Ben & Jerry's has relaunched its Waffle Lotta Good program, a two-week point-of-sale fundraiser running September 28 through October 12, 2026, at participating Scoop Shops across the United States. For every freshly baked waffle cone purchased during the window, $1 goes directly to grassroots organizations working on civic engagement and democracy-related community initiatives — including voter registration efforts and community outreach tied to the midterm elections.
Who Benefits
The funds support local and national groups helping communities access information and resources ahead of the midterms. Past iterations of the program have channeled dollars to organizations such as Migrant Justice and Black Voters Matter. The model is straightforward for operators: no additional customer action required beyond the standard waffle cone purchase, keeping transaction friction low while adding a visible social mission layer to an everyday menu item.
The Operator Angle
For Scoop Shop franchisees, Waffle Lotta Good represents a proven cause-marketing mechanic that requires minimal operational lift — the waffle cone is already a standard offering, and the donation is simply built into the ring. Carleen Pickard, Ben & Jerry's Social Mission Director, framed the program's intent plainly: "When customers buy a waffle cone, they are directly funding the community activists who build that power from the ground up; the people knocking on doors, registering voters, and ensuring that everyone has a voice in decisions that affect their lives."
Cause-tied promotions at the point of sale have become a meaningful differentiator in the competitive ice cream and dessert shop segment, particularly among younger consumers who factor brand values into their spending decisions. Tying a donation to a high-margin add-on like a waffle cone — rather than discounting it — also preserves unit economics while driving incremental purchases.
The Waffle Lotta Good program is one of several social mission activations Ben & Jerry's cycles through its Scoop Shop network each year, reinforcing the brand's Certified B Corp identity at the retail level. For operators tracking how mission-driven foodservice brands are structuring community investment, this campaign reflects a broader industry pattern: pairing limited-time retail fundraisers with high-visibility product moments to maximize both impact and earned media. Participating locations can be found at benjerry.com.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
