Do you have an organization or group that needs a good fundraising idea? Boy/Girl Scouts, church groups, school bands or sports teams, motorcycle clubs, and most any other organization will eventually have the need to raise money for some reason. It could be for a local child with cancer, or simply to help pay for the cost of your charitable group’s day to day bills. The idea is to raise as much money as possible, and to do it with a minimum of effort and expenditure of time.
You could choose one of many fundraising ideas. A car wash in the parking lot. Selling candy and popcorn door-to-door. Raffling off a handmade quilt. Conducting an auction where you sell donated items. Some fundraisers are simply more effective than others, though.
What Else Is There?
Cookbooks, that’s what else. Instead of spending many “man-hours” at pancake feeds or going door-to-door, you could utilize a method that has been around for many years, and has been quite successful, too. That idea is the family style cookbook.
Just What Is A Family Style Cookbook?
Personalized recipe books are professional looking cookbooks that are filled with the best recipes from the finest cooks in your club or community. You gather the recipes from everyone you know and insert them into a well-organized cookbook.
Try these methods for collecting recipes:
- Put up posters in stores, the library, schools and churches. Attach recipe forms for people to use.
- Hand out or e-mail flyers at fairs or other public events. Include the recipe forms that can be filled out and returned.
- Make announcements at meetings; make phone calls to individuals.Sometimes just “pounding the pavement” is a good method.
- If your book is a community-wide effort, use the local radio and television stations.You might find that they will do it for free since it is for a good cause.
- Send notices to everyone on your e-mail list and request recipes. (You can even use that same process to ask for advanced sales!)
The cookbooks can then be sold at fairs, school or church functions, in businesses, on-line, and even door-to-door if you choose.
Why Are They So Successful?
Imagine owning a cookbook with all those wonderful recipes. You know…the ones from all the little old ladies in town. The recipes that have gained local fame over the years. Of course they won’t all be from little old ladies. I’m a 58 year old guy who retired from law enforcement, and I contributed 2 recipes for a personalized cookbook done for a local fundraiser. It was a resounding success…even with my recipes included.
So, when the cookbooks are finally printed and available, in10sityfitnessunited everyone that contributed recipes will buy one. You have a built in customer base before you even start the process! The rest of the citizens in your area will be interested in buying one, too. Humans are a very generous species, and they will gladly help out a charity or good cause. But if you offer to them a professional looking cookbook that is unique and special, they are generally more anxious than ever to part with their hard earned cash.
What Is The Process?
It isn’t difficult. It isn’t rocket science. It doesn’t take lots of labor, either. The following is an outline of the steps to follow when designing a cookbook for a fundraiser:
- Form Your Cookbook Committee
A group of people must decide when/where/who/how and other logistical points.
Gather & Organize Your Recipes
Members of your organization is the place to start. From there you can contact neighbors and friends. You might even try your local fire department or city hall to see if they would let the employees contribute recipes.
Design Your Cookbook
There are many options. The style of binding, cover design, the type of dividers, font and ink. You can choose from different graphics or pictures. There is no right or wrong way to do it. You will just have to pick what you like best.
Sell Advertising
Advertising is an optional step. Ask local businesses if they would be interested in having their information included in a cookbook that is going to be seen by potentially hundreds of people on a regular basis. Tell the that it would be a long term investment, unlike a radio, TV or newspaper ad.
Place Your Order
Self explanatory.
Market Your Cookbooks
As mentioned above, there are many avenues for selling your cookbooks. Local businesses may be willing to help you out by putting a stack of them next to the check-out register by an informative poster. You can always go door-to-door in your neighborhood, too.