The name says it all: Gourmet Desserts. This brochure fundraiser offers the sweetest products in the lineup! From Thaw-and-serve products like our famous Traditional Cheesecake Samplers to our ready-to-bake Monkey Bread and delicious Double Chocolate Brownies, your taste buds will be in awe!
Made with premium ingredients that are sure to please, our gourmet frozen desserts will make entertaining a cinch.
Profit
Your profit is based on the total number of brochure and online products sold.
| Products Sold | Profit | Shipping |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 149 | 25% | TBD |
| 150-199 | 30% | Free |
| 200-299 | 35% | Free |
| 300-399 | 38% | Free |
| 400+ | 40% | Free |
Donations are 70% profit and do not count as products.
Program Details
- Minimum Price: $20
- No Upfront Cost: No fees to start your sale.
- 2 Ways to Profit: Boost your sales by selling in person and online.
- Shipping: Free Shipping Guidelines
Have a question? Contact us
Calculate Your Profit
Brochure Fundraising Steps
1. Sign Up
Enroll in our no-upfront-cost fundraiser.
2. Receive Kit
Get your startup kit, including participant supplies.
Free Supply Guidelines
3. Make Sales
Take orders in person or invite people to buy online.
4. Order Processing
Submit your order forms for processing.
5. Receive Products
Order delivered 3-4 weeks after we receive order forms.
Choose a Prize Program
Motivate your sellers to raise more money with a Prize Program
All prizes are free and do not come out of your profit.
How it Works
How does a brochure fundraiser work?
Groups use our brochures to sell popular consumer-based products and keep a percentage of the sales. Here's how our brochure fundraiser works:
- Each participant receives a brochure and order form.
- Participants ask neighbors, family, and friends to purchase products from their brochures.
- Participants gather orders, and money is collected.
- Participants turn in their order forms and money envelopes.
- You deposit any brochure money in your account and submit your order forms to us for processing.*
- You receive a sales report.
- We'll email you an invoice for what you owe, and you keep the rest as profit.
- The order is packed and shipped to the group.
- Participants deliver the merchandise to their buyers.
*NOTE: We will invoice you for what you owe for brochure sales, and you will receive a profit payment or credit for any online sales.
Do we pay for fundraising supplies?
You will not be charged upfront for any supplies, and they are free if your group meets the following order minimums based on your group size:
Groups of up to 99 participants
There is no supply charge if you sell 150 or more products. We will charge a $100 supply fee for orders with fewer than 150 products sold.
Groups with 100 or more participants
Supplies are free if your group averages $25 or more in retail sales per member. (Since the average price of a product listed in a typical brochure is about $15, that's less than two products sold per seller.)
| Ave. Retail Sales / Enrolled | Supply Fee |
|---|---|
| $0-$9.99 | $1 / Enrolled |
| $10-$14.99 | 75¢ / Enrolled |
| $15-$24.99 | 50¢ / Enrolled |
| $25+ | No Charge |
Quick Calculation Tip: Assuming an average retail price of $15 per product, if 33% of your enrolled participants average five products or more in sales, you should not encounter a supply fee charge. The higher the participation, the lower the number of sold products required per seller.
Another quick way to determine your average retail sales per enrolled is to divide your total sales by your group enrollment. Consider the following two examples.
If your group raises:
- $2,500 with 150 participants, your average retail sales per enrolled participant would be $16.67 ($2,500 ÷ 150 = $16.67). You would be charged 50¢ x 150 = $75 (See chart above).
- $5,000 with 150 participants, your average retail sales per enrolled participant would be $33.33 ($5,000 ÷ 150 = $33.33). We will not charge a supply fee because you reached $25 per enrolled participant.
Another way is to multiply $25 by your enrollment number. If you have 150 participants, your supplies would be free if your retail sales are $3,750 or more (150 participants x $25 products/participant = $3,750).
Remember that many sellers will sell more than two products, while others may not. You shouldn't incur a supply fee if your group averages two or more products sold per enrolled participant. We will add any supply cost fee to your invoice.
Supplies are shipped in bulk to your group. You must either distribute the supplies to your sellers directly during your kickoff meeting or collate them first and distribute them as packets. Make sure your sellers have envelopes for collecting money.
NOTE: Brochures and online sales count towards the minimum free supply requirement. Donations are not products and do not count toward meeting free supply requirements.
Is money collected up front?
Yes. Supporters can pay by check, cash, money order, or cashier's check.
Can participants earn prizes?
Yes. Our prize programs are optional but recommended. Incentivizing your participants can boost sales. It's important to discuss your incentive plan at your kickoff meeting. Then, continue to remind your participants about your prizes throughout your campaign, keeping them motivated to sell.
There is no cost for our incentives.
How soon can we start?
You'll receive an agreement to sign after you submit our Start a Fundraiser form. It will take at least 7-10 business days to process your order and pack and ship your supplies.
How long is the fundraiser?
The key is to balance sufficient time for sales with sustained enthusiasm, so we’ve found a 2-week sale to be optimal. Therefore, we will set your end date for two weeks after your start date by default.
You can always let us know if you need to extend your sale about three-quarters of the way through. To succeed, focus on creating a sense of seller urgency, getting out of the gate quickly, and establishing early momentum.
Online Store
Can we also raise money online?
Yes, online selling is integral to your Gourmet Desserts fundraiser. Before your start date, you'll receive instructions so your participants can register. Once registered, they can invite friends and family to shop at your store.
Selling online adds a 2nd way for your group to raise money.
Your online store will include additional products not found in the brochure.
Do participants need to register?
No, participants will not need to register. Instead, they will be provided a link to our online store, where they will enter their group code, which is provided to them prior to their start date. To access the online store, everyone, including buyers, will need to enter your group code along with their name and a student's name, their email address, and zip code.
- Meet in person or over Zoom to discuss the importance of selling online as well as in person.
- Offer low-cost or no-cost incentives (extended recess, duct tape the principal to the wall, water balloon the principal, etc., based on reaching a predetermined online sales goal).
Do we receive a group link?
You will not receive a unique link for your group. Instead, people will log into our online store using your group code.
Can we accept donations?
Yes, the Gourmet Desserts fundraiser accepts donations. You receive 70% of the donated amount. People can donate $20, $30, or $40.
Donations do not count toward products sold.
Can buyers credit more than one participant?
Yes. Buyers can choose to support more than one participant. Before continuing to the store, supporters would need to select a participant. Then, they would choose the 'Support another seller' link to add another participant.
However, participants themselves need to register individually. Each participant has their own login and sharing options.
When does our online store close?
Your online store closes once we receive your brochure order.
When do we receive our online profit payment?
Your online profit will be credited toward your brochure sales invoice. You will receive a check if your online sales profit exceeds your brochure sales invoice.
Making Sales
Is there a minimum order?
There are no order requirements for a Gourmet Desserts fundraiser.
How much money can we make?
You must know your group size and participant goal. Here's how you can estimate your profit:
Calculation Steps
- Participant Count x Participant Product Goal = Products Sold
- Products Sold x Average Retail Price = Gross Sales
- Gross Sales x Profit % = Group Profit
Example
- Let's say you have 60 participants and set your participant product goal at 10. The products sold would be 60 participants x 10 products/participant = 600.
- Next, determine your gross sales. The average retail price is about $25, so your gross sales would be 600 products x $25 = $15,000.
- Since your profit is 40%, your group profit would be $15,000 x 40% = $6,000.
Keep in mind our example is only an estimated profit. In reality, participants probably won't sell the same number of products. In addition, the average retail dollars sold per seller will vary.
Can we track our sales?
Brochure: You probably won't know how many orders you get until you collect your order forms. Yet some strategies can give you a ballpark idea. Learn how to track your fundraising progress
Online: You can track online sales in real time. By logging into your dashboard, you'll see the following:
- Which participants have registered
- Email and social share activity
- Participant and group sales progress
How do we receive our money?
Brochure Sales: Money and order forms are turned in at the end of the sale. The money gets deposited in the group's account, and the order forms are processed.
Groups receive sales reports and invoices once orders are processed. The group sends a check for the invoice amount and keeps the rest as profit.
Online Sales: A credit for your online sales profit will appear on your brochure invoice. We'll send you a check for the difference if you raise more money online within five business days after your order is shipped.
Ship to Buyer: Payments are processed within five business days after any prizes are shipped. If no prizes are shipped, payment is processed within 15 business days of the close of your store.
Donations: Any profits earned from donations are factored into your online sales credit.
What is our profit?
Groups make 25-40% of all brochure and online sales. You also receive 70% of online donations.
You also receive 70% of online donations.
(Use the 'Calculate Your Profit' calculator at the top of the page to learn how much money your group can make)
What about sales tax?
Certain states require that we collect and remit sales tax on your behalf to your state's Department of Revenue. We will need to charge sales tax if your state has determined that we have established nexus and you are not tax-exempt. See our brochure fundraising tax guide for more information.
Shipping
How soon will we receive our order?
We deliver brochure orders to your group 3-4 weeks after receiving your order. Online orders generally ship to customers within three business days after purchase.
How are online customers notified about their orders?
Customers receive a confirmation email when they place their order. A notification email is sent once their order ships.
Where do orders ship to?
The product ships from our Eau Claire, WI, warehouse to all 48 lower states.
How is our order packed?
Orders are prepacked according to each seller.
Is there a shipping fee?
Brochure Sales:
There is no shipping charge if you sell 150+ frozen food products through the brochure or online. If you sell less than 150 products, you can purchase additional products to meet or exceed 150 or pay the actual cost to ship the order to your group.
We will know the shipping cost for orders less than 150 products when we weigh the actual order.
Online Sales:
There are two ways that buyers can choose to have their online order shipped:
1. Ship to Buyer
Customers pay a shipping fee to have their orders shipped directly to them at checkout—free shipping on all orders $85 and over.
2. Ship-to-Group
Online customers can choose the ship-to-group option instead of paying the shipping fee to ship orders to their homes. They only pay the 3% credit card processing fee to ship their order to your group.
We then combine all ship-to-group orders and ship them to your location along with your brochure order.
Non-perishable and perishable products can be ordered online and shipped to your group if you use a cookie dough or frozen food brochure.
Shipping Terms
We pack group orders in the order received and schedule them for delivery within 3-4 weeks after receipt of order forms. Shipments will arrive on the date specified, barring any unforeseen events. Delivery dates and times are not guaranteed.
We may charge a fee for a liftgate, inside delivery, or delivery to a residential address. Inside delivery means we will bring the order inside and place it near the door. The freight company will not break down pallets. We recommend arranging to have volunteers ready to assist.
Only orders received in time to be added to the main order will count toward the minimum order requirements. The group will also be responsible for any late order shipping fees.
Big Fundraising Ideas is not responsible for products not stored properly.
Do you ship orders to sellers?
There is no ship-to-seller option for a Gourmet Desserts fundraiser.
How are product issues handled?
If you have any products that need replacing, you must submit a form that we'll attach to your delivery notification email. Sellers will have seven days to report any missing or damaged products. Groups are allowed one submission per fundraiser.
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