Each group (a school band, a local church wanting to help a family who suffered damage from a fire, etc.) has a genuine need; however, soliciting donations can be difficult. Candy sales allow contributors to enjoy the sweetness of giving back to a good cause.

Step 1: Clearly define one goal. “We want to support our school” is too vague. A defined goal like “We want to purchase ten new library chairs” helps donors see exactly what their donation will accomplish. Determine how much money you need to raise overall, and decide how much you would like to earn per item sold. This decision will tell you how many candy boxes you must sell.

Limit your choices to three or four options. It is usually less complicated to have fewer selections. For example, consider offering a chocolate box, a fruit candy box, a mixed box and an allergy-safe alternative. Place a clearly labeled ingredient list in each box.

Set the prices for all of your items. When possible, use rounded dollar figures as they are easy to understand and to collect. Calculate the expense of purchasing the candy, packaging materials (boxes), labeling supplies, credit card fees and other incidentals. Then subtract these expenses from the sale price of the items. What remains is the net profit which will go toward the cause.

Use pre-orders if possible. Provide each volunteer with either an order sheet or an online order form. Request the donor’s name, type of box they wish to purchase, amount donated and whether delivery is desired. Establish a deadline for ordering supplies based upon your sales. Having a few extra boxes of each variety will enable you to accommodate late customers or minor errors and prevent having too many unused items.

Once you begin packing, establish this as a group activity. Clean off your work surface(s), wash your hands and assign each member of your team a specific duty. Have someone folding cartons while another person is adding candy. Assign a third individual to verify each order against your order sheet and include the customer’s name on the package. The adults should be responsible for monitoring the cash and verifying every completed order prior to handing it over to the customer.

Provide buyers with information about when and where to pick up their purchases. Consider providing a two-hour time frame during regular hours of operation at a school, church or community center. Organize your completed orders by last name prior to the arrival of customers. Prepare a list for yourself and check off each completed order once it is collected.

Share the results of your sale. Report back to your volunteers and let them know how much money was raised and what it will fund. Include a photograph of the new chairs, stocked food shelves, etc. showing the successful completion of the project. Although the candies may disappear within a short period of time (within days) people will continue to recall that their small purchase contributed positively to a local cause.