Top 8 School Fundraising Ideas with Food

Tasty and profitable food fundraising ideas for K-12 schools.

Schools across the US raise money for extracurricular activities, educational supplies, facility upgrades, and classroom equipment with food fundraisers because they work. PTOs generate $425M to $781M annually, and a large portion of those funds derive from selling food products. Some PTOs even raise $2K per student yearly, a 20% boost to per-pupil spending.

Although USDA regulations might seem daunting, the fundraising potential of food makes the extra time needed to research the requirements worth it. Across the US, 31 states have significantly restricted food fundraisers.

Specific nutritional guidelines must be met if students sell food directly to other students during school hours. Follow your district’s fundraising guidelines, and you can host a successful food fundraiser that complies with all federal and state regulations.

Not sure where to start with selecting a food fundraiser for your school? Check out our top 8 fundraising ideas with food:

1. Perfect Pies

Frozen pies can raise thousands for your school program, especially during holidays. Sell gourmet pies from Sara Lee just before Thanksgiving, and customers won’t be able to say “no” to a delicious pumpkin pie.

2. Spaghetti Dinner

For a kid-friendly fundraising event, host a spaghetti dinner at your school and charge entry tickets. Ask a local Italian restaurant for a discount on a bulk spaghetti order to simplify logistics and maximize revenue. Consider selling customized items, like branded tumblers, with a captive audience during the event.

3. Cookie Dough

This classic school fundraiser is a favorite among kids, parents, and teachers. Fundraise with no face-to-face selling using Big Fundraising Ideas online cookie dough program. For popular name-brand food fundraising ideas, choose either an Otis Spunkmeyer or Mrs. Fields Cookie Dough brochure.

4. Jamba Juice

Jamba Juice offers several mouthwatering fundraising programs for schools, including the option to buy BOGO cards for $5 and sell them for $10. Some locations will also make on-site smoothies for events and give a percentage of the sales to your school. Parents love this nutritious alternative to ice and soda as an afterschool snack.

5. Candy

The sweet taste of candy embodies the definition of a fast-selling and highly desirable product, making it a great choice. Candy fundraising products are highly affordable and easy to sell to almost anyone.

6. Homemade Cookbook

Write a school cookbook for a COVID-safe fundraiser that fosters community without face-to-face selling. Families can submit their favorite home recipes to be shared with others. Keep costs low by selling an e-cookbook or printing the cookbook for a professional look.

7. Dessert Brochures

Can’t decide on just one type of sweet food to sell? We understand the struggle. We offer multi-product dessert brochures, including Pretzels and Otis Extravaganza.

8. Grocery Cards

Thanks to the community rewards program at many major grocery chains, schools can quickly raise the funds they need without families spending a dime more on their monthly grocery budget. Retailers like Kroger, Safeway, and Albertsons donate a portion of the proceeds when buyers connect their rewards cards to a school they choose.

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Fundraising ideas with food can be nutritious, tasty, and profitable. Offer various food options to encourage healthy eating and show that indulging in a special treat occasionally is okay.

Most importantly, maximize your profits by growing your knowledge of food fundraisers for schools with resources like a fundraising goal-setting guide, fundraising expense worksheet, how-to-track student sales, and a group fundraiser checklist.

Author Bio

Clay Boggess has been designing fundraising programs for schools and various nonprofit organizations throughout the US since 1999. He’s helped administrators, teachers, and outside support entities such as PTAs and PTOs raise millions of dollars. Clay is an owner and partner at Big Fundraising Ideas.