Cookie Dough versus The Internet

A few times a year, a cute student/child of yours/child of a friend’s probably approaches you trying to sell cookie dough, candles, wreaths, popcorn or any other numbers of products “for school.” You might make a purchase, wondering what you are going to do with a whole tub of cookie dough or yet another candle but wanting to support that student’s school. You might politely decline and possibly ask if there is a way you can just make a donation, but the student will probably say that he or she isn’t allowed to accept money without a purchase.

Let’s say you do buy the $25 tub of cookie dough (and we can all admit that the white chocolate macadamia nut cookie dough IS pretty good...but there go our efforts at healthy eating!) and you feel good about supporting a school. That’s awesome! It is great to show your support.

Fast forward to two months later when you receive your cookie dough. You pop a couple of pieces into the oven and start to wonder where those $25 went. Did that student’s class get $25? How much did the school pay for the cookie dough? Can you write this off on your taxes as a donation? These unanswered questions (and a ton of other ones you might have) are some of the reasons that online fundraising will start to overtake traditional fundraising in schools over the coming years. And there is no shortage of people giving to education.

Still not convinced?

With traditional fundraisers, schools receive under 50% of the overall profit, whereas with online fundraising, schools typically receive over 90% of the money given.

63% of donors report wanting to know exactly how their contribution is being used, and online fundraising offers this to 100% of donors while traditional fundraisers typically place money in one large pot leave most people wondering where their dollars went.

In a world where 72% of charitable giving comes from individuals, using social media to connect directly with friends, family, and others both close and far broadens the number of potential donors as compared with traditional door to door fundraising.

In 2014, 8.9% of fundraising dollars were given online, and this number is increasing year after year.

In our wildest dreams, every student, teacher, and student has exactly what they need to be successful and fundraisers are a thing of the past. Until we can make this dream a reality, students, teachers, and schools will do fundraisers. Let’s make them as efficient, painless, and far-reaching as possible!

Statistics courtesy of: NP Engage
Infographics courtesy of: Benefactor Group