How Schools, Teams, & Nonprofits Can Raise Big Money
Fundraising doesn’t have to mean selling boring catalogs or asking for endless donations. Fun foods make fundraising exciting, easy, and—most importantly—profitable!
Whether you’re raising money for a school, sports team, or nonprofit organization, selling popcorn, frozen treats, and other high-margin concession foods can bring in big bucks while keeping supporters engaged. With the right strategy, you can turn snack sales into serious fundraising success.
Why Fun Foods Make the Perfect Fundraiser
1️⃣ High-Profit Margins – Many concession foods have profit margins of 70-80%, meaning you keep most of what you sell!
2️⃣ Everyone Loves Snacks – Unlike traditional fundraisers, fun foods are easy to sell because people already crave them.
3️⃣ Quick & Simple Setup – No need for expensive upfront costs—just the right equipment and supplies, and you’re ready to go!
4️⃣ Repeat Sales Opportunities – Unlike one-time donations, snacks encourage repeat purchases, helping you raise more money over time.
Top Fun Food Fundraising Ideas
1. Popcorn Sales – A Classic Crowd Favorite
Popcorn is one of the best-selling snacks for fundraising, and with the right popcorn program, you can maximize profits with minimal effort.
How to Sell It:
✔️ Set up a popcorn stand with a popcorn machine at school events, sports games, or community gatherings.
✔️ Pre-package caramel corn or kettle corn for easy grab-and-go sales.
✔️ Offer flavored popcorn varieties (cheddar, caramel, kettle) to keep customers coming back for more.
2. Frozen Treats – Perfect for Any Season
Slush Puppie frozen drinks and Mini Melts ice cream are irresistible options for fundraising, especially in warmer months.
How to Sell It:
✔️ Set up a frozen drink station at outdoor events, festivals, or concession stands.
✔️ Sell pre-packaged Mini Melts in high-traffic areas like school lunchrooms or community events.
✔️ Create a limited-time “Fundraiser Flavor” to drive excitement and sales.
3. Soft Pretzels
Warm, soft pretzels are a stadium and event favorite—perfect for school fundraisers, sports teams, and community organizations.
How to Sell It:
✔️ Sell fresh-baked pretzels at sports games and tournaments.
✔️ Offer pretzel + cheese dip combos for an upsell opportunity.
✔️ Run a pre-order fundraiser, where supporters buy a pack of frozen pretzels to heat at home.
4. Cotton Candy – A High-Profit Sweet Treat
Cotton candy is cheap to make, easy to sell, and delivers sky-high profit margins.
How to Sell It:
✔️ Set up a cotton candy booth at carnivals, school fairs, or community festivals.
✔️ Package in colorful bags for easy sales at fundraisers.
✔️ Offer holiday-themed cotton candy colors (red & green for Christmas, pink & white for Valentine’s Day).
Maximizing Your Fundraising Success
1. Go Where the Crowds Are
🔹 Sell fun foods at sports games, school dances, festivals, and large community gatherings for the biggest impact.
2. Use Social Media to Build Hype
🔹 Promote your fundraiser on Facebook, Instagram, and school or team websites.
🔹 Post mouthwatering photos and limited-time specials to create urgency!
3. Offer Bundles & Special Deals
🔹 Increase sales by pairing snacks together (e.g., “Get a pretzel and a Slush Puppie for $6!”).
4. Get Volunteers Involved
🔹 Recruit students, parents, and team members to help sell, serve, and promote your fun food fundraiser.
5. Keep the Momentum Going
🔹 Run multiple fun food fundraisers throughout the year to keep donations flowing in!
Why Partner with Allen Associates?
At Allen Associates, we know how to turn snacks into serious fundraising dollars.
✔️ Top-quality concession equipment & supplies
✔️ High-profit programs designed for schools, teams, and nonprofits
✔️ Expert guidance from our Profit Programs
✔️ Weekly delivery across Western & Central NY
Start Raising Money Today!
Visit our website to learn how to kickstart your fun food fundraiser and maximize your profits!