Are people really tired of cookie dough fundraisers?

I ran across an article in Our Colorado News that highlights one group that says it is. Cookie dough fundraising sales, though, suggest that is not true. First let’s explore the Colorado group in the article.

“With supplemental funds so essential to helping preps sports programs perform at a highly competitive level, high school athletics departments and their booster clubs are forced to come up with their own style of “Moneyball.” In the Douglas County School District and at Littleton Public Schools, a student athlete’s cost for participating in sports ranges between $135-$150.”

That’s true every where. Sports and other extracurricular activities are costing more at a time when school budgets simply can not handle those increase. Thus the increased need for sports fundraising and school fundraising campaigns.

“Generating consistent supplemental funds from a community can be just as competitive as the teams they go toward. Creativity tends to be the key. “We have very creative parent groups (at Heritage) that find creative ways to raise money,” Shelton said. “So many people are sick and tired of cookie dough and butter braids that they would just rather write a check. We push them to get creative.” Some of the ideas booster clubs in the area have come up with include car washes at local businesses, fresh fruit sales and selling ads in the athletic programs. Heritage has been known to raffle off choice parking spaces and run tournaments of dodgeball, volleyball and basketball, as well as organize “Skate with the Eagles” events.”

This is a very fortunate school and school district because it appears they have very involved parents and administrators who are willing to do lots of different fundraisers to raise their money. It reminds me of a local band booster club that seems to have weekly fundraisers. Both, at first glance, seem to be successful. But that might not be true.

People might not be tired of cookie dough fundraisers. Instead they might be sick of weekly fundraisers and being bombarded with weekly fundraising ideas that are sent home. History shows us that each of these fundraisers raises less money and the money is often just donated by the parents who are sick and tired of constantly fundraising.

We still see groups raising tens of thousands of dollars with their cookie dough fundraisers. They are the ones that promote their fundraiser. They manage it well. They promote the benefits of participation. They set goals.

Our suggestion is not to give up on cookie dough fundraising – or any other fundraiser for that matter. It is to do the things necessary to make sure each fundraiser you run reaches it potential through extraordinary implementation.

CLICK HERE for details on the cookie dough fundraisers we recommend.