Every group asks the same question before starting a fundraiser: is this actually worth it? We pulled the numbers on 36 real campaigns from our fundraising platform, everything from soccer teams to sororities to school bands. Combined, they raised more than $528,000. One group’s daily pace blew every other group out of the water. Here is the full scoreboard, and what the other nine prove about getting real results without it.
The Scoreboard: 10 Fundraisers, $528,717
| Group Type | Region | Raised | Boxes | Sellers | Days | $ / Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth / HS Soccer Team | New England | $18,320 | 554 | 43 | 23 | $797 |
| Cheerleading Squad | Upper Midwest | $10,085 | 366 | 29 | 6 | $1,681 |
| Cheerleading Gym / Club | West Coast | $12,695 | 416 | 35 | 23 | $552 |
| PTO | Mid-Atlantic | $11,875 | 475 | 49 | 22 | $540 |
| Sorority Chapter | National | $9,530 | 344 | 48 | 15 | $635 |
| HS Band / Performing Arts | Northeast | $7,750 | 310 | 26 | 15 | $517 |
| Middle School Club | Northeast | $22,470 | 769 | 84 | 57 | $394 |
| Competitive Dance Team | Midwest | $35,875 | 1,062 | 58 | 9 | $3,986 |
| College Community Service Club | Midwest | $5,625 | 225 | 34 | 15 | $375 |
| High School Club | Mid-Atlantic | $22,452 | 896 | 61 | 30 | $748 |
Speed Wins the Sprint. Patience Wins the Marathon.
The single fastest campaign in this data also raised the most money outright. A competitive dance team brought in $35,875 in just 9 days, averaging almost $4,000 a day, more than double the next-fastest group’s daily pace, and more total dollars than any other campaign in this data set.
But speed is not the only way to a big number. A middle school club and a high school club landed almost identical totals, about $22,450 each, despite running campaigns nearly twice as far apart in length: 57 days versus 30. The slower campaign made up for a lower daily pace by simply staying open longer.
The lesson is not “go faster.” It is “match your timeline to your group.” A tight-knit team of 58 people who all know each other can move fast. A middle school club drawing from a wider, looser network of families needs more runway to land in the same place.
Cleats, Pom-Poms, and Everything In Between
Soccer cleats. Cheer pom-poms. Ballet flats. A choir robe. None of the 10 groups above sold the same thing to the same audience, and none of them needed to. What they had in common was a personal link every member could share, a deadline, and a supporter base willing to buy something they would want anyway, regardless of the cause behind it.
Straight Answers About Cookie Fundraiser Profit
How much profit does a cookie fundraiser make?
It depends heavily on group size and campaign length, but recent campaigns on our platform have ranged from about $5,000 to more than $35,000 in total sales, with groups keeping up to 50% of every dollar raised. A group of 30 to 60 active sellers running a 1 to 4 week campaign is a realistic target range based on real results.
What’s the best fundraiser for a PTO or school club?
A ship-to-home cookie fundraiser is a strong fit for PTOs and school clubs because there is no cash to collect and no product to store or distribute. One PTO in this data set raised $11,875 in 22 days with 49 active sellers.
Does a bigger group always raise more money?
Not necessarily. In this data, a 58-person dance team out-earned several larger groups on a per-day basis, raising nearly $4,000 a day over a 9-day sprint. Group size matters less than participation rate, meaning how many members actually share their link, and how tight the deadline is.
How long should a cookie fundraiser run?
Both short and long campaigns can work well. Short campaigns, under two weeks, tend to raise money faster per day, which suits groups chasing an urgent goal. Longer campaigns, four to eight weeks, tend to raise more in total, which suits larger groups with more time to reach supporters.
What kinds of groups can run a cookie fundraiser?
Nearly any organized group with a shared cause. Sports teams, cheer and dance programs, PTOs and PTAs, sororities and fraternities, school bands and performing arts programs, college clubs, and community organizations have all run successful campaigns.
Your Group’s Turn to Make the Scoreboard
Whatever kind of group you are fundraising for, from a soccer team to a sorority chapter to a school band, David’s Cookies Fundraising can set up a free online store built for it. No upfront cost, no inventory, and up to 50% profit on every sale.
Start Your Fundraiser Today