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What are Cookie Dough Fundraisers?
Cookies. Chocolate Chunk. Oatmeal Raisin. White Chocolate Macadamia. They sound tasty, right? That’s why cookie dough fundraisers are a tried and true way to raise money.

First, your group selects a cookie dough supplier. The supplier provides order forms and color brochures with the various kinds of cookies. Then group members take orders for pre-made cookie dough using the brochure.

The cookie dough is pre-made for easy selling and easy baking. 

The dough usually comes in 3 lbs. (or 2.7 lbs) resealable tubs that make about 48 cookies. Make the cookies right away. Or refrigerate the dough for 6 months, freeze for a year or store at room temperature (66°F - 77°F) for 21 days. It can be thawed and refrozen.

Because so many people like cookies, selling cookie dough is easy. And more sales equals more profits for your group or charity.

How to Be Profitable?
The first way to ensure a profitable fundraiser is to select the right supplier. Here are some things to look for:

• Decide what you think you can sell. Then look at the suppliers profitability chart. The chart figures profit based on suggested retail price, cost and number of cases sold. The profit varies from supplier to supplier. Here are two actual supplier examples:

Supplier #1- 30 members each sell 5 cases. Profit= 30%

Supplier #2- 30 members each sell 5 cases. Profit= 45%

• Other important supplier considerations:

 

Is their cookie brochure professional looking?
Will it sell the cookies?
Are brochures, parent letters, order forms, and money envelopes free?
How many cookie options are there?
Do they offer cookies with no nuts for those allergic?
Do they offer Kosher-certified cookies?
Do they offer free shipping?
What are the volume discounts?
What is the minimum order amount?
Do you have to prepay anything?
Does their dough have to be refrigerated?
Do they offer a prize program?

 

Sales Success
The second way to ensure success: 1) plan your fundraiser and 2) then motivate your team.

Setting your goal- Set the dollar amount for what you want to make. And how that money will be used. E.g. new baseball uniforms.

Setting a deadline- Run the fundraiser for 1 to 2 weeks. This short period will ensure your members don’t lose selling motivation.

Motivating your team- Have a kickoff meeting emphasizing the team’s goals. Be positive. Let them know you’re behind them.

Showing them how to sell- Always smile, be polite and make eye contact.  Role-play a sale with your team. Here’s a sample script for them follow:

“Hello, my name is _____________, and I’m raising money for _____________because we need new _________________.

Would you help support our group with a $12 donation? In return, you’ll receive a delicious 3 lbs. tub of cookie dough.”

Show them the brochure. Wait for their response.

“Our most popular flavor is mint chocolate chip. Which flavor would you be interested in?

Thank you for your generosity and have a great day.”

Holding a contest- Many suppliers offer prize incentives for reaching certain sales volumes. Some offer catalogs of prizes to choose from while others offer free cases of cookie dough for a certain number sold. Your team and the supplier benefit from the incentives.

Also, ask a local business to donate a few prizes for added contest incentive.

Collecting the money- Team members should collect money at the point of sale.

Summary
The cookie dough fundraising concept is simple: most people love cookies so the cookies end up selling themselves. This leads to healthy sales and more profit for your fundraiser. The keys to success are to find a supplier who offers the best profit margins and selling support. Then it’s up to you to motivate your team to sell.