In five states, from Kansas to Idaho, five cheer and dance squads set out to fund their programs. They all chose the same method: a cheerleading cookie dough fundraiser with David’s Cookies. Together, they raised $44,470.
These are not inflated projections or best-case scenarios. These are real numbers from real teams: middle schoolers, high schoolers, dancers, and cheerleaders who reached their fundraising goals by simply sharing premium gourmet cookie dough with people around them. The main point is that this fundraiser works.
Coaches, this is for you. You juggle more than most people realize: planning practice, motivating athletes, managing parents, navigating budgets, and building a culture where your squad can prosper. Fundraising can feel like just one more thing on your list, but it shouldn’t need to be overwhelming or time consuming. That’s why this post is focused on real, proven fundraising results—tools and stories that let you keep your focus on coaching, while still giving your program the resources it needs to succeed.
Meet the Five Squads Who Made It Happen
No two teams on this list are the same. They come from different states, school levels, and program sizes. That’s the point. Whether your squad has 12 or 24 members, or you’re in a small Texas town or a Virginia suburb, these results show this fundraiser works, and works well.
Here’s what five Varsity-connected squads achieved in their campaigns with David’s Cookies Fundraising:
| Rose Hill Middle School Cheer Squad | Kansas | 13 | 196 | $7,460 |
| Brenstville District HS Cheerleading | Virginia | 24 | 244 | $7,320 |
| Sparkman Dance Team | Alabama | 12 | 245 | $9,235 |
| Bushland Junior High Cheer | Texas | 20 | 249 | $9,550 |
| Mountain View Cheer | Idaho | 23 | 255 | $10,905 |
| TOTAL | 92 | 1,189 | $44,470 |
Ninety-two young athletes. One thousand one hundred eighty-nine boxes of premium gourmet cookie dough. Forty-four thousand, four hundred seventy dollars went back into five cheer programs that earned every cent. That is what this fundraiser delivers.
Think about that for a moment. Then keep reading.
Squad by Squad: The Stories Behind the Numbers
Rose Hill Middle School Cheer Squad — Kansas
Rose Hill is the kind of town where community still means something, and this middle school squad of 13 cheerleaders showed exactly why. They sold 196 boxes and raised $7,460, including donations from supporters who believed in their program sufficiently to give a little extra on top of their cookie order.
For a 13-person middle school squad, $7,460 makes a real difference. That pays for new uniforms and covers competition entry fees. It means the season can go forward without being scaled back. Each of the 13 athletes sold just over 15 boxes, a goal that is truly within reach.
Brenstville District High School Cheerleading — Virginia
Brenstville’s team of 24 participants ran a straightforward, all-cookie campaign with no donations, just product sales, and still raised $7,320. That says a lot about the quality of what they were selling.
When supporters are willing to spend their own money just because the cookies are that good, not out of obligation, you know the product is making a difference. David’s Cookies is not simply a charity request. It’s a real reason to buy. Brenstville’s squad showed this with every one of their 244 boxes.
Sparkman Dance Team — Alabama
Here is the number that catches attention: 12 participants, $9,235 raised.
The Sparkman Dance Team in Alabama had the smallest roster on this list, with just 12 members, yet they outsold squads twice their size. How did they do it? Fundraising is not only about numbers; it’s about energy. When a close-knit team is motivated, and every member shares their link with sincere enthusiasm, the results reflect that spirit.
Sparkman’s dancers averaged more than 20 boxes each, and their community clearly supported the campaign. The donations added to their cookie sales show that people wanted to help this team.
Bushland Junior High Cheer — Texas
Bushland Junior High’s 20-member cheer squad sold 249 boxes and raised $9,550, including community donations that pushed them comfortably past the $9,000 mark.
At the junior high level, $9,550 is a big achievement. It means younger athletes, who are still learning competitive cheer, have the resources to train, travel, and compete in ways that build real confidence. Their coaches set high goals, and the squad met them.
Mountain View Cheer — Idaho
And then there’s Mountain View.
Twenty-three participants. Two hundred fifty-five boxes. $10,905 raised. This top result is a model for every squad in the country to consider when asking, “What could we actually do?”
Mountain View Cheer in Idaho did not just run a fundraiser; they did it with the commitment that turns a good campaign into a great one. With donations boosting their cookie sales, they passed the $10,000 mark and kept going. For a 23-person squad, that’s just under $475 raised per athlete. That’s impressive, and other teams can do it too.
What All Five Squads Have in Common
Five teams. Five states. Five different school levels and program sizes. Yet, the common strand connecting them all is clear.
They all ran their cheerleading cookie dough fundraiser through David’s Cookies, the official fundraising partner of Varsity Spirit.
That partnership matters. Varsity Spirit is the world’s leading cheerleading and dance organization, and is behind UCA, UDA, and the country’s top cheer competitions. When Varsity Spirit endorses a fundraising partner, it means the partner shares the same standards: excellence, integrity, and an authentic commitment to helping cheer programs succeed.
David’s Cookies brings that same standard to fundraising. They offer premium gourmet cookie dough with no artificial preservatives and real flavors people love. Their 100% online, ship-to-home model removes all administrative headaches for coaches, parents, and athletes. For coaches, the process is simple: register your squad for free, share unique fundraising links with each participant, and track your team’s sales through an easy-to-use online dashboard. There is no inventory to manage, payments are handled online, and orders ship directly to supporters’ doors. Plus, they offer a 50% profit return, which is one of the highest in fundraising.
When you combine a product people truly want with a platform that makes buying and selling easy, results like these are expected. They happen naturally. That is the main lesson here.
Why the Ship-to-Home Model Changes Everything
Let’s talk about the fundraising experience these squads actually had, because it’s very different from what most people imagine when they hear “school fundraiser.”
There were no boxes stacked in the gym hallways. Coaches did not spend Saturday mornings sorting frozen tubs in parking lots. No order forms were lost in backpacks. There was no awkward door-to-door selling that even the most enthusiastic parent dislikes.
David’s Cookies Fundraising is entirely online. Here’s how it works:
- The squad signs up for free, with no upfront cost and no minimum order.
- Every participant gets a personal fundraising link to share however they like: by text, email, social media, or in group chats.
- Supporters shop online from a full range of premium gourmet David’s Cookies cookie dough flavors
- Cookies ship directly to each supporter’s home, so there are no pick-up days, no sorting, and no scheduling.
- The squad earns 50% profit on every box sold, paid directly to the organization
- Supporters can add a donation at checkout, making it easy for community members to give a little extra.
The result is a fundraiser that almost runs itself. While coaches can spend more time focusing on coaching and athletes on training, there is still a role for leadership. Coaches help motivate their squads, check in on progress, and encourage team members to share their links. These minimal steps make a big difference and maintain everyone engaged as the fundraiser gains momentum with every share and order.
The Cookie That Does the Selling for You
It might seem like hustle is the key to these results, and hard work does matter. But the real reason for success is that the product is truly excellent.
David’s Cookies has been making premium gourmet cookies for decades. The cookie dough sold through the fundraising program is the real deal: rich, indulgent, made with quality ingredients, and baked into cookies that disappear quickly. There are no artificial preservatives, and the flavors go far past standard chocolate chip.
When a cheerleader sends her link to her grandmother and her grandmother orders three boxes, not out of obligation yet because she truly wants them, that’s what makes a fundraiser work. Brenstville showed this with their all-cookie, zero-donation $7,320 campaign. Pure product quality led to real fundraising results.
The 50% Profit Difference
Most school fundraisers return between 30% and 40% profit to the organization, which is the industry standard. David’s Cookies Fundraising returns 50%, and that difference adds up quickly.
For the 1,189 boxes sold by these five squads, the difference between a 40% return and a 50% return is about $4,400 more for the programs. That’s not just a number; it’s another squad’s uniforms, another season of competition fees, and another year of doing what these athletes love.
For cheer programs that run fundraisers annually, 50% profit compounding year over year is a program-building advantage that no one should leave on the table.
Your Squad Could Be the Next Success Story
After reading these five stories, one thing is clear: there is no magic formula. There is no perfect squad size, state, or school level that guarantees success. Rose Hill did it with 13 middle schoolers in Kansas. Mountain View did it with 23 cheerleaders in Idaho. Sparkman did it with 12 dancers in Alabama. The point is simple: this fundraiser works for all kinds of teams.
What they shared was not their circumstances. It was their decision to run a fundraiser that was worth doing, backed by a product worth selling, on a platform that made everything simple.
If your squad needs funding for uniforms, travel, competition fees, or training equipment, this cheerleading cookie dough fundraiser is the most effective tool available to you right now. But the possibilities go well beyond the basics. Funds can also cover costs like choreography for new routines, professional music mixes, team-building events, summer camps, specialized coaching clinics, team apparel, senior night celebrations, banners and signage for competitions, or even transportation for away games. Whether your program dreams of attending a national event or creating a memorable team bonding experience, this fundraiser provides the flexibility to support whatever your squad needs, so you can focus on the season without constant financial stress.
It’s free to start. It ships to every door in America. And 50% of every dollar comes straight back to your program, making this the clearest next step for any squad that needs funding now.
How to Get Started Today
Setting up your David’s Cookies fundraiser takes minutes:
- Visit David’s Cookies Fundraising and register your group for free. The sign-up only takes a few minutes: just provide your squad name, your contact information, and a few quick details about your organization. It’s simple, straightforward, and you’ll be ready to launch your fundraiser right away.
- Set your goal, whether it’s $3,000 or $10,000. The platform works for every target.
- Share participant links with your squad so every athlete has their own personal page.
- Watch the orders come in — every supporter shops online, and cookies ship directly to their home.
- Collect your 50% profit at the close of your campaign.
There is no inventory to manage, no money to collect upfront, and no distribution operations to coordinate. All you need is a great product, a motivated squad, and a fundraiser that truly delivers.
Frequently Asked Questions — Cheer Coaches
Implementation: How long does a typical fundraiser campaign last from start to finish?
Most squads run their campaign for two to four weeks, and that window is genuinely the sweet spot. It’s long enough to contact extended family, coworkers, and community members, but short enough to keep energy and promptness high throughout. Real campaign data from David’s Cookies squads shows successful runs as short as seven days and as long as 30 days — your dedicated fundraising representative will help you pick the timing that fits your season and schedule. Setup takes minutes, there’s no waiting for materials to arrive, and your squad can be live and selling the same day you sign up.
Support: What kind of help and resources does David’s Cookies provide to help squads succeed?
From the moment you sign up, you have a dedicated local fundraising representative in your corner — a real person who helps you set your goal, schedule your campaign, and guide your squad through the process. Digital promotional materials are emailed to you once your agreement is signed, so you have ready-to-share graphics and messaging for social media and group chats right away. Every supporter who places an order automatically receives a shipping confirmation and tracking number via email, so customer service questions go directly to David’s Cookies — not back to you. Coaches coach. David’s Cookies handles the rest.
Customization: Can squads customize their fundraising pages or messaging for their community?
Yes. Every participant on your squad receives their own personal fundraising link — and that link is theirs to share however feels natural to them, whether that’s a message to grandma, a post on social media, or a message in the team parents’ group chat. The campaign carries your squad’s name and goal, making every share feel personal and community-specific rather than generic. Your representative can also advise on messaging that connects with your particular audience, whether you’re a small-town middle school squad or a competitive high school program. The more personal the ask, the stronger the response — and the platform is built to make that easy.
Payout: How and when are profits distributed to the squad after the campaign ends?
For the ship-to-home fundraiser, a profit check is issued to your group within 21 days of your sale closing — made payable to the group name on your agreement and mailed to your address on file. If you prefer electronic transfer, David’s Cookies will email you a form to request that instead. Your squad earns 50% profit on every box sold, with no minimums and no delivery fees on ship-to-home orders. The entire process is transparent: you can track sales in real time during the campaign, so there are no surprises when the check arrives.
Product: Are there allergy-friendly or gluten-free options available for supporters?
David’s Cookies does offer product variety across its fundraising catalog, and gluten-free cookie dough options are part of the range — an ever more crucial aspect as more families manage dietary restrictions. This makes the fundraiser genuinely inclusive: supporters with gluten sensitivities don’t have to sit out, which broadens your potential buyer pool and removes a common objection. For the most current flavor lineup and allergy information, your fundraising representative can confirm exactly what is available in your campaign catalog, as offerings are updated seasonally. When in doubt, the David’s Cookies customer service team at sthfundraising@fundraisingmanager.com are able to address specific allergy questions for individual supporters.
Have a question not covered here? Contact your David’s Cookies Varsity Spirit fundraising representative or visit davidscookiesfundraising.com to get started.
David’s Cookies Fundraising is a proud official partner of Varsity Spirit. Premium gourmet cookie dough. 100% online. Ships directly to your supporters’ doors. 50% profit for your program every time.