Products to Sell for Fundraising: Year-Round and Holiday Faves

Fundraisers, Nonprofits, Sales, Schools

Not every organizer has time to bake cupcakes at midnight or chase down raffle prizes the week before an event. Many are looking for something more sustainable: products to sell for fundraising that are simple to manage, easy to promote, and actually worth the effort. 

This guide offers just that. From cozy spirit wear to seasonal treat boxes, these top 10 fundraising product ideas are designed to work for real-life organizers juggling packed schedules and big goals. Whether it’s for a school, sports team, or community group, each option is crafted to sell, ship, or deliver without added stress.

Even better? You can launch your product fundraising campaign online in minutes using Cheddar Up. With built-in shipping, item variants, QR code sharing, and automatic tracking, this tool is the go-to solution for selling products year-round or during the holidays.

What is the Best Thing to Sell for Fundraising?

The best products to sell for fundraising are simple to manage, low-cost to produce, and appealing enough to drive consistent sales. Popular options include branded apparel, pre-packaged baked goods, and seasonal gift sets. All items that are both useful and easy to promote.

When choosing what to sell, think about your fundraising goal. Higher-priced products, such as apparel or wreaths, can help you raise more money per sale, whereas smaller, lower-cost items like snacks or holiday cards often lead to higher participation and repeat purchases.

Best Year-Round Products to Sell for Fundraising

When you’re planning a fundraising idea, your success often depends on the quality of your offer. These products to sell for fundraising are year-round favorites. They’re easy to promote, deliver great margins, and appeal to broad audiences.

Branded Gear

People love to represent the groups they care about, and branded gear makes it easy. Think clean, wearable designs that feel like something they’d buy, not just something they feel obligated to support. Whether it’s a bold hoodie, a low-key baseball cap, or a soft tee with a clever slogan, these pieces let your supporters wear their involvement with pride.

To keep interest high throughout the year, rotate in limited-edition collections tied to seasons or events. A flannel hoodie for winter or a “Back-to-School” tee in the fall makes your spirit wear feel less like leftover merch and more like something worth grabbing now.

Pro-Tip:
Use a digital platform to manage inventory and track orders in real time. It makes limited-edition releases easier to organize, and you’ll always know what’s selling without guessing on sizes or styles, and you can even start with a plug-and-play spirit wear template.
spirit wear template

Gourmet Popcorn Tins

Popcorn is one of those easy wins: crowd-pleasing, snackable, and surprisingly giftable when it’s packed in a good-looking tin. You can offer sweet, salty, or mixed flavors in small or large sizes.
Pro-Tip:
Rename your flavors to match your campaign. “Team Spirit Mix” or “Game Night Crunch” gives it a little more personality and makes it easier to promote.

Water Bottles, Tumblers, and Mugs

Custom drinkware is a crowd-pleaser. It’s useful, giftable, and easy to bundle with items like cocoa mix or baked goods. Design something your supporters will want to use daily. Sleek designs and high-quality materials (think insulated tumblers or color-changing mugs) can elevate this beyond the usual.
Pro-Tip:
Want to reach more supporters? Let your community help. With peer-to-peer fundraising, families or team members can share your Water Bottle Fundraiser collection with their own networks. Think “Buy a water bottle to support Lily’s soccer team!” It adds a personal connection and brings in donations from people you might not reach otherwise.
water-bottle-fundraiser

DIY Kits

Craft kits are interactive, fun, and easy to theme for seasons or age groups. Think bracelet kits, candle-making, or mini holiday crafts. They’re a great way to get your community involved, not just as buyers, but as makers.

Invite volunteers, students, or group members to help assemble kits as part of a prep night or service project. It turns your fundraiser into a shared experience, creating more buy-in from the people you’re trying to engage.

Pro-Tip:
Offer a “build-your-own” option at a fundraising event or holiday market where supporters can create their kits on-site. It adds a hands-on element and makes your event more memorable.

Gift Card Fundraisers

This one’s low-effort and surprisingly effective. Supporters purchase gift cards to stores they already visit, like grocery chains, gas stations, home improvement stores, and a percentage of each sale goes back to your group.

It’s not flashy, but it makes sense. People still get the full value of the card, and your fundraiser earns without needing to sell physical products or manage inventory. Some programs even offer reloadable cards or digital delivery, which keeps things simple for everyone.

Holiday Products to Sell for Fundraising

If you’re planning a winter fundraising campaign, seasonal products are your best bet for tapping into the spirit of giving. These holiday-themed product ideas feel thoughtful and fun, making them great for gifting, decorating, or simply cozying up at home.

Ornament Kits

Ornament kits are a festive and flexible fundraising idea. You can include paints, brushes, and blank ornaments for a DIY experience, or offer pre-decorated options created by volunteers or students. Either way, they’re affordable, easy to assemble, and appeal to all ages.

They also work beautifully alongside a winter fundraising event, like a holiday market, tree lighting, or family craft night, where buyers can personalize their ornaments on the spot or take them home to decorate.

Cookie Dough Tubs

Few things feel more comforting than warm cookies from your own oven. Pre-portioned cookie dough tubs make it easy, and Otis Spunkmeyer’s fundraising program offers best-selling flavors like chocolate chip, sugar, and oatmeal raisin. It’s familiar, low-effort, and exactly the kind of product people don’t mind keeping in the freezer.
Pro-Tip:
Schedule pickup right before a weekend or school break. It gives families time to bake, and someone always comes looking for an extra tub or two, so plan for a few extras.

Use this Cookie Dough Fundraiser Template to set pickup times, add shipping options, and keep everything organized from the start.

bundt-cake-fundraiser

Wreaths

There’s something timeless about a fresh wreath on the door. It’s festive, fragrant, and signals the season better than most things you can buy in a box. Whether you’re working with a local greenhouse or making them by hand with help from your group, wreaths are an easy win. They feel like a splurge, but they’re also a tradition.

Offer a few size options or let people choose between classic and modern styles. If delivery’s on the table, plan early and communicate often.

Pro-Tip:
If a wreath fundraiser is new territory, don’t worry, it’s easier than you might think! Check out our Holiday Wreath Fundraiser blog for tips on sourcing, organizing, and making the most of this seasonal favorite.

Holiday Cards

Store-bought cards do the job. But cards created by your community? Those get remembered. A design contest is a simple way to engage students, members, or volunteers while creating something that feels personal and meaningful.

Choose a few winners, have them printed, and package them in small sets. Buyers love knowing the artwork comes from real people they know and support.

Bundt Cakes

Bundt cakes walk a fine line in the best way. They feel a little fancy, but still familiar. Rich flavors, pretty packaging, and zero decorating required make them an easy yes for busy supporters looking to bring something to a gathering or gift without baking from scratch.

They’re especially appealing during the holidays, when people need last-minute desserts, hostess gifts, or low-effort contributions to family dinners. A well-chosen cake flavor can save someone time and still make them look like they planned ahead.

If you’re sourcing through a local bakery or a chain like Nothing Bundt Cakes, work within their top-selling flavors to keep things simple. Just make sure your collection page shows off those flavor names. People love specifics.

Need a head start? Use one of Cheddar Up’s product sale templates to set up your fundraiser in minutes with built-in tools for item variations, inventory tracking, and pickup or shipping options

How to Sell Fundraising Products Online with Cheddar Up

With Cheddar Up, you can create a clean, organized storefront in minutes and skip the usual stress of selling fundraiser products online. Everything lives in one dashboard: product listings, payment tracking, inventory, communication, and fulfillment tools. You don’t need to learn five different apps or ask people to download anything just to participate.

Here’s what makes it work:

Quick setup

Build your collection page with images, descriptions, and forms. Add variants like sizes or colors so buyers can choose what they need without messaging you separately.

Inventory tracking

Set item limits and track what’s selling in real time. No more “Sorry, we’re out” emails.

Flexible delivery options

Let buyers choose pickup, local delivery, or shipping, whatever works for your group. You can even print shipping labels directly from your dashboard.

Seamless payments

Accept credit cards, eChecks, or even cash/check if needed. You can also use QR codes or point-of-sale tools for in-person sales.

Easy promotion

Share your collection via email, custom link, or social media.
And when it’s time to wrap up? Download clean reports, send thank-you messages, and close out your fundraiser without hunting through email threads or calculating totals manually.

Curious which fundraiser products are most popular with real organizers on Cheddar Up? Here’s the inside scoop on what consistently sells:  Top 25 Fundraiser Ideas That Actually Work

FAQs: Product Fundraising Made Simple

What are good products to sell for a fundraiser?
Branded gear, snacks, DIY kits, and gift cards are always a hit. They’re flexible, practical, and offer wide appeal.
What are the most profitable fundraising products?
Items with low costs and high perceived value, like spirit wear, holiday treat kits, and digital goods, often bring in strong margins.
Can I sell fundraiser products online?
Absolutely. With Cheddar Up, you can sell, collect payments, offer shipping, and even use QR codes — no app required.
What are some holiday items to sell for fundraising?
Try ornament kits, festive apparel, cookie dough tubs, and wreaths with shipping.

Before you go

Ready to start selling? Use Cheddar Up to manage your products to sell for fundraising in one place. From inventory tracking to online payments and shipping options, it’s built to simplify every step.
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