The Great Chocolate Fundraiser

So the school needs a new gym, or the team needs new cleats, or the community centre hasn’t had hot water for 3 years. Whatever your community needs, a chocolate fundraiser can help you get it. There are plenty of chocolate companies that sell bulk candy to those trying to raise money and often supply them in handy carry cases designed specifically for fundraising. You pay for the chocolate at a cheaper than retail price and then sell it at a higher cost, keeping the difference. Chocolate companies often have a fundraising section and a whole heap of information to help you work through this. Here is a summary of the key steps.

How much do you need to make? It’s important to have a goal, be it big or small. It gives you a better idea of how much product you will need and how many volunteers will be required to sell it.

How long will you sell for? This depends greatly on what you’re raising money for. A campaign could be ongoing, however if you’re hoping to buy the local team new uniforms you will probably want to do that before the season starts.

Who is in charge? As much as fundraising is a team effort, that team needs a leader. Someone to call, store the chocolates and just generally direct the fundraising effort. If you’re reading this then it is probably going to be you.

How much should you buy? This is really important and the hardest part to figure out. Start with your fundraising goal and work from there. You can always order more chocolate and if you have a leader that can keep an eye on stock you will know before you run out that its time to order more.

How will people know you’re selling chocolate? Promotions are highly important. No one is going to buy something that they don’t know is for sale. Keep it simple. Spending a day dropping off flyers and putting up posters around the neighbourhood is great. Word of mouth is free and very easy. Don’t forget to tell people details like places and times you will be selling, and contact information if they want to help the fundraising effort.

Sell, Sell, Sell; Time to get out there and make some money. Start with people you know. Hit up the grandparents, neighbours, co workers and friends. Then move into knocking on doors around your neighbourhood. Its important to sell at events too, if your raising funds for a team; sell at the games.

A few final points to remember:

Try to keep the chocolate out of the sun; no one wants to buy a melted chocolate.

Know what you’re raising money for; customers will ask you and are more inclined to purchase if they have solid information about where their money is going.

Most important though is to have fun! This isn’t supposed to be hard work. You are doing something good for your community and everyone involved should be proud of that.

Happiness is contagious, if you are smiling and enjoying yourself selling, people will be happy buying from you.