Ready to bring in the bucks through a concession stand fundraiser this season?
This fundraising idea can be challenging, especially if you’re sourcing products and coordinating volunteers for several concession dates. But with the right approach, concession stand fundraising can be highly rewarding.
Try these five strategies to draw crowds and increase your profits, whether you’re a first-time organizer or a seasoned pro.
1. Diversify your menu
Will your concession stand cater to a rowdy sports crowd or a snazzed-up theater audience? The tone and dress code, climate, and basic demographics (such as age and spending level) should all factor into your menu planning.
In general, consider a mix that incorporates:
- A lion’s share of predictably popular items like popcorn, soda, packaged chips, and candy
- Both salty and sweet choices
- A small inventory of luxury options, such as chocolate truffles
- Alternative diet options like water, juice, fruit cups, light popcorn, kosher/vegan candy
- “Home team” items that are locally made or use organization colors, etc.
In addition to popcorn and soft drinks, concession stand specialists recommend:
- Cotton candy, brownies, and cookies
- Soft pretzels and roasted nuts
- Snow cones, frozen bananas with chocolate dip, and ice cream
- Corn dogs and oversized hot dogs
- Themed treats related to the event
- Seasonal items, i.e., chili, hot chocolate, macaroni and cheese, or cup of noodles if it’s cold outside
And before you make any purchases, review practical limitations, like:
- Venue guidelines on glass bottles, open cups, etc.
- Rules related to food allergens
- Availability of heating, cold storage, ice, etc.
- Outlets, space, and permission to bring in appliances that you supply
- Advance setup time
2. Minimize expenses to maximize your margins
Like any sales-based fundraiser, the math for a successful concession stand fundraiser is simply to sell for more than your expenses—not just what you actually sell, but all costs such as mileage, staff t-shirts, booth rental, signage, napkins and utensils, and unsold merchandise.
To keep costs low and profits high, look for a mix of items that are:
- Low cost and can be sold at a premium, such as flavored popcorn
- Popular choices or sourced from popular brands
- Storable between events without refrigeration or spoilage
In addition to managing your buy and sell costs, you can get an early start raising (and saving) money by purchasing concessions through your RaiseRight fundraising program from places like:
- Amazon
- Instacart
- Discount stores, including Sam's Club and Walmart
- Grocery stores
3. Simplify the setup
To avoid slowdowns and keep customers happy, use consistent and well-organized processes. Concession pros recommend:
- Standardized pricing at a category level for prepackaged candy or other snacks
- Simple cash handling with rounded prices and no coins
- Condiments, napkins, and utensils at a separate counter
4. Engage with customers
Fundraising events are opportunities to connect with potential supporters, volunteers, and community members. With this in mind, consider:
- Identifying t-shirts, stickers, or pins for all concession volunteers
- Adding branding and contact information to the stand and product packaging
- Promoting the fundraising goal, especially for a specific ask like new uniforms or a trip
And don’t just wait for customers to come to you—try going to them with these next-stage concession stand fundraising ideas:
- Mini-stands near event entryways or parking areas that don’t interfere with safety
- Strolling concessions for tailgating time or event ticket lines
- Advance ordering capability for large groups and/or preset pickup times
5. Cross-promote your other fundraisers
Use your concession stand fundraiser to promote your organization and other fundraisers, or encourage involvement or potential volunteers. This could look like:
- Having flyers for upcoming fundraising events or your organization’s RaiseRight fundraising program
- Placing a volunteer sign-up form or tablet for future concession hosting and other needs
- Sponsor signage, coupons, or swag
Keep fundraising after the event ends
Concession stand fundraisers are most successful at high-traffic events, but those opportunities are often seasonal. During off-seasons or slow periods, you'll want to use a program like RaiseRight to supplement your fundraising throughout the year.
With a RaiseRight fundraising program, you pay for goods and services already in your budget (including concession supplies) using gift cards or online shopping links. Participants can also dine at local restaurants or book travel accommodations to earn money. It's that simple.
Your organization earns up to 20% back with every purchase, and many families can easily raise $1,000 or more in one year—just by shopping and dining as usual.
Ready to get the fundraising going? RaiseRight is FREE to join, and your organization keeps 100% of the earnings. Give it a try—there's nothing to lose.
