Have Candy and Chocolate Fundraisers Run Their Course?

Candy fundraisers are a nostalgic fundraising staple. Perhaps you can recall selling chocolate bars to neighbors, friends, or coworkers to support your school or sports team.

However, as families seek easier, more profitable, and more flexible ways to raise money, participation in traditional fundraisers—like the candy bar fundraiser—has dwindled.

Have candy and chocolate bar fundraisers run their course? Let’s examine how candy fundraisers gained popularity, why participation has slowed, and an alternative fundraiser that could better suit your group.

The historic success of candy fundraisers

According to the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), chocolate and candy sales hit an all-time high of nearly $49 billion in 2023.

So, it's a no-brainer that many organizations have found (and continue to find) success with candy fundraisers. For groups that need to raise funds quickly, it's a fast, familiar way to hit the ground running.

We believe candy fundraisers have remained popular for a reason, because it does come with some clear advantages, such as:

Low upfront cost

Candy and chocolate bars don't cost much to begin with. If you don’t have deep pockets and can’t make a significant upfront investment for your fundraiser, selling candy may be the way to go.

Decent profit margins

Depending on your upfront costs and markup price, you could earn a decent profit from a candy fundraiser.

Straightforward to sell

You don't need to explain the product you're selling or why it's worth buying. A candy fundraiser is simple to run and requires minimal logistics. 

Flexible and easy to work with

While bake sales and large-scale fundraising events are exciting, they're also tricky to plan and execute. Candy fundraisers are fuss-free, and the products are compact, portable, and easy to distribute.

Emotional and impulse appeal

Because candy is inexpensive and universally appealing, many supporters find it easy to purchase. The combination of low price and impulse appeal makes it a simple sell.

So why are candy fundraisers losing appeal?

Candy and chocolate may be more popular than ever, but the traditional candy fundraiser isn’t keeping pace. We see a few key factors driving this shift:

Fundraising fatigue and diminished novelty

Candy fundraisers have endured, but they might be overstaying their welcome. After so many years of the same approach, supporters are experiencing clear fundraiser fatigue and waning enthusiasm for marked-up candy bars.

Health concerns

As with any food-based fundraiser, there’s always a risk of allergens. Beyond that, candy fundraisers can’t accommodate supporters who avoid sweets for health reasons such as diabetes, dietary restrictions, or personal preferences.

Reddit user /r/AbsurdistWordist notes, "People are absolutely more picky about their foods and diets in particular. [Healthy school programs have] cast a stigma on any sort of sweets-based fundraising."

Shrinkflation

Let’s face it: Candy bars are getting smaller while prices increase.

One frustrated Reddit user, /r/mrthree1zero, recently shared a photo of the "World’s Finest" chocolate fundraising bars, now barely thicker than a pencil. It’s a clear example of shrinkflation at work—and a reminder that you and your supporters are paying more for less.

Selling stuff is hard—and parents are over it

Candy fundraisers were once the definition of simple and effective, but like many sales-based fundraisers, they’re starting to feel outdated. Today’s families are looking for fundraising ideas that are more convenient, low-effort, and cost-efficient.

The challenge with sales-based fundraising models is that the workload usually falls on parents or volunteers. Even a straightforward product like candy still requires time to source, sell, and distribute (not to mention the financial risk if inventory goes unsold). Per Reddit user /r/Abject-Aioli2560: "The reward isn’t worth the expense in time. Whatever isn’t returned by unscrupulous families also has to be paid for."

While candy fundraisers can still be a valuable part of your organization, groups are increasingly embracing more flexible, everyday earning options that deliver the same impact—without the extra work.

RaiseRight: A better way to fundraise

That's where RaiseRight comes in. We're reimagining traditional fundraising by replacing sales-based models with something simpler: earning through everyday purchases you’re already making.

How does RaiseRight work? It's simple—buy gift cards for everyday expenses (think gas and groceries), shop online, dine at local restaurants, or book travel. Your organization earns a percentage back with every purchase (6% on average, up to 20% or more!). 

RaiseRight partners with hundreds of brands, so there's something for everyone on our platform. Your supporters won’t have to spend an extra dime to support your cause, as they’re fundraising through purchases they’ve already budgeted for or anticipated buying. 

Even better, RaiseRight’s flexibility complements other fundraising efforts. So if you still want to run a candy fundraiser, you could use RaiseRight gift cards to buy your inventory and earn money back on that purchase, then sell the candy for a profit to earn twice in the process. (You're welcome!)