Cookbook fundraising, also called a fundraising cookout, is a widely-used method of fundraising for churches and charity groups. A cookbook fundraiser is a great way to raise funds for any organization. Cookbook fundraisers allow people in the organization to collaborate and share their recipes while creating a memorable cookbook that is helping their cause.
Each member of the organization and volunteers will need to contribute family recipes for inclusion into the cookbook. The theme, book size, fonts, and other details are all decided on by the team and a designated editor. Sometimes the organizations will put together a committee that is responsible for schedules, recipe organization and testing, and even cover design and layout. The groups must meet regularly to report the progress of the cookbook and guide each subcommittee through the stages.
For the cookbook to be completely professional, a prototype manuscript must first be printed. Everything is proofread and edited at least three times, and a final draft must be printed and circulated for peer and editorial evaluation. In certain cases, depending upon how big the cookbook is, there is special cookbook software that can be used. When the cookbook is ready, it must be forwarded to a printer that hopefully charges reasonable rates, and the copies are distributed to interested buyers. The proceeds from the sales of the cookbooks go into the fundraising pot.
Another growing trend is to not go the traditional route of publishing, but to create an electronic cookbook, or ebook. This e-cookbook can be sold online in various methods, or saved onto a CD-ROM and sold and shipped easier than a traditional book. This is a method that more churches and organizations are choosing to pursue due to the low cost of creating the cookbook.
One thing to remember when organizing a cookbook fundraising drive is to not let the stress of it get to you. There are so many different ways to organize a fundraising campaign, and tips to help you succeed. One of the best sources of information that I have found is the Stress Free Fundraising.
All the members of the organization and all volunteers can sell the finished cookbooks, even those who were not involved in writing and compiling them. The cookbooks can be displayed within the organization’s premises, or advertised in newspapers or through flyers.
You can also talk to local merchants (bookstore owners or even convenience store owners) they just might agree to prominently display the fundraising cookbooks in their stores for free.
You should also try advertising on the Internet, and you can even send out emails for forwarding to interested parties to complement your marketing plan. Many people find that the Internet is a useful marketing tool to sell the cookbooks and widen the buyer base.
There is another great resource that can help you learn more about different methods that the professional fundraisers use to gain the most funds from their top secret sources. There are many different ways to search for funds that you can use. Many of them you probably have never heard of! If you are thinking about beginning a cookbook fundraiser program for your organization, then you really need to think about ways to raise money for your organization.
