Things to Sell for Fundraising: 12 Profitable Items Compared

Fundraising groups often choose the item with the largest advertised margin. That number is only part of the decision. A high-margin product few supporters buy can earn less than a lower-margin item that families order in multiples. Unsold inventory, shipping terms, storage needs, and volunteer time also affect what your group keeps.

Big Fundraising Ideas has helped schools and organizations run school fundraising products since 1999. This guide compares current products by listed profit potential, selling method, buyer fit, and workload, so you can choose based on how your group actually sells.

Quick Answer by Fundraising Goal

Campaign goals matter more than finding one product that is supposedly right for everyone. A small team that needs cash quickly has different needs from a large school that wants the highest total return. Start by choosing the outcome that matters most.

Profit percentages vary by product, program, and order quantity. Review the current product page and use its profit calculator before ordering.

Why the Highest Profit Percentage Is Not Always the Best Choice

• Profit dollars matter more than percentage alone: compare the amount your group keeps from a realistic sale, not only the advertised rate.
• Participation changes the result: a familiar product with a lower margin may earn more if more sellers and buyers take part.
• Inventory risk reduces the real return: direct-sale products are fast, but ordering too much can leave the group with unsold cases.
• Order value affects total earnings: cookie dough and brochure purchases may produce more profit per buyer than a single low-cost snack.
• Volunteer workload has a cost: frozen delivery, sorting, cash collection, and pickup coordination should match the help your group actually has.

Best Things to Sell for Fast In-Hand Fundraising

1. Popcorn: selected $2 and $3 direct-sale products list profit from 40% to as much as 60%. It does not require refrigeration, and multiple flavors make it useful for concessions and general sales.
2. Candy bars: current programs sell from $1 to $3 and list profit from about 30% to as much as 55%, depending on the product and quantity. The low price supports quick purchases, but the group must track each case and payment.
3. Beef sticks: selected products reach up to 55% profit and generally sell for $2 to $3. They suit sports teams, FFA groups, and communities that want an alternative to candy.
4. Lollipops: $1 products can reach up to 53% profit. Seasonal shapes and familiar flavors work well for elementary schools, book fairs, and event tables.

Compare the full range of direct sale fundraisers before choosing a case quantity. Product pages for popcorn, candy bars, beef sticks, and lollipops show current pricing and profit tiers.

Best Fundraising Items for Larger Orders

• Cookie dough: cookie dough fundraisers list up to 40% profit, with current products generally priced from $18 to $25. Frozen options require planned pickup, while shelf-stable and online choices can reduce that burden.
• Seasonal brochures: school brochure fundraisers offer food, gifts, kitchenware, and seasonal products at a listed 40% profit. Because buyers order first, the group does not have to guess how many individual products it will sell.
• Online candles: Yankee Candles Online lists 29% to 40% of retail and ships orders to buyers. Gift appeal can support fall and holiday campaigns without a group delivery day.
• Custom apparel: online apparel programs currently list 20% profit for print-on-demand and pop-up stores and 25% for bulk orders. The margin is lower than many direct-sale products, but school, team, or cause identity can give buyers a reason to purchase.

Best High-Margin and Low-Inventory Options

• Scratch cards: supporters scratch dots to reveal donation amounts, and each completed card collects $100 gross. Listed profit reaches up to 90%, making this a high-margin choice for groups comfortable asking for contributions rather than selling merchandise.
• Discount cards: cards sell for $20 under the current program and return 50%-75% of the purchase price, depending on order quantity. They work when the local offers are useful, but the starting tier is 250 cards and custom production requires planning time.
• Online popcorn: the current program pays 25%-40% based on total products sold. Orders ship to buyers, but the page states that a $50 administrative fee applies when a group sells fewer than 50 products, so the expected number of sales matters.
• Other online stores: candles, apparel, cookie dough, and gift programs remove payment collection and group distribution under their respective terms. Compare profit, customer shipping charges, product minimums, and payout timing before making a choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to sell for fundraising?

The best items are familiar, fairly priced, easy for your members to explain, and manageable for your volunteers. Popcorn, candy bars, beef sticks, lollipops, cookie dough, discount cards, scratch cards, Smencils, candles, apparel, and seasonal catalogs each cater to a different audience or sales method. Start with the group’s buyer access and workload limit, then compare profit.

What is the most profitable thing to sell for a fundraiser?

By listed percentage, scratch card fundraisers reach up to 90%, while discount cards reach up to 75%. By total profit dollars, a lower-percentage program such as cookie dough or a seasonal brochure may earn more because each buyer places a larger order. The answer depends on whether “most profitable” means margin or total dollars kept.

What are the easiest fundraising items to sell?

Low-cost, familiar products are often easiest to explain and sell in person. Candy bars, popcorn, beef sticks, and lollipops work well at events because buyers receive the item immediately. Ease still depends on having enough foot traffic and ordering a quantity the group can reasonably sell.

What are good things to sell for a school fundraiser?

Elementary schools can consider lollipops, Smencils, cookie dough, and brochure programs. Middle and high schools may prefer popcorn, candy bars, beef sticks, discount cards, or custom apparel. Check district food-sale rules, allergen information, participant ages, and supervision needs before selecting a product.

What inexpensive items can a group sell for fundraising?

Current direct-sale choices include $1 lollipops and Smencils, plus candy bars, popcorn, and beef sticks, all of which are commonly sold for $1 to $3. A lower selling price can encourage impulse purchases, but the group must sell more units to reach the same dollar goal as a brochure or higher-priced product.

What can we sell without storing inventory?

Scratch cards and discount cards require very little physical handling, while online programs allow supporters to order from a digital store and receive products at home. Online fundraisers include product choices such as popcorn, cookie dough, candles, gifts, and apparel. Read the selected program’s profit, shipping, and minimum-sales terms before launch.

How should we choose between food and non-food products?

Food products benefit from familiarity and repeat demand, but schools must consider district policies, allergens, temperature, and storage. Non-food products such as Smencils, discount cards, scratch cards, and apparel remove many food-handling concerns. Choose the category your audience is most likely to buy and your volunteers can manage safely.

How much inventory should we order for a direct-sale fundraiser?

Base the order on the number of active sellers and a conservative per-seller unit goal. Start with the product page’s minimum, case quantity, and profit calculator. Also decide where leftover products could be sold, such as a second game or school event, before committing to additional cases.

Are online fundraisers less profitable than in-person sales?

They can offer a lower percentage than some direct-sale products, but they reach relatives, alumni, and supporters who cannot buy in person. They also remove cash collection and group distribution. Compare the amount expected per seller with the program’s shipping- or sales-threshold terms, rather than judging the format solely by its percentage.

Can a group combine online and in-person product sales?

Yes. A brochure or direct-sale campaign can be paired with an online store when both options are available. Keep the same goal, dates, and core message so supporters understand how to participate. To compare current choices, profit ranges, and selling methods, browse all school fundraising products or speak with Big Fundraising Ideas before ordering.

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.