Raise More Dough: 7 Tips to Host a Winning Bake Sale Fundraiser

A bake sale fundraiser is a classic way to bring in funds for charitable organizations. This fundraising idea can be as simple as having a table of cookies and bars. Or, you can have an elaborate spread of sophisticated layer cakes, complex pastries, or global flavors (think baklavas at a Greek Orthodox Church festival, for example). 

All that said, reaching your fundraising goals requires more than just spending a few hours baking.

Whether it’s an annual tradition or a brand-new endeavor, learn how to boost your profits with these bake sale fundraising ideas and tips.

1. Set your goals 

With any fundraiser, identifying your goals is the first step to success on the checklist. Are you raising money to fund a specific project or aiming to cover a percentage of your operating costs? 

After you establish your goals in dollars and cents, think about what else you hope to accomplish, such as:

• Improving community outreach and engagement
• Identifying potential new members or supporters
• Engaging newer or different members in volunteer roles
• Promoting upcoming events
• Encouraging members to enroll in and use your RaiseRight program

In addition to a dollar figure, consider: 

• What will be funded
• Who will benefit
• How the spending fulfills organizational priorities

2. Recruit the right team 

While you want to figure out who in your crowd has kitchen skills—basic to advanced—you don’t just need bakers. You’ll also need to recruit a knowledgeable team with:

• Social media savvy and marketing skills
• Administrative talents to set and monitor pricing, budget, and deadlines 
• Cheerleaders who can greet, engage, and sell to the public

3. Say no to soufflés 

When it comes to choosing your recipes, keep your bake sale achievable and maximize your earnings opportunity. This means considering: 

• Preparation time
• Ingredient costs
• Durability
• Packaging needs
• Storage needs 

In addition to selecting recipes that require lower-cost ingredients, minimal preparation time, and special handling, be sure to include: 

• The basics, starting with chocolate chip cookies
• A mix of individual and group packaging
• Seasonal goods

If you have the talent, time, and audience for more expensive and complex items, offer them in addition to simpler, more affordable fare. 

4. Raise more dough with RaiseRight 

Rather than counting solely on bake sale proceeds, get a head start on making your goals by integrating RaiseRight into your fundraising plans.

You can earn up to 20% back simply by purchasing and using gift cards (you pay face value and get the full value of the card) or shopping online through RaiseRight’s partner brands.

You can leverage RaiseRight for everyday purchases, plus items you’ll want for your bake sale fundraiser, like: 

• Ingredients from grocery stores, Sam's Club, Target, or Amazon
• Signage and display materials from Walmart, JOANN, Michaels, or Big Lots!
• Anything else you need with universal prepaid cards (Visa or American Express)

Best of all, RaiseRight is free to join, and your organization keeps 100% of the earnings! 

5. Attract a crowd 

Marketing is a must for any fundraiser. To that end, consider:

• Promoting early and often
• Using your organization’s website, newsletter, and any live announcement opportunities
• Posting regularly on social media, including creating a Facebook event and countdown posts across all platforms
• Designing a color flyer that can be used as a printed poster and make it available as a PDF 
• Asking members to post flyers, repost or share on social media, and invite friends and family
• Placing clear, visible signage at the venue and along routes leading to the sale

6. Make sure the price is right 

Do the math to determine the right price that balances raising funds with attracting the most buyers. You may be able to price some items slightly higher than retailers in the expectation that buyers will pay more for a good cause, but you’ll reap more with affordable prices. 

Post a large and legible price list near entrances and at your booth or tables so customers don’t create a bottleneck seeking price information. In addition to a price list, place placards near each pile or section of goods so you don’t have to put a price tag on every item. 

7. Cross-sell at your stand 

The final tip in our list of bake sale fundraising ideas is to multiply your selling opportunities. Take the opportunity to cross-sell additional items to the folks lining up at your stand. This could include: 

• Raffle tickets
• Organizational merchandise such as t-shirts, hats, or enamel pins
• A donation jar for minimalists who’d rather give outright
• Gift cards for popular brands purchased through your RaiseRight program

A sweet addition to your fundraising strategy 

Bake sales are a classic and effective way to raise funds, but they aren’t something you can host every day. For a fundraiser that works year-round—24/7, 365 days a year—RaiseRight is the perfect solution.

If your organization isn’t yet earning funds with RaiseRight, you can get started today for free. RaiseRight is one of the best ways to make passive income for your organization throughout the year—between bake sales and other events. 

And don’t forget—you can earn funds on just about anything, including bake sale ingredients and everything else it takes to run your organization.