A cookie dough fundraiser is a fun and profitable way to raise money for schools, sports teams, churches, or community groups. People love the convenience of ready-to-bake cookie dough, and it’s easy to sell to friends, family, and community members. These fundraisers typically offer a high return on investment, and they come with the added benefit of being both simple to organize and appealing to a wide audience.
Here’s a guide on how to run a successful cookie dough fundraiser, including steps, popular companies, and tips for maximizing your sales.
Why Choose a Cookie Dough Fundraiser?
- High Profit Margins: Fundraising companies often offer a 30-50% profit margin on cookie dough sales, making it a lucrative option for groups.
- Universal Appeal: Cookie dough is a treat that nearly everyone enjoys, and pre-portioned dough makes it convenient to bake at home.
- Easy to Sell: With a variety of flavors, including classic favorites like chocolate chip and sugar cookies, cookie dough fundraisers are easy to promote and sell.
- Minimal Effort: You only need to collect orders and distribute the dough when it arrives, meaning less effort than some other fundraising options.
Steps for Organizing a Cookie Dough Fundraiser
1. Choose a Fundraising Company
Partnering with a reputable cookie dough fundraising company is the easiest way to get started. These companies provide product catalogs, order forms, and delivery services, making the process simple. Some of the top cookie dough fundraising companies include:
- Otis Spunkmeyer: One of the most well-known brands for cookie dough fundraising, offering classic flavors and high-quality dough.
- Crazy About Cookies: Offers a variety of cookie dough flavors, including allergen-free and whole grain options.
- Mrs. Fields Fundraising: Known for gourmet cookies, Mrs. Fields offers several flavors and high-profit margins.
- ABC Fundraising: Offers gourmet cookie dough in several flavors and allows groups to keep up to 50% profit.
2. Set Your Fundraising Goal
Determine how much money your group needs to raise and calculate how much cookie dough needs to be sold to reach your goal. For example, if your group needs to raise $2,000 and each tub of cookie dough earns $10 in profit, you’ll need to sell 200 tubs.
3. Get Organized
- Distribute Order Forms: The fundraising company will provide order forms and brochures with product information. Distribute these to your sellers (students, team members, volunteers) along with clear instructions on deadlines and how to collect payments.
- Set a Timeline: Set a clear timeline for your fundraiser, typically running for two to three weeks to allow enough time for sales without dragging it out.
- Promote the Fundraiser: Use social media, emails, flyers, and word of mouth to promote your cookie dough fundraiser to the community. Make sure everyone knows how to place an order and the deadline for doing so.
4. Collect Orders and Payments
- Track Orders: Make sure sellers are keeping track of their orders using the provided forms, and collect payments upfront (cash, checks, or online payments if possible).
- Submit the Final Order: Once all orders are in, tally them up and submit the total order to the fundraising company.
5. Distribute the Cookie Dough
Once the cookie dough arrives (usually within two to four weeks after the order is placed), organize a pickup event where supporters can collect their dough. Make sure to store the dough properly until distribution to keep it fresh.
Top Cookie Dough Fundraising Companies
Here are a few of the most popular and reputable cookie dough fundraising companies:
1. Otis Spunkmeyer
- Products: Offers a range of cookie dough flavors, including chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, and white chocolate macadamia.
- Profit Margins: Groups can earn up to 50% profit on each sale.
- How It Works: Fundraisers use order forms to sell tubs of frozen cookie dough, and orders are delivered pre-portioned and ready to bake.
- Website: Otis Spunkmeyer Fundraising
2. Crazy About Cookies
- Products: Offers traditional cookie dough flavors along with allergen-free and whole grain options for healthier choices.
- Profit Margins: Groups can earn up to 50% profit.
- How It Works: The company provides a variety of brochures, and cookie dough is sold in tubs or pre-portioned servings.
- Website: Crazy About Cookies Fundraising
3. Mrs. Fields Fundraising
- Products: Known for gourmet cookie dough, Mrs. Fields offers flavors like semi-sweet chocolate chip, triple chocolate, and snickerdoodle.
- Profit Margins: Up to 40-50% profit.
- How It Works: Sell cookie dough tubs using brochures and order forms provided by the company.
- Website: Mrs. Fields Fundraising
4. ABC Fundraising
- Products: Offers a wide range of cookie dough options, including chocolate chunk, oatmeal raisin, and sugar cookies, in both tubs and pre-portioned varieties.
- Profit Margins: Keep up to 50% of profits.
- How It Works: ABC Fundraising provides order forms and supports both online and traditional sales.
- Website: ABC Fundraising
Maximizing Your Cookie Dough Fundraiser
Here are some tips to ensure your cookie dough fundraiser is as successful as possible:
1. Use Multiple Sales Channels
- Door-to-Door Sales: Have sellers approach neighbors, friends, and family members to take orders.
- Online Sales: Some companies offer online sales portals where people can place their orders digitally. This makes it easier to reach supporters who don’t live nearby.
- Events and Community Gatherings: Set up tables at local events, school fairs, or sports games to sell cookie dough on the spot.
2. Offer a Variety of Flavors
- People love options! Offering a mix of classic favorites (chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin) along with some unique flavors (white chocolate macadamia, peanut butter) will appeal to a broader audience.
3. Promote Allergy-Friendly Options
- If the company offers gluten-free or nut-free cookie dough, be sure to highlight this. It will attract buyers who may have food allergies or sensitivities.
4. Set a Sales Goal and Incentivize Sellers
- Motivate your sellers by setting individual sales goals. Offer prizes for top sellers, like gift cards or event tickets, to encourage competition and participation.
5. Make it Easy to Pay
- Accept multiple forms of payment, such as cash, checks, or mobile payments (Venmo, PayPal, etc.), to make it easy for supporters to complete their purchase.
6. Leverage Social Media
- Use social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to spread the word about your fundraiser. Encourage sellers to share links or create posts promoting the cookie dough fundraiser.
Pros and Cons of a Cookie Dough Fundraiser
Pros
- High Demand: Cookie dough is a popular item that nearly everyone enjoys, making it an easy sell.
- High Profit Margins: With up to 50% profit on each sale, it’s a lucrative option for groups.
- Convenient: Cookie dough fundraisers are easy to set up, and many companies handle the logistics, making the process simple.
Cons
- Perishability: Cookie dough needs to be kept frozen, so proper storage and timely distribution are important to maintain product quality.
- Limited Sales Time: Fundraisers typically run for a few weeks to ensure freshness, so it’s important to stick to the timeline.
Conclusion
A cookie dough fundraiser is a proven way to raise significant funds for your organization with minimal effort. By offering a product that people love and working with a reputable company, you can maximize your profits and reach your fundraising goals. Whether you’re supporting a school, sports team, or charity, cookie dough fundraisers are simple, effective, and sure to be a hit with your supporters.