Whether it’s because of their ambient light, radiant warmth, or countless variety of soothing scents, candles are beloved by many. It’s no wonder candles are one of the most popular products sold for fundraisers.
But are candle fundraisers the most effective way to help your organization meet its goals?
Read on for the pros and cons of candle fundraising, as well as an alternative that just might be even more of a crowd-pleaser.
You might remember participating in Yankee Candle fundraisers at school or while in a youth group. This popular fundraising event involves selling candles door-to-door, online, or via an order form, with a portion of the proceeds going toward your school or organization.
Various candle companies offer candle fundraiser programs, each with a different ordering process or business model. For instance, some candle fundraiser programs only require you to pay back the cost of the candles, while many others keep 55% or more of the profits.
Because of this, candle fundraising can be labor-intensive. The average cost of a candle ranges anywhere from $1.99 to $35, so you’ll need to sell a lot of candles to turn a profit, especially if you’re only keeping 45% or less of what you make.
For example, if you sell candles at $20 each, you'll need to sell 25 candles to raise $500. However, after the candle company’s cut, you may only be left with $225 or less.
Despite the work involved, candle fundraising can certainly yield a profit, especially since candles are easy to sell and cost more per unit than other common fundraising products, like cookie dough or scratchcards.
Additionally, candles are popular in general. Selling candles with special features, like a longer burn time, may even allow you to charge more per unit.
However, as noted earlier, there are some cons to consider.
Below are some of the most notable pros and cons of organizing a candle fundraiser.
Let’s take a look at some of the major upsides of candle fundraising.
Despite the various advantages of candle fundraising, there are some downsides to keep in mind.
If candle fundraising burns you out, there’s a more effective way to fundraise. Gift card fundraising with RaiseRight is a no-selling fundraising method that you incorporate for your school, sports team, church, or other organization. It works like this:
With RaiseRight, there are no limits to your earning potential. Gift cards never expire and can be purchased and used year-round.
RaiseRight partners with hundreds of retailers, including brands like Yankee Candle and Bath & Body Works. Consider running your own candle fundraiser by using RaiseRight gift cards while shopping at your favorite candle retailers.
Here are some next steps to get the ball rolling:
If your organization is already earning with RaiseRight, you just need your enrollment code to create an account and begin fundraising right away.