Chocolate - Your Golden Ticket to Fundraising Success

When you need to raise money for your group or organization, you might not be sure how to go about it. You know you could hold a bake sale, but everyone does that. You might also come up with other great fundraising ideas, but not know how to plan or execute them and make them successful. If you want to do something a little different, that has a proven track record for raising money, and that offers professional support, consider holding a chocolate fundraiser.

You might have seen kids going door to door selling candy bars, or even had their parents approach you at work asking you to buy them. Many candy companies offer their products to groups for sale to help them raise money for their causes. One advantage to selling well known brands of candy bars is that most people are familiar with them, so they know what the quality is like, and they probably even have some favorites, which makes selling them that much easier. The downside is, some people might not want to buy a candy bar from you that they can get any day at the grocery store or the movie theater, even if the price is comparable.

Still, chocolate is a very popular item. It's been around for about 2,000 years. Most people enjoy it, and it even makes a great gift. The good thing is, chocolate fundraisers don't have to be about candy bars. There are other, fancier chocolates out there that will sell just as well, if not better than candy bars. Gourmet chocolate can be a great seller because it's something indulgent, that most people don't normally spend money on, which makes it appealing. Add to that the fact that people who buy the chocolate will also be helping your cause, and you have a great way to raise money for your organization.

But how do you sell gourmet chocolates? By working with professionals. There are several fundraising companies out there that offer gourmet chocolates to groups for the purposes of fundraising. Smaller, individually wrapped chocolate like candy bars is usually sold to the group up front. Group members then go out and sell the chocolate at a slight markup to raise money. This usually isn't the case for gourmet chocolate. The fundraising company will provide your group with brochures to be shown to potential customers. They can choose the chocolates and packages they like, and place their order with you. You collect all your customers' orders, and submit them to the fundraising company all at once.

It's a good idea to try to hold chocolate fundraisers around holidays, especially those that are centered around sweets or food. Gourmet chocolates are still a popular gift for Valentine's Day, and chocolate always sells well around Easter or Halloween. Also consider this fundraiser around Thanksgiving, and even before Christmas. Boxes of high quality chocolate make great gifts.

You may also want to consider holding another type of fundraiser at the same time, like a lollipop fundraiser. Some people are allergic to chocolate. Also check to see if the company you work with offers sugar free chocolate. Many people are calorie conscious, or diabetic, and want or need to avoid sugary treats. If you offer an alternative, they won't be left out, and you'll be able to raise more money for your group.

Bio:
Connie Foreman is a freelance writer who makes regular contributions to various websites including Fundraiser Insight which offers information about raising money for groups like school fundraisers and church fundraising and much more at http://www.fundraiserinsight.org