Looking for some fundraising product ideas? One category of fundraising products that’s always popular are items that are pre-purchased in bulk and offered for immediate sale. A prime example of this is doing a candy fundraiser.
Each seller carries a box of candy bars for sale at prices generally in the $1 to $2 range. Often, sellers will seek out high-traffic locations such as grocery stores where they can offer their candy bars to large numbers of prospects in a short period of time.
Other ideas for product-based fundraisers include:
Discount certificate books
Almost every major fast food chain has some type of discount offer that they make available to fundraisers. Of course, each local franchisee has to be contacted for approval by the supplier for these to be made available in your market.
Generally these certificates are good for “buy one get one free” type of offers. The main advantage of this type of sale is a higher dollar sale based on the perceived value of being able to use the certificates across a defined time period.
Several companies consolidate these offers and combine them with a host of local special offers from restaurants, movie theaters, family fun centers, and other merchants to create a large coupon book of special offers. A major brand in this category is the Entertainment book sold by Sally Foster.
Discount cards
This product is an evolution of the discount certificate booklets into a wallet-sized plastic card. The front of the card usually features your group logo and an expiration date while the back details roughly a dozen merchant offers.
Sales are generally made with a supporting flyer providing details of the special offers and extrapolating a dollar value based on repeat usage in a one year period.
These discount cards usually sell for $10, depending on the merchant’s offers. They represent an easy way to raise significant amounts due to the high revenue per participant and larger than average profit margin.
Raffle tickets
Numbered tickets or scratch cards linked to a chance to win prizes are used to obtain funds. Prizes can be a single large item such as a big screen television or a medley of smaller items to create more chances to win. The cost of the prizes is usually less than 50% of the funds raised.
This approach needs to be checked for compliance with local laws. It also needs a strong sales effort because the net profits are provided by the sales made after the cost of prizes is covered.
Many groups swear by the “big prize” approach with larger groups raffling off such expensive merchandise as snowmobiles, boats, or automobiles. Proceed with caution here. Make sure you will raise enough money to cover the cost of the prize with plenty of money left over. Look for a partner such as an automobile dealer who wants extra publicity.
Spirit merchandise
Popular with youth athletic groups, these sales feature items with the group’s logo that can be used to show support for the team’s activity.
Examples include stadium cushions, drink cups, foam fingers, noisemakers, T-shirts, etc. These are usually sold via a concession stand at events. Because of the high markup, they can produce significant revenues to larger organizations over a season.
Seasonal fundraising products
Take advantage of the built-in market for seasonal fundraising products tied to specific holidays or seasons. Examples of great products for fundraisers include pumpkins, frozen turkeys, citrus fruit, Christmas trees, holiday wreaths, Valentine’s roses, flower bulbs, pine straw, gardening supplies and more.
Pick the right fundraising product ideas for your group’s next fundraiser, follow our sales tips, and watch your profits soar.
Here are some more ideas for fundraising products to sell for your next fundraiser. All of these are popular products, but don’t fit every situation or group size. Selecting the right fundraiser product goes a long way toward maximizing your success.
Brick Fundraising – How to raise funds with a design project incorporating laser engraved bricks – Brick fundraising tips for capital campaigns.
Candy Fundraiser – Tips for selecting the right candy fundraiser – How to improve your group’s results by offering the right fundraising products.
Candy Bar – Candy bar fundraising tips on selecting suppliers and maximizing sales – Why it’s important to ask for help and to use the word because when asking for an order.
Candy Fundraising – Sales tips for doubling or tripling your candy programs revenue and profits.
Candle – Programs offering candles can help your group or team raise funds easily.
Cash Calendar – Combining a cash raffle with a calendar fundraiser – Understanding the appeal of a cash calendar fundraiser.
Chocolate Candy – Five profit tips for getting the most out of your chocolate candy fundraisers – Fundraising candy bars really raise funds fast if you do the fundraiser right.
Cookie Dough – Cookie dough program overview plus companies and suppliers.
Cookbook – Fundraising ideas for churches and nonprofit groups – How a cookbook fundraiser can help your church raise funds.
Custom Silicone Bracelets – Selling fundraiser bracelets is a great way to support your cause – Custom silicone bracelets are an attractive way to raise funds and show you care.
Discount Cards – Sales of $10 discount cards for special merchant offers, pizza, or fast food.
Flower Bulb – Sales tips for doubling results with a flower bulb fundraiser – Or, do yours as a Spring gardening event and raise even more money.
Food Fundraisers – How to quickly boost your profits when fundraising with food items.
Fruit – Raising funds selling citrus fruit and related fundraising products – Fresh fruit fundraiser ideas for your group.
Fundraising Flowers – Ideas for making money with fundraising flowers – Fundraising with flowers is easy when you tap into existing demand.
Fundraising Sample – How to get a fundraising sample for your next fundraiser – Phone number to call for eight fundraising products with free samples sent by FedEx.
Halloween Pumpkins – Fundraising with a Halloween Pumpkin Patch – How to tips for a simple Halloween fundraiser idea.
Healthy Fundraisers – Ideas for healthy fundraisers for schools and school groups – Healthier alternatives abound including events, nonfood items, and healthy choices.
Holiday Fundraising – How-to advice on putting together a holiday fundraiser selling Christmas trees and wreaths.
Holiday Fundraising – Part 2 – Practical advice on doing holiday fundraising with wrapping paper and catalog product sales.
Lollipop Fundraiser – Raising funds selling gourmet lollipops – Lollipop fundraiser tips for boosting results.
Magazine Fundraiser – Raising funds by offering discount magazine subscriptions online – Easy magazine fundraiser is a win/win for groups and their supporters.
Pizza – Easy moneymaker in three different formats makes a good school fundraiser.
Pizza Hut – Raise funds fast with a Pizza Hut fundraiser – Choose between sales of a $10 pizza discount card with two-for-one pizzas or host a Pizza Night at your local Pizza Hut.
Popcorn Fundraising – Tips on raising more funds with popcorn fundraising – A popcorn fundraiser works great for youth sports teams, schools and church groups.
Product Ideas – How to select the right fundraising product for your group – Top ten products for school or youth group sales.
Scratch Card – Tips on raising funds quickly with scratch card fundraising – Youth sports teams love this easy fundraiser because each player can easily raise $100 or more.
Scrip Fundraising – Using sales of discount gift certificates to raise funds for your school.
Seasonal Fundraisers – Ten ideas for high-demand seasonal products to sell for your next group fundraiser – Raise more funds by selling what people already want to buy.
Tried and True Fundraisers – These old standbys always produce good results for any-size group.
Top Five Fundraisers – Fundraising products that are easy to sell and always successful – Five top fundraisers for schools and youth sports teams.
Tupperware – Advice on Tupperware fundraising for schools and large groups – How to raise funds by selling Tupperware at an event or as a catalog fundraiser.
Valentines Day – Four fast ways to raise funds with a Valentine’s Day fundraiser – Quick tips on auctions, raffles and gift baskets geared toward both men and women.
Worlds Finest Chocolate – Fundraising candy bar sales with Worlds Finest Chocolate – Candy fundraiser featuring gourmet chocolate in $1 or $2 sizes.
