Every congregation is looking for new ways to raise funds, either for their own benefit or as an outreach to those in their community. This year help your congregation fundraise with something timeless and meaningful, cookbooks.
This fundraiser has been successful for many congregations and it can be for yours as well. However, when planning a cookbook fundraiser, it is important to follow this recipe for success.
The first ingredient on our list is to form a team of editors. This team will decide on a theme for the book, collect the recipes, find the publisher and determine the cost of the book.
The theme is a very important ingredient in this recipe; it’s like the chocolate chips in a chocolate chip cookie. Since there are so many generic cookbooks on the market, it is essential that the editorial team creates a theme that is unique and appealing to your congregation. Examples of themes are: Christmas cookie recipes, kid-friendly recipes, dessert recipes, appetizer recipes or recipes from around the world.
After the theme is chosen, it is time for the second ingredient, recipes. Announce to your congregation, pastors and community members that recipes will be accepted during a certain time frame. During that time, the editorial team will organize the recipes and decide on a publisher to assemble the recipes and publish the cookbook.
There are many publishers that work with cookbook fundraisers and will be responsible for typing the recipes and assembling the cookbook. Three companies have received particularly high reviews from congregations on fundraisers: Fundcraft Publishing, Heritage Cookbooks and Morris Publishing. Each company offers different printing and pricing options so be sure your team determines the best publisher for your congregation.
The third ingredient is the design of the cover, dividers and pages. If your congregation is interested in a higher profit, consider having local businesses purchase an ad to advertise in the cookbook. Also, don’t forget to design a page with the history of your congregation and the organization this fundraiser will benefit.
If your editorial team wants to get more people involved, the cover design can be opened up to the congregation. Have a member create a design that will be meaningful to the congregation.
Mix the first three ingredients together (theme, recipe and design) and send them to the publishing company. The publisher will take care of typesetting, binding and showing the editorial team a proof of the cookbook before it is ready to be sold. Once the proofs are approved, it’s time to sell the books.
This is the final ingredient of the recipe, selling the book. Decide where is a good place to sell the cookbooks. It is important to begin selling within your congregation since the members are the ones who submitted the recipes and will cherish the memories. Some congregations bring their cookbooks to local bookstores or vendors to be sold on consignment. Regardless of how you decide to sell your cookbook, you have created a delicious recipe for successfully raising money for a good cause.
A cookbook fundraiser also creates timeless and unique memories for all involved. Be sure to hold a congregational potluck after the fundraiser to taste all of the delicious recipes.
You might also want to read:
Raising funds for mission
A life-saving challenge
Diving right in
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