Businesses today are looking for ways to do more than just turn a profit. They want to make a difference. Andrew Glantz has created a model that seamlessly integrates social impact with restaurant marketing. As the founder and CEO of GiftAMeal, Glantz has turned dining experiences into opportunities for giving back, one meal at a time.
Glantz’s entrepreneurial and philanthropic spirit started at an early age. Whether he was selling origami from his pencil box or running lemonade stands, he was always finding ways to create value. His passion for giving back became even clearer when he worked as a camp counselor and heard firsthand how food insecurity was affecting young children. This exposure to hunger’s impact on childhood development left a lasting impression, inspiring him to seek a way to drive meaningful change.
During an internship at a venture capital firm, Glantz was introduced to the “profits with a purpose” business model – one that emphasized doing well financially while doing good socially. This concept would later become the foundation for GiftAMeal.
Glantz launched GiftAMeal in October 2015 while still a student at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. His professors and peers were supportive and he joined a fellowship for young entrepreneurs, where he was paired with an executive coach. “The early days involved me walking up and down the street of my college town going to mom-and-pop restaurants,” Glantz said. Since then, GiftAMeal has grown significantly. Today, the initiative has nearly 1,000 participating restaurants and has donated over 2.3 million meals through 130+ food banks across 44 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
The concept is simple yet impactful. When customers eat at a participating restaurant, they scan a QR code and take a photo of their meal using the GiftAMeal app or web-based platform. The restaurant then funds a meal donation to a local food bank. Diners can amplify their impact by sharing the photo on social media, triggering additional donations. Since it’s free for guests, the program serves as an innovative marketing tool for restaurants while helping fight food insecurity.
GiftAMeal is not just a philanthropic effort, it’s a business strategy. “We did a case study in 2018 which showed that guests using GiftAMeal returned 39% more often, spent 20% more per visit, and tipped 32% more,” Glantz explained. With Gen Z and millennials favoring businesses that give back, GiftAMeal helps restaurants attract and retain customers who care about making a difference.
Of course growing GiftAMeal hasn’t come without challenges. One of Glantz’s biggest hurdles has been getting time with restaurant decision-makers and proving the program’s value. To address this, he and his team developed a dashboard that tracks each restaurant’s impact, providing them with real-time data to showcase their contributions.
Looking ahead, Glantz has big goals. He hopes to expand GiftAMeal to all 50 states, reach 5,000 restaurant partners, and provide 100,000 meals per month. His vision is to surpass 5 million meals donated, ensuring that more people facing food insecurity receive the support they need.
For those looking to create their own mission-driven business, Glantz has one key piece of advice: start simple. “Get out there and talk to potential users. Understand their needs before investing time and money in extra features,” he recommends. By focusing on a core idea and iterating based on feedback, entrepreneurs can create solutions that are both sustainable and impactful.
GiftAMeal is proof that businesses can do well while doing good. By turning a simple act into a force for change, Andrew Glantz has set a new standard for social entrepreneurship. To learn more or join the movement, visit giftameal.com/partner.
AUTHOR
Nicolette Degrassi is a Boston based food and travel blogger. When she's not traveling the world, you can find her reading the latest Book of the Month novel or trying to perfect her sticky toffee pudding recipe. Follow her adventures on Instagram @nadegrassi.
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