Fundraising
How to host a food fundraiser event
A lot of successful fundraising ideas are the ones involving food – Cadbury fundraisers, bake sales, BBQ fundraisers, and black tie dinners to name a few. So if you’re thinking of hosting your own event to raise money and awareness for a worthy cause, why not make it a food fundraiser?
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What is a food fundraiser?
A food fundraiser is exactly as the name suggests – using food as a means to raise funds for a charitable organisation, social cause or enterprise. It can be as simple as selling food and then donating your proceeds to charity, or hosting a social event involving food as a centrepiece, and donating the money raised.
Food fundraisers are popular because eating is a necessity, it’s something everyone has to do and it’s enjoyable. It’s also an important component of celebrations, milestones, and life events. Add to that the feel-good factor of being able to support a charity while enjoying a meal, then you have a winning formula for fundraising success.
Food fundraisers are popular because eating is a necessity, it’s something everyone has to do and it’s enjoyable. It’s also an important component of celebrations, milestones, and life events. Add to that the feel-good factor of being able to support a charity while enjoying a meal, then you have a winning formula for fundraising success.
What are the top food fundraising ideas?
Here’s a list of food fundraising ideas, ranging from simple and practical to fun and festive to elaborately elegant:
- Pancake breakfast (a good option for schools or sports clubs)
- Morning Tea (a good option for workplaces)
- Luncheon (great option to host at a cafe or restaurant)
- Bring and buy (everyone brings a plate and donates to eat what others have brought)
- Picnic in the park (a better option during covid, when outdoor gatherings are the safer option)
- Black tie dinner (best held at a function hall with catering provided)
- Bake sale (cupcakes, muffins, slices, pies and pastries, fudge, toffee, etc)
- BBQ fundraiser
- Cooking class (either at your home, local cooking school or with a famous chef via Zoom)
- Food tasting (cheese, chocolate, food from around the world)
- Wine tasting tour
- Street food walking tour
- Food truck tour (popular at night markets)
- Food eating contest (hot dogs, spicy bowl of chilli or oodles of noodles are popular)
- Door-to-door cookie or chocolate sales
- Food auction (for example, the cherry auction)
Can I host a food fundraiser at my home?
Are you a bit of a foodie yourself? Do you enjoy cooking, having people over and sharing a meal with others? Hosting a function at your home might be a cost-effective option for you.
An intimate dinner or a casual lunch around your dining table would be the simplest option. Make things easy for yourself and serve your most tried and tested recipe or something that your loved ones request you to make often. But if you want to wow your guests with something new, test one of these recipes in advance so that you’re able to pull it off without a hitch on the day of the big event.
If you have a big backyard, an outdoor fundraiser might be a great option for you. You can keep things relaxed with a buffet style spread, so people are free to move around and mingle, rather than being stuck in designated sitting arrangements. Check out these feed-a-crowd recipes for inspiration.
If you live in an apartment and have access to a shared courtyard, consider hosting your food fundraiser there. You can also prepare food that travels well, take it to your nearest park and have a picnic. Think salads, sandwiches, wraps, party pies and tarts. Here are 14 more ideas from ABC Everyday.
An intimate dinner or a casual lunch around your dining table would be the simplest option. Make things easy for yourself and serve your most tried and tested recipe or something that your loved ones request you to make often. But if you want to wow your guests with something new, test one of these recipes in advance so that you’re able to pull it off without a hitch on the day of the big event.
If you have a big backyard, an outdoor fundraiser might be a great option for you. You can keep things relaxed with a buffet style spread, so people are free to move around and mingle, rather than being stuck in designated sitting arrangements. Check out these feed-a-crowd recipes for inspiration.
If you live in an apartment and have access to a shared courtyard, consider hosting your food fundraiser there. You can also prepare food that travels well, take it to your nearest park and have a picnic. Think salads, sandwiches, wraps, party pies and tarts. Here are 14 more ideas from ABC Everyday.
Photo credit: The Fred Hollows Foundation
Can I host a food fundraiser at a restaurant or cafe?
Who doesn’t love a fun outing with friends and family, enjoying a delicious meal? Whether it’s brunch, high tea, lunch or dinner, hosting your food fundraiser at a cafe or restaurant is a stress-free way of raising money for your favourite charity.
Here are a seven simple steps to making sure your day or night out is a hit:
Here are a seven simple steps to making sure your day or night out is a hit:
- Send an invitation to your family and friends to join you for a night (or day) of good food, good company and raising money for a good cause
- Find a venue that hosts a set menu meal and caters to dietary requirements your dining party might have
- You can also ask your favourite restaurant to put together a set menu for your fundraising event
- Agree on a set menu price and add $25, $30, $50 or more per meal, depending on how much might be an affordable amount for everyone in your dining group
- Find a bottle shop or wine cellar that may be open to donating a few bottles of wine for the event (be sure to thank them on socials and promote them to your family and friends)
- Enjoy the night out and donate all your proceeds to your pledged charity as soon as possible
- Send out a thank you note to everyone who attended and let them know how much you raised
Photo credit: The Fred Hollows Foundation
Can I get donations from businesses for my food fundraiser?
There’s no harm in approaching local food vendors in your area to see if they might be open to donating their goods or services towards your fundraiser.
Many big companies have a community program that they set money aside for as part of their corporate social responsibility. But small business owners and artisan food shops also have a strong sense of community kinship and can be persuaded to donate for a worthy cause.
You can use their donations to cut down your expenses and increase the tally of funds raised. You can also use their donations to hold an additional activity as part of your food fundraiser, and run a raffle or an auction.
Here are a list of businesses you can approach to see if they’d be willing to contribute to your fundraiser:
Many big companies have a community program that they set money aside for as part of their corporate social responsibility. But small business owners and artisan food shops also have a strong sense of community kinship and can be persuaded to donate for a worthy cause.
You can use their donations to cut down your expenses and increase the tally of funds raised. You can also use their donations to hold an additional activity as part of your food fundraiser, and run a raffle or an auction.
Here are a list of businesses you can approach to see if they’d be willing to contribute to your fundraiser:
- Big supermarkets (go to your local branch instead of contacting the head office)
- Independent grocers in your local area
- Gourmet chocolate or cheesemakers
- Wine cellars
- Bakeries
- Local deli
- Butcher
- Fishmonger
- Coffee shop chains
- Food factories in your area
- Flower vendors
- Candle and homeware stores
How can I promote my food fundraiser?
Create a unique fundraising page on our website to make your fundraising simple and easy. Reach your fundraising goals with our handy resources.
Don’t forget to share your fundraising page via email with anyone who you think might be interested in coming to your fundraiser.
You can also promote your event on your social channels if you want more people to attend. Those who can’t attend might be encouraged to make a donation to your fundraising page all the same.
By sharing your fundraiser, not only will you be advocating on behalf of the charity of your choice and spreading awareness about a worthy cause, you might also inspire others to host their very own fundraiser.
Don’t forget to share your fundraising page via email with anyone who you think might be interested in coming to your fundraiser.
You can also promote your event on your social channels if you want more people to attend. Those who can’t attend might be encouraged to make a donation to your fundraising page all the same.
By sharing your fundraiser, not only will you be advocating on behalf of the charity of your choice and spreading awareness about a worthy cause, you might also inspire others to host their very own fundraiser.
Photo credit: Ha Thi Nguyet Minh
COVER PHOTO: The Fred Hollows Foundation