How to Fundraise by Making A Cookbook

Fundraising is something that many organizations have to do regularly to support their cause or program. Churches, schools, businesses, children's hospitals and sometimes even family reunions are paid for with money fundraised by making a cookbook. It takes some work, but can be very rewarding.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Appoint a coordinator or director to be in charge of making the cookbook project. Distribute a list of guidelines for the recipes to be submitted and a time frame for completion.

2. Sort and organize the recipes received into like categories such as appetizers, salads, breads, vegetables, main dishes and desserts. Should 4 or 5 people all submit the same recipe, then include the recipe once and list all the names who submitted the recipe. Actually read the recipes to make sure that they make sense. If you feel an ingredient was omitted, contact the person that submitted it for correction.

3. Create an introduction for the cookbook. This can be an overview or history of the organization that is making the cookbook, a projection of how the fundraised monies will be used for this organization or maybe even a thank you to the contributors for the recipes included in the cookbook. Also, create the table of contents for the cookbook. In addition, design a cover for the cookbook. This could be a photograph representing the organization, a drawing or a printed cover.

4. Save and compile all your recipes, introductions, table of contents and cover design into a computer file and compact disc. Be sure to have back up copies of everything. Print several sample copies of the cookbook and distribute to persons who have been involved to do a review and edit the cookbook for errors. Make all changes, resave and update all computer file copies and compact discs.

5. Use a cookbook-making program to process, compile and print your cookbook. Another option for more detailed cookbooks is to submit a copy of your compact disc to a professional printer. Make sure that you obtained quotes from several printers before using this option.

6. Sell your cookbooks. The price to sell your cookbooks needs to be enough to reimburse all the expenses in making the cookbook and a profit margin on each cookbook. Use members of your organization to sell the cookbooks, advertise in local papers and sell through Internet sites as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to purchase a cookbook for yourself after doing all that work to help make the cookbook.