Fundraiser catering

Fundraisers, galas, and non-profit donor events.

Catering for 501(c)(3) fundraisers, donor receptions, school auctions, and community events. Registered non-profits get 10% off the per-person rate. Bring paperwork; we'll verify and apply at quote.

Get a quote in 24 hours→See the recommended package FAQ

40 – 500

headcount we'll quote

8 – 12 weeks (peak gala season Sept – Nov)

typical lead time

Pitmaster Spread

recommended package

24 hr

quote turnaround, weekdays

What you get

The dishes most-ordered for this kind of event.

Most fundraiser events land on the Pitmaster Spread with the 10% non-profit discount applied to the per-person rate. Smaller donor receptions under 60 fit BBQ Basics + a discount.

See the full menu→

Signature

The 14-Hour Brisket

$16

Post-oak smoked. Brioche, pickles, slaw, a stripe of Carolina Gold. The one we'd order.

Pulled Pork

$14

12-hour shoulder, pulled to order. Slaw on top, sauce on the side, pickles in the basket. Available as a $18 plate.

Signature

Burnt-End Mac

$15

Brisket burnt ends, scallion, pickled jalapeño, breadcrumb crust. The default.

Eve's Slaw

$4 / $7

Apple-cider dressed, no mayo. Bright and sharp.

Smoked Beans

$4 / $7

Burnt ends + molasses + bourbon + black pepper.

Carolina Gold

$9 bottle

Yellow mustard, brown sugar, apple cider. Sweet-tart, the brisket sandwich's natural partner.

Detail · 01

The 10% non-profit discount and what qualifies.

Registered 501(c)(3) non-profits, public schools, public libraries, military family support orgs, and faith-based community kitchens all qualify for our standard 10% off the per-person price on drop-off catering packages. Bring proof — IRS determination letter, school district letterhead, or equivalent — and we'll apply it at quote. Doesn't stack with weekday corporate rates. Doesn't apply to on-site staffing fees or to the 18% gratuity (which goes to the catering crew). This isn't a once-a-year coupon; it's the standing rate for non-profits and we apply it every time. We do not do free or pro-bono catering; we do honest pricing with a transparent discount for the orgs whose mission we believe in.

Detail · 02

Donor receptions, galas, and the script that works.

Annual fundraiser galas (200 – 500 guests, fall or spring, plated or buffet at a venue): Full Smokehouse with on-site carving. Brisket carved per-plate at the head of the buffet doubles as theater for the donor crowd and slows the line down enough that the silent auction tables stay populated. Three meats, four sides, two desserts, full sauce flight, linens, real platters, a pitmaster on-site for the dinner window. Donor receptions (40 – 100 guests, more intimate, often at a board member's home or a brewery): Pitmaster Spread, drop-off or buffet served, two meats, three sides, dessert, full sauce flight. School auctions and community events (variable headcount, often outdoor): BBQ Basics with the ribs add-on, drop-off, kid-friendly, parent-friendly cleanup.

Detail · 03

Auction items, donated dinners, and silent-auction pairings.

We donate one full BBQ catering for 50 (BBQ Basics, drop-off, $1,000 retail value) per quarter to a 501(c)(3) auction we believe in. Apply by emailing hello@stagestopbbq.com with `auction donation` in the subject; we review applications quarterly and select based on mission fit and prior partnership. We also offer paid silent-auction items at cost — Mug Club memberships, in-restaurant tasting dinners for four at The Cantina with Chef Eve, custom sauce flights — that fundraisers can list at retail and keep the spread. Ask at quote about the silent-auction package.

Detail · 04

What we charge and what we don't charge for at fundraisers.

We charge the standard per-person rate (less the 10% non-profit discount) for the food, plus the standard delivery fee (free under 30 mi from Colorado Springs, mileage-based beyond), plus 18% gratuity (goes 100% to the catering crew running your event), plus state and local sales tax. We don't charge extra for vegetarian / vegan plates, for the dessert station, for the sauce flight, for chafers and serving ware, for the pre-event coordinator call, or for the day-of point of contact. We don't charge a setup fee on top of the package price; setup is built in.

Pair with a brewery

Beer that fits the event.

Donor receptions at a brewery: Old Colorado City Brewing is our most-booked fundraiser venue. Westside, parking lot for the smoker, taproom seats 80, fireplace for fall events. They donate a portion of pour-night sales back to most local non-profits — ask their events team.

See all brewery partners→

Recommended package

Pitmaster Spread — the fundraiser catering default.

Custom builds quoted line-by-line. The recommended package is the starting point — most clients adjust at the menu-lock conversation.

BBQ Basics

The classic spread. Office lunches, casual receptions, family reunions.

$14

per person · 20 minimum

One smoked meat (brisket, pulled pork, or chicken)
Two sides (mac, slaw, beans, cornbread, greens)
Brioche buns, pickles, three sauces
Disposable serving ware + utensils
Delivery within 30 mi of Colorado Springs

Start with this→

Recommended

Pitmaster Spread

The wedding default. Two meats, real sides, dessert included.

$22

per person · 30 minimum

Two smoked meats from a list of five
Three sides + cornbread + buns + pickles
Eve's sauce flight — all five sauces
Dessert: peach cobbler or banana pudding
Real serving platters + setup
Coordinator check-in 7 days before event

Start with this→

The Full Smokehouse

Show. Stop. Three meats, four sides, a pitmaster on-site running the line.

$32

per person · 50 minimum

Three smoked meats — whole brisket option
Four sides + cornbread + buns + pickles + slaw
Two desserts + late-night burnt-end taco bar
On-site pitmaster carving + replating
Linens, real platters, chafers, table runners
Dedicated coordinator + day-of point of contact

Start with this→

Step one

Tell us about your event.

Five questions, two minutes. We’ll come back within 24 hours with a real quote — not a brochure.

Get a quote→Browse the menu first

Before you ask

Fundraiser + Non-Profit BBQ Catering FAQ.

How do I prove non-profit status for the discount?

Send your IRS determination letter (Form 990 confirmation works too), school district letterhead, or equivalent. We verify at quote and apply 10% off the per-person price.

Do you do free or pro-bono catering for fundraisers?

We donate one full BBQ catering for 50 per quarter to a 501(c)(3) auction we believe in (apply via email). For everything else, we charge the discounted rate; we don't do pro-bono recurring catering.

Can you handle a 400-person seated gala?

Yes — Full Smokehouse with on-site carving, three meats, four sides, two desserts, linens, real platters, pitmaster on-site for the full dinner window. Book 10 – 16 weeks ahead for fall gala season.

What about silent-auction items we can sell to raise funds?

We offer Mug Club memberships, in-restaurant tasting dinners for four with Chef Eve, and custom sauce flights at cost. Ask at quote about the silent-auction package.

Can we get an in-kind donation receipt?

For the quarterly free-catering donation, yes — we'll issue an in-kind contribution letter for the retail value. For paid catering with the 10% discount, the discount applies but it's not separately deductible.

Do you do school auctions, PTA events, or sports-team fundraisers?

Yes — public schools qualify for the 10% discount automatically. PTA events and registered sports-team booster clubs (with 501(c)(3) status): same. Tell us at quote.

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