Magazine. Pokeworks has quickly expanded to become the leading fast-casual poke brand in the world with three consecutive years on Fast Casual’s “Top 100 Movers and Shakers” list.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- partnership (topic)
- fast casual (topic)
- community involvement (topic)
- FastCasual (publication)
- Pokeworks (company)
- Jayson Tipp (person)
- online fundraising (topic)

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Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20221025_pokeworks_partners_with_groupraise_to_support_local_communities.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/985b66c7-e3de-4850-bba5-95674ed8bc8b).