Looking for things to sell in a fundraiser? How about some cookie dough?
Cookie dough fundraisers work because everybody loves a good cookie. But… not everybody knows how to make them well. Some people even enjoy having cookie dough as a snack or ice cream topping. It’s one of many comfort foods that you can never go wrong with if you’re considering a food fundraiser option.
Cookie dough fundraisers are an affordable, fun, and yummy way to raise money for your NPO. In this guide, we’ll explain exactly what this fundraising model entails, its pros and cons, and how to run one successfully.
Food fundraising is a popular route for most nonprofits. If the food is great, very little can go wrong, making it an almost guaranteed way to increase revenue. Cookie dough fundraisers are quite simple to run – you’re simply selling cookie dough. You’re making it easier for supporters to make freshly baked treats whenever they wish.
All you need to run this fundraiser type is to source a pre-bought or make homemade cookie dough. Then, you can take orders and deliver. Easy money, right? We’ll explain below in more detail how to plan this fundraiser successfully.
Well, one of the main benefits of selling cookie dough is that many people love it so you’re likely to make a profit on your costs. Another is that there aren’t many costs at all to organizing a cookie dough fundraiser. Your main cost will be sourcing the cookie dough or buying ingredients to make your own. However, you could offset even this cost by asking for donations from local grocers and food businesses.
One of the best things about this fundraiser is that it doesn’t require too much work. If you’re a small NPO or don’t have a big budget or team, this is a great option for you. It can also work as a fundraising gap filler in between your big annual events.
One downside of choosing to run this type of fundraiser is that cookie dough is perishable. It lasts up to two weeks in the fridge and, since you want to sell it fresh, this is the timeline you have for selling. It can, however, last for up to six months in the freezer.
Organize your first cookie dough fundraiser in these six simple steps:
You don’t need too many hands on board to help you plan your fundraiser. Three or so people should be just enough. You’ll require someone to source the cookie dough and manage product areas like packaging. You’ll also need someone to be responsible for advertising your campaign online and another to deal with orders, payments, and delivery.
The next step is to find the perfect dough or make it, of course! If you have a handy baker on your team or know someone who wouldn’t mind making homemade dough, this could be a great option. It gives a homemade touch that buyers will love. Going the homemade way also means you can get creative with dough flavors and create exciting choices for buyers to try out.
If you don’t have the skills on hand, you can also buy the dough. There are tons of suppliers that specialize in supplying dough specifically for these kinds of fundraisers. Not only can they help you with the supply, but they’ve got tons of experience that can come in handy during your planning process.
We suggest choosing three flavors for variety. You don’t want too many options as this can get confusing and difficult to manage. Choose two classic cookie flavors like chocolate chip or oatmeal and an additional one for more adventurous foodies.
Before officially getting the public involved, you must first ensure that you have the infrastructure to help you oversee orders. This includes a web page where they look at options and make a choice.
It also includes some sort of billing structure and a payment portal. If you have a website in place, you may already have some of the systems needed to manage this. If not, you could even use a platform like Etsy.
Another option is to send out order forms via email or make them available to patrons on your website. They can send in the forms with proof of payment for their order.
Now that you have your logistics in place, you can share the exciting fundraiser with your community. Send out emails to encourage orders. Share details on your social media. Put up flyers at local businesses or stores. This is the time to leverage your network so you can increase your profits.
Remember to include details like how long you’re running the fundraiser, how much the dough costs, and the flavors. Also include the ‘why’ behind the fundraiser. Let them know where the money is going so that they’re more likely to buy the dough to support a good cause.
At this point, you’re ready to start taking and delivering orders. Just remember the simple but important details of sales like ensuring you have the correct address, verifying payment, and tracking income.
To add a personal touch as you close off orders, you may even send a thank you message. You can also share how patrons can donate and participate in the future.
Your campaign is over. The numbers are in. How did it go? The post-campaign analysis will help you see if you’ve made any profit and if the effort was worth it. Have you made up your initial costs and reached your target goal? Including this step will help you see if you should keep cookie dough as a fundraising tool in future years.
Take a simple, well-loved food favorite and turn it into a fundraising gem in just six steps with this guide to cookie dough fundraisers. And, if you’re not quite sure about dough, there are many food fundraising options you can choose from. Read about them here: Best Food Fundraiser Ideas
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