Fundraise with Flavor: 24 Creative Food Fundraising Ideas That Actually Work

Everyone loves to eat. Moreover, folks love to get together and eat. And if you can combine eating with mingling for a good cause? Well, that’s the best of all, cue the humble food fundraiser.

It’s one of the best ways to support any organization, from schools to nonprofits to teams, so you should always keep a list of food fundraising ideas on hand.

In today’s post, we’ll take a look at why food fundraisers are so effective, various types of events to consider and how to raise the most money successfully. You’ll also get a full two dozen food fundraiser ideas to take back to the team.

From bake sales to food trucks, we’ve curated the ultimate list of fundraising ideas for clubs and nonprofits, so keep reading.

Why Food Fundraisers are Effective

So, why do food fundraising ideas usually get such an enthusiastic response? There are a number of explanations, actually.

First, it doesn’t take much knowledge or experience. You don’t have to know how to fundraise to throw a good bake sale; you just have to get enough enthusiastic people on board, and it takes care of itself. Plus, it’s an excellent opportunity for community engagement.

Second, as discussed, everyone loves to eat. Or at least, everyone has to eat, so an event geared around food usually brings in a decent crowd of folks happy to enjoy a meal or a treat for a cause.

Third, the upfront cost for a food fundraiser is pretty low. At a bare minimum, all you need is, well, food. Of course, you can also opt for additional expenses such as a venue, decorations or a bar, but you don’t have to. A simple cart of baked goods is enough.

Keep in mind that food fundraiser ideas aren’t limited to in-person events.

If you receive in-kind donations of packaged products — think chocolates, cured meats, cheeses, nuts, or wine — then you can run your fundraiser online as well. This reduces costs further. Plus, it’s a great way to avoid big get-togethers inside during cold and flu season, especially if you’re part of a medical organization for the immunocompromised … or simply don’t want to get sick.

7 Types of Food Fundraisers

Before you figure out how to start your fundraiser or pick from the following list of food fundraising ideas, let’s consider the event you want. Some are fairly easy, while some are more complicated.

Similarly, some depend on you doing a lot of moving and shaking, while others allow you to lean on your community more. Let’s take a look.

Bake Sale

The classic bake sale often rises to the top of any list of food fundraising ideas because it’s fun, inexpensive and community-oriented, but it is simultaneously capable of raising a good deal of funds.

Plus, unlike food fundraiser ideas that involve a lot of space, time or donations, a bake sale is super easy to put together. You just reach out to your community to see who’s willing to make a batch of muffins or brownies, and once you have enough people, you set a date and start sellin’ stuff. It couldn’t be easier, with proceeds for items purchased going straight into the coffers.

Restaurant Partnership

Raffle tickets are always popular on the list of food fundraising ideas, and what could make for a better raffle item than a gift card at a restaurant? Everyone loves eating out and trying new places, so this is a great way to go.

Indeed, you could run an entire raffle around in-kind donations from restaurants, and you don’t have to limit it to gift cards, either. Spots at a prix fixe dinner, wine tastings or the Happy Hour works will also appeal to the charity-minded foodie.

Cooking or Baking Classes

This is one of the best food fundraising ideas because people always want to learn to cook. No matter the economy, the time of year or the cuisine, someone will want to sign up for that sushi or cheesemaking class, guaranteed. It’s always a hot item to have in a raffle.

Even better, because you have to sign up for cooking or baking classes ahead of time, you can set up a website or webpage for the event and tell your sponsors and partners about it. That will help you bring in donations online, whether monetary or in-kind. Just make sure that if you’re accepting in-kind items, you use a donation list template to track them carefully.

Bake-Off/Cook-Off

Anyone who loves “The Great British Baking Show” will jump at the chance to try their hand in a tent of your own making. As far as food fundraising ideas go, this one is a bit more high-octane since you’ll have to set up a space to cook, but that’s where a good partnership with a cooking school comes in!

If you can get an entire evening donated by a local restaurant or cooking school, that cuts your costs down to almost nothing. Then you can take home the proceeds from ticket sales, while they get to put a feel-good event on their PR blast.

Cultural Food Festival

Food festivals have it all. Fun, games, music, and of course, lots and lots of grub. Keep in mind this is another approach that involves a lot of effort. You’ll need to source:

• An event space
• Tents, tables and chairs
• Chefs or amateur chefs to man each booth
• A website and/or promotional materials
• Additional staff
• Facilities for handwashing and calls of nature

That said, if you can spread these donations out amongst enthusiastic members of your community, then it doesn’t need to cost that much. Plus, food fundraiser ideas such as this one have the capacity to go big, potentially bringing a lot of ticket sales to your doorstep.

Culinary Experiences

When it comes to food fundraising ideas, nothing beats a culinary experience for a classy appeal. A night at a vineyard, a raw oyster tasting, an evening with a famous local chef or a food cart tour all thrill foodies and lay folks alike. After all, who doesn’t want to be treated like a star?

The proceeds from culinary experiences can come from ticket sales or raffle/auction entries. In the former case, a partner would offer you a certain number of spots in a culinary experience, and people would pay you for them. In the case of a raffle or auction, you would list the experience among the possible prizes on which to bid.

Either way, this has the potential to bring in a lot of money, especially in a blind auction or other event with unlimited bidding. If you’ve got some big spenders on your donor list, bump this to the top of your food fundraiser ideas stat.

Concession Stand

Last but not least, the concession stand! Much like the unassuming bake sale, a concession has the potential to bring in lots of money in a small amount of space. Run by volunteers and stocked with homemade or in-kind goods, this is one of the most cost-effective food fundraising ideas.

Now that you know a bit more about your options, let’s take a look at the specific forms such food fundraisers can take.

24 Food Fundraiser Ideas

Ready to talk turkey? Here are our 24 favorite food fundraising ideas and a rough idea of

• How expensive each event is – Cost ($-$$$$)
• How easy it is to execute – Difficulty (1-5, 5 being the most difficult)
• How much you can expect to make – Expected ROI (return on investment) ($-$$$$)

While we can’t give hard numbers, as each organization and event is different, you can cull through this list to find ideas both big and small that will fit your budget and enthusiasm for any time of year!

Easy-to-Plan Food Fundraisers

Want food fundraising ideas that are easy to plan and don’t cost that much? We’ve got you covered.

1. Lemonade stand

Cost: $

Difficulty: 1-2

Expected ROI: $

The cheapest of food fundraising ideas, a lemonade stand requires only a table, some cups, powdered lemonade and a few volunteers. On the other hand, it won’t bring in much money, but it’s fun for little ones!

2. Guess how many candies

Cost: $

Difficulty: 1

Expected ROI: $

A bunch of hard candies in a jar? And all people have to do is purchase a ticket and write down a number, then win a prize? Cheap, easy, and potentially lucrative, depending on the number of guests at your event.

3. Pizza party

Cost: $

Difficulty: 1-2

Expected ROI: $-$$

Regarding food fundraising ideas, this one is an easy, inexpensive favorite. Get pizza donated and charge by the slice; make pretty good money.

4. Game day concession stand

Cost: $-$$

Difficulty: 2

Expected ROI: $$

Most fields already have a concession stand handy, so all you need are baked goods or donations. Easy-peasy, and with a big crowd, you can really rake it in.

High-Impact Food Fundraisers

Sometimes, you have a lot of bandwidth (e.g., for a big annual event) and want to rake in a lot of cash. These high-impact food fundraising ideas are here to help.

5. Gourmet dining experience

Cost: $$

Difficulty: 3

Expected ROI: $$$$

Gourmet dining is a favorite among food fundraiser ideas. You just need a restaurant to donate a night, then charge folks to enter a raffle or purchase the evening. It’s easy, essentially free (if you can find the right restaurant donor) and can get really lucrative results.

6. International food fair

Cost: $$

Difficulty: 3-4

Expected ROI: $$-$$$

Donated food, donated time, in-kind furniture, and grounds: You’ve got yourself an affordable and profitable event, though you’ll have to spend serious time planning.

7. Brewery or Winery Tasting and Tour

Cost: $$

Difficulty: 3-4

Expected ROI: $$$-$$$$

Like gourmet dinners, the brewery or winery donates the tasting tour and you reap the rewards. It’s easy to add to a raffle or auction, and you’ll make good money on it, though setting up such events tends to be complex.

8. Baking or cooking challenge

Cost: $$

Difficulty: 4-5

Expected ROI: $$$-$$$$

Are you into “Chopped,” “Cupcake Wars,” “Is it Cake,” or “The Great British Baking Show”? Then, you’ll love these food fundraising ideas. They’ll take serious planning, but they’re inexpensive if local chefs donate the venue and ingredients, and you can pull in a lot of donations.

Partnership Food Fundraisers

Have partners or corporate sponsors who are standing by to help? These food fundraising ideas rely on partnerships to make them tick, but they have a lot of financial potential.

9. Food truck festival

Cost: $$

Difficulty: 4

Expected ROI: $$$

Food trucks unite! Get a food cart pod to donate free or reduced food, let your community know, do little work, make lots of money.

10. Local restaurant week

Cost: $

Difficulty: 3-4

Expected ROI: $$$

Dine out for a cause! Such food fundraising ideas, like food carts, require food donations, coupons or raffles, little prep work for you and good intake.

11. Pop-up cafe with partnered businesses

Cost: $

Difficulty: 3

Expected ROI: $$

Have some fun foodie partners you’d like to work with? Choose a spot (ideally one that’s already rented by somebody), set up a shop for the day and serve food to paying customers. It’s easy, and you can keep the proceeds!

12. Grocery store round-up

Cost: $

Difficulty: 2

Expected ROI: $$

Of all the food fundraising ideas, this one is best at helping people in need. Solicit donations from all your local grocery stores, then combine them into a food drive. Although you won’t make tons of money, you’ll get your name out there and may receive financial donations from the community, too.

Family-Friendly Food Fundraisers

Food fundraising ideas may see a better turnout if they’re family-friendly. That means planning activities that appeal to kids and leaving the grownup pursuits — for instance, fine dining, knifework or alcohol — behind.

13. Make your own pizza kit

Cost: $$

Difficulty: 2

Expected ROI: $$-$$$

No explanation needed. Have families pay a small fee, and they’ll get all the necessary ingredients to make their own pizzas with donated goods. Plus, it’s an excellent way for families to connect or couples to have a date night. Easy, no-fuss and you get the proceeds.

14. Learn the basics cooking/baking class

Cost: $$

Difficulty: 3

Expected ROI: $$$

Kids need basic cooking skills, so getting a class donated by a local restaurant or bakery is a fun and affordable food fundraising idea. You take home the cover charge and the bakery does good in the world.

15. Favorite recipes cookbook

Cost: $

Difficulty: 2

Expected ROI: $$

Everyone sends in a recipe; you bind it into a book using affordable or donated services and then sell it. You can even make this a digital cookbook, saving you the cost of materials for building the book, which is an ideal online food fundraiser idea.

16. Reverse restaurant

Cost: $$

Difficulty: 3-4

Expected ROI: $$-$$$

A fun twist on a dinner-out fundraiser! Kids are the cooks and parents/teachers are the customers. All you have to do is source donations for the food and charge a cover fee to attend, and the school or team gets the money.

Seasonal Food Fundraisers

Some food fundraiser ideas only work at certain times of the year. If your organization has seasonal activities/initiatives, or if you simply want a way to celebrate the holidays you love, these events have you covered.

17. Candy grams

Cost: $

Difficulty: 1

Expected ROI: $$

Valentine’s food fundraising ideas? We’ve got you. Candy grams are a delightful way for donors and participants to send a little love for a low-cost fee. It’s a cheap and easy ongoing event that can make good revenue depending on how many you sell.

18. Gingerbread/cooking decorating contest

Cost: $

Difficulty: 2-3

Expected ROI: $$

As for holiday food fundraising ideas, this may be the most crowd-pleasing, because everyone loves a gingerbread house. Make it a competition? You’ll have interest from people of all ages and backgrounds. Ask for in-kind donations in the form of ingredients/kits and a prize like a gift card to a local business, charge a cover fee and host your event. Medium-range in terms of work and price, but good income.

19. Thanksgiving potluck

Cost: $

Difficulty: 2

Expected ROI: $$

This one is hecka seasonal! Have everyone in your church or nonprofit bring a dish, then charge a low cover fee. You won’t make a ton, but you’ll pay almost nothing and it’s so easy.

20. Flower cookie bouquets

Cost: $

Difficulty: 2

Expected ROI: $$-$$$

Celebrating spring or Mother’s Day? Flower cookie bouquets are a perfect item to sell in person or online. Folks pay for them at an upcharge in honor of a loved one, so they’re willing to spend, while you pay minimally for ingredients and overhead (especially if you get everything donated).

Unique Food Fundraisers

Want to break the mold? These food fundraising ideas will do just that.

21. Cookie and beer/wine pairing

Cost: $

Difficulty: 3

Expected ROI: $$-$$$

Booze and cookies? Why? It’s one of our favorite food fundraiser ideas and is easy and affordable. Ask local breweries and wineries to donate booze for the cause, then combine it with a cookie tasting. (Girl Scout Cookie season anyone?) Host it at HQ or the winery/brewery to minimize costs and maximize profits.

22. Subscription snack/meal boxes

Cost: $$

Difficulty: 4-5

Expected ROI: $$$-$$$$

Everyone loves online food fundraising ideas, and this is one of the best. It takes some coordination, so it’s a bit difficult to launch. Once you set up your online shop, though, it’s easy and profitable. It can be an evergreen way of making non-dues revenue, if you keep the pipeline of packaged food donations coming.

23. Edible art show

Cost: $$

Difficulty: 4

Expected ROI: $$$

It’s art. And you eat it. Source creative contributions from your community, turn them into a gallery, then charge a cover or set up an auction or raffle. Medium cost, medium work, for decent profits.

24. Reverse bake sale

Cost: $

Difficulty: 2

Expected ROI: $$$

Pay donations to not eat a baked good. How’s that for creative food fundraising ideas? There’s no actual baking involved; rather, it’s a fundraising campaign with a fake menu. Think:

• Fruit cake
• Mud pie
• Burnt brownie
• Super-sour candy
• Mystery cookies

… and other things no one wants to eat. Set prices for each on your “menu,” either online or in person, and collect the donations for a nearly-free and super-easy event.

How to Have a Successful Food Fundraiser

All right, so you’ve got food fundraising ideas on lockdown. Like, seriously, you’re good for the next five to ten years.

But all the ideas in the world are moot if you don’t use best practices to ensure your event goes off without a hitch. That means spreading the word effectively, connecting with the right people in your community, offering digital options for those who don’t have time to make it to an in-person event and using fundraising software wisely.

Spread the Word with Social Media

To paraphrase a “Field of Dreams” quote: If you build it but don’t tell anyone about it, they won’t come, no matter how great your food fundraising ideas are. That’s why promoting your fundraiser is so important, as soon as you nail down the details, of course.

First and foremost, take a social media-forward approach. Make sure the event appears on all your channels regularly, beginning as soon as you’ve figured out the whens, wheres and whyfors.

Ideas for posts include:

• Save the date announcements at the beginning
• Full event details once you’ve got them
• Ramp-up content with behind-the-scenes looks at your event
• Showcases of what will be available in the raffle or auction
• Profiles of important chefs or community members
• Information on digital or hybrid options

And, when all is said and done and your successful event has passed, make sure to send a big social media to your sponsors and donors as well as an individualized donor thank you.

Make sure that you also send these details out on email blasts with the same regularity and information as you’re putting on social media, but with less frequency. People do not appreciate the same timing in their inboxes as on Instagram, so don’t risk being perceived as spam.

Connect with Your Community

Beyond social and email, there are other ways to let your community know about your food fundraising ideas.

Sometime’s it’s just as simple as walking into your local businesses and connecting with business owners and regulars. Talk to those out and about in your community, build relationships and they’ll be more inclined to support your fundraising initiatives. Word-of-mouth marketing is one of the best marketing strategies; we want to help those we trust.

Consider posting a fundraising thermometer online or at organization headquarters to let people know how much you’ve collected over the course of your event (especially if it’s one that uses pre-orders or donations beforehand). These tend to spark donations, ticket sales or orders toward the end of your campaign – everyone wants to see a goal achieved!

You should also leverage every stage of your nonprofit marketing funnel. For instance, you can use the fundraiser to raise awareness for potential donors. If your organization values cultural education, showcase bringing the two together. “Here’s a cool event our org does all the time: We’re hosting an Asian culture food festival!” This will bring in new supporters who are likely to keep coming back for the mission-focused part of your fundraiser.

At the other end of the funnel, where your die-hard ambassadors lie, you can inform them about all your food fundraising ideas upfront so they can start telling people as soon as possible.

Offer Digital Options

Food fundraising ideas only go so far if you limit them to in-person events. There are two ways to take them further:

1. Make some events online-only: Ask partners and sponsors to donate edible packaged goods online, set the item up in your store with the amount of each available item, and then ship it when purchased. You can also do pre-orders this way, to highlight either your own goods or those from in-kind partners.
2. Create hybrid events: Want to give folks a chance to join in on an event from home or anywhere in the world? Make your events hybrid, holding raffles or auctions online as well as in-person so anyone can participate.

Simplify with Software

Last but not least, you have to have good software on your side. The right programs and integrations will help you 

• Automate email promotions
• Build a high-quality fundraising page on your website
• Utilize online shopping technology
• Plan and promote your event

The right software will do two things: replace old or analog systems that just don’t get it done in the digital age, and play nicely with the digital programs you love and want to keep. WildApricot is exactly that, a cost-effective way to update your systems, drive more traffic and see better performance at every fundraiser from now on.

If that sounds pretty good, then it’s time to start a 60-day free trial of WildApricot today.

Best of luck with your food fundraisers!