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?
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
Branded Gear
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.
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Gourmet Popcorn Tins
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Water Bottles, Tumblers, and Mugs
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DIY Kits
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.
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Gift Card Fundraisers
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
Ornament Kits
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
Pro-Tip:
Use this Cookie Dough Fundraiser Template to set pickup times, add shipping options, and keep everything organized from the start.
Wreaths
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.
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Holiday Cards
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
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.
How to Sell Fundraising Products Online with Cheddar Up
Here’s what makes it work:
Quick setup
Inventory tracking
Flexible delivery options
Seamless payments
Easy promotion
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
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Before you go
How to Organize a Group Gift the Easy Way: Ultimate Guide
Teacher gifts, coaches gifts, holiday gifts, thank-you gifts, end-of-year gifts, shower gifts, and so on. The group gift list is endless! If you’re wondering how to organize a group gift without getting a headache, you’ve made it to the right place.
If you’ve ever tried to plan a group gift, you know the real challenge is wrangling people. It’s the awkward Venmo requests, the “did you pay yet?” follow-ups, and the mystery of what happened to that extra $14.
The good news? A little structure up front makes a world of difference when you’re ready to start planning for that special group gift.
Below you’ll find a step-by-step guide that will help you coordinate a group gift from start to finish, including group gift giving etiquette, copy-paste scripts, a deadline strategy, and a plan for leftover funds.A group gift is a single present that is purchased by a group of friends, family, and other contributors.
For instance, a group of friends might decide to come together to purchase an expensive stroller from their bestie’s baby shower registry. Normally, one friend wouldn’t be able to afford the gift on their own. But if 3 friends chip in together, it makes the present achievable.
Unleash the Colors: How to Host a Color Run Fundraiser
A color run fundraiser combines the thrill of a fun run with bursts of bright color along the way. Participants start in white and make their way through a course filled with “color stations,” where volunteers toss powder or spray safe, water-based paint so everyone finishes covered head to toe in color.
But it’s more than just a fun event. A color run is a powerful way to raise money from multiple angles. You can collect registration fees, sell extras like t-shirts or color kits, bring in local sponsors, and tap into peer-to-peer fundraising to reach even more supporters.
Even better, it’s easy to organize everything in one place. With a simple collection page, you can manage sign-ups, track payments, and keep donations flowing without the usual hassle.
To get started, there are two great setup options: a standard fundraiser template for straightforward, all-in-one collecting, or a peer-to-peer template that lets participants create their own pages and boost your total even further.
7 Best Online Fundraising Platforms for Your Organization
The best fundraising websites are built to make your life easier. They help you set up a fundraising page, share it with your community, and collect money online without the need for endless spreadsheets or constant follow-up.
Here’s the truth: Not every platform fits every organization. Whether you’re a PTA treasurer raising money for a senior trip or you’re a growing nonprofit ready to level up your fundraising, the fundraising website you choose matters.
In this guide, we’ll walk through what online fundraising websites are, why organizers use them, and what to look for when choosing one. Let’s dive right in! An online fundraising website is a tool that helps you organize fundraising events, collect donations online, and track the success of your campaigns. Think of it as the go-to online place where people can learn about and give to your cause.
The best online fundraising platforms go beyond just payment processing. They allow you to communicate with your team and your donors, manage events, set up peer-to-peer fundraisers, and more.
From coordinating with volunteers to tracking donations, it’s no secret that having the right tool on your side can save time and reduce stress!
How to Host a Trunk or Treat Fundraiser
Planning a trunk or treat fundraiser for your PTA, church, or nonprofit? This step-by-step guide walks through the whole process, from setting admission and pricing trunk spots to collecting sign ups and running the event day. You can set it all up online, and this template gets you started in minutes. A trunk or treat fundraiser is a Halloween event where kids collect candy from decorated car trunks in a parking lot, while the host organization raises money through admission, trunk-spot fees, and concessions. Instead of going door to door, families walk from car to car in a designated parking area, collecting treats from creatively decorated trunks. Each participant, often called a trunker, decorates their vehicle with fun, spooky, or themed displays.
Schools, churches, PTAs, and nonprofits typically host trunk or treat fundraisers in mid- to late October. Because the whole event happens in one contained parking area rather than across a neighborhood, it’s a safe, weather-flexible way to bring the community together and support the organization.
