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The Right Fundraiser For Your Organization Is A Family Style Cookbook by Andy Barber
Finding the right fundraising idea for your organization isn't always easy. Many different fundraisers exist, but they are not all "created equal." Obviously, the idea would be to raise as much money as possible with the minimum of effort. Searching the internet for fundraising ideas will yield page after page of possibilities. They range from recycling to questionable internet schemes.
What Is Available?
A hefty portion of fundraising ideas involves door-to-door sales. Popcorn, candy, magazine subscriptions...you get the idea. Having been the victim of every youngster in the neighborhood who is selling a 3-ounce candy bar for two dollars, I realize that I am not forking over my money because of the good deal on a chocolate bar. I'm simply giving my money to a little kid who has been forced to wander the area and knock on all the doors. That involves a lot of work. The kids don't really mind because they are full of energy (probably on a sugar high from eating the candy bars,) but the poor parents who must follow them around are the ones that suffer.
Sometimes the children are going door-to-door by themselves, too. I am retired from law enforcement, and I wouldn't let my children do that. Period. It's simply too dangerous, even in a small town where everyone knows each other. There are too many missing children who were last seen walking alone in a "safe" neighborhood.
Hmmmmmm. What Else Do We Have?
Car washes! They are generally quite safe for the participants because so many people are gathered at the location. On the flip side you discover that there is a tremendous amount of labor involved. Add to it the uncertainty of having the weather cooperate and it can be quite a gamble.
Pancake feeds! I enjoy a good pancake feed like most folks. (That can be proven by the fact that there are about 40 pounds of me that my wife didn't marry...due primarily to my pancake addiction.) I have even been involved in several. The problem is the labor, again. It takes a lot of time and people to prepare for, and clean up after a pancake feed, or any type of fundraiser like that.
Is There A Better Option?
There is a fundraising idea that has been around for decades. It requires a minimum of labor, and it doesn't call for a huge team of people to be successful. In fact, just two or three could do it if they desired, though it wouldn't hurt to spread the responsibilities around to a few other folks in your group.
It is the family style cookbook. One of the fraternal organizations to which I belong decided to have a fundraiser by selling personalized cookbooks, and it was a resounding success. We are still selling reprints of it years later.
What Is The Process?
It's fairly simple. The following explanation is quite abbreviated, but it will provide the basics.
First you create a committee who will make the decisions like when/where/who/what, etc. The next step is to gather the recipes. The beauty of a family style cookbook for a fundraiser is the fact that it will be unique. No other cookbook will have the same recipes. Everyone in your group or organization will have at least one to offer. As you talk to neighbors, friends and relatives you will find out just how anxious some people are to give up their famous recipes.
The design is next. A good cookbook publisher will have lots of options from which you can choose. Format, paper stock, how it is organized, what type of pictures and graphics, dedication pages, and the option to sell advertising are choices to be made.
The finished product must then be sold. The members of your group will surely all buy one. The rest can be sold at church events, school activities, street fairs, and anywhere people are gathered. Unlike other fundraisers, it only takes one or two people to sit at a booth and gather the money.
Bottom Line
Personalized cookbooks are popular because they hold the best recipes from the finest cooks around. When word gets out that "Aunt Minnie's" famous chicken casserole recipe is available, stand back because people will be lining up to buy them. Human beings are a generous species who are willing to help with a good cause. If you give them a wonderful and valuable cookbook in return they will be even more eager to hand over their cash.
What Is Available?
A hefty portion of fundraising ideas involves door-to-door sales. Popcorn, candy, magazine subscriptions...you get the idea. Having been the victim of every youngster in the neighborhood who is selling a 3-ounce candy bar for two dollars, I realize that I am not forking over my money because of the good deal on a chocolate bar. I'm simply giving my money to a little kid who has been forced to wander the area and knock on all the doors. That involves a lot of work. The kids don't really mind because they are full of energy (probably on a sugar high from eating the candy bars,) but the poor parents who must follow them around are the ones that suffer.
Sometimes the children are going door-to-door by themselves, too. I am retired from law enforcement, and I wouldn't let my children do that. Period. It's simply too dangerous, even in a small town where everyone knows each other. There are too many missing children who were last seen walking alone in a "safe" neighborhood.
Hmmmmmm. What Else Do We Have?
Car washes! They are generally quite safe for the participants because so many people are gathered at the location. On the flip side you discover that there is a tremendous amount of labor involved. Add to it the uncertainty of having the weather cooperate and it can be quite a gamble.
Pancake feeds! I enjoy a good pancake feed like most folks. (That can be proven by the fact that there are about 40 pounds of me that my wife didn't marry...due primarily to my pancake addiction.) I have even been involved in several. The problem is the labor, again. It takes a lot of time and people to prepare for, and clean up after a pancake feed, or any type of fundraiser like that.
Is There A Better Option?
There is a fundraising idea that has been around for decades. It requires a minimum of labor, and it doesn't call for a huge team of people to be successful. In fact, just two or three could do it if they desired, though it wouldn't hurt to spread the responsibilities around to a few other folks in your group.
It is the family style cookbook. One of the fraternal organizations to which I belong decided to have a fundraiser by selling personalized cookbooks, and it was a resounding success. We are still selling reprints of it years later.
What Is The Process?
It's fairly simple. The following explanation is quite abbreviated, but it will provide the basics.
First you create a committee who will make the decisions like when/where/who/what, etc. The next step is to gather the recipes. The beauty of a family style cookbook for a fundraiser is the fact that it will be unique. No other cookbook will have the same recipes. Everyone in your group or organization will have at least one to offer. As you talk to neighbors, friends and relatives you will find out just how anxious some people are to give up their famous recipes.
The design is next. A good cookbook publisher will have lots of options from which you can choose. Format, paper stock, how it is organized, what type of pictures and graphics, dedication pages, and the option to sell advertising are choices to be made.
The finished product must then be sold. The members of your group will surely all buy one. The rest can be sold at church events, school activities, street fairs, and anywhere people are gathered. Unlike other fundraisers, it only takes one or two people to sit at a booth and gather the money.
Bottom Line
Personalized cookbooks are popular because they hold the best recipes from the finest cooks around. When word gets out that "Aunt Minnie's" famous chicken casserole recipe is available, stand back because people will be lining up to buy them. Human beings are a generous species who are willing to help with a good cause. If you give them a wonderful and valuable cookbook in return they will be even more eager to hand over their cash.
