Fundraising should help your organization move forward—not create a second full-time job for the people running it.
Whether you are raising money for a school program, youth sports team, booster club, church group, community project or another local organization, the best fundraisers usually have a few things in common. The product is easy to understand. The price is simple. Supporters are excited to buy it. Organizers can explain the process clearly. And everyone knows what happens after the sale closes.
A soft pretzel fundraiser can check those boxes. Pretzels are familiar, easy to share and useful for households that want a snack for game day, an after-school treat or something different to serve at a gathering.
At Eric’s Pretzels, we know that a good product is only one part of a successful fundraiser. The group also needs a realistic goal, a simple sales plan, organized order collection and a smooth pickup day.
This guide walks through the process from beginning to end so your group can raise money without unnecessary confusion.
Start With One Clear Fundraising Goal
Before you make a sales sheet or post on social media, decide exactly what the fundraiser is meant to accomplish.
“Raise money for the team” is a start, but a specific goal is easier for sellers and supporters to understand. For example:
- Purchase new uniforms
- Cover tournament or travel expenses
- Fund classroom materials
- Pay for a field trip
- Support equipment upgrades
- Help finance a community project
Next, choose a dollar goal and work backward.
If your group knows how much it earns from each item sold, you can estimate the number of sales needed. Then divide that number among participating sellers. A large goal feels much more manageable when each family knows its individual target.
For example, “We need everyone to sell 12 items by Friday” is clearer than “Please sell as much as possible.”
A specific purpose also gives supporters a reason to care. People are not only buying pretzels. They are helping a real group reach a visible goal.
Choose a Fundraiser People Can Explain Quickly
A fundraiser becomes difficult when sellers need several minutes to explain the offer.
The product choices, price, deadline and pickup plan should fit into one short message. A supporter should be able to understand what is available and how to order without asking a long list of follow-up questions.
Eric’s Pretzels fundraising options are designed around straightforward $10 choices:
- A three-pack of traditional soft pretzels
- A six-pack of pretzel sticks
- A half-pound bag of pretzel nugs
That simple structure gives supporters a choice without overwhelming them. It also gives sellers a message they can remember.
When you prepare your fundraiser materials, place the most important information at the top:
- What the group is raising money for
- What products are available
- The price
- The order deadline
- When and where orders will be picked up
If those five details are easy to find, you will prevent many of the questions that slow organizers down.
Build a Short, Realistic Fundraising Timeline
Long fundraisers often lose momentum. Families forget to follow up, supporters delay ordering and organizers spend weeks sending reminders.
A shorter campaign creates healthy urgency. In many cases, one to two weeks is enough time for sellers to contact friends, relatives, coworkers and neighbors without allowing the fundraiser to drift into the background.
A simple timeline might look like this:
Before the launch
Confirm the products, pricing, group profit, order deadline, payment method and pickup plan. Give every seller the same instructions and materials.
Launch day
Announce the fundraiser to the full group. Explain the goal, what the money supports and how many items each participant should try to sell.
Midpoint
Send one progress update. Celebrate what has already been sold and remind everyone how much time remains.
Final 48 hours
Send a short deadline reminder. This is often when supporters who intended to order finally take action.
After sales close
Double-check totals, submit the final order and communicate the pickup details again.
A good schedule does not require constant messages. It requires the right messages at the right time.
Give Sellers a Message They Can Use
Not everyone feels comfortable selling. A prepared message removes the pressure of figuring out what to say.
Here is a simple example:
“Our team is raising money for new equipment with an Eric’s Pretzels fundraiser. We have three $10 options: traditional pretzels, pretzel sticks and pretzel nugs. Orders are due Friday, and pickup is next week. Would you like me to send you the order choices?”
The message is short, clear and personal. It tells the supporter what the money is for, what is being sold and when a decision is needed.
Encourage sellers to start with people they already know. Friends, relatives, coworkers and neighbors are more likely to respond when they understand the connection to the group.
Avoid turning the campaign into repeated pressure. One initial message and one friendly reminder near the deadline are usually enough.
Use More Than One Way to Reach Supporters
Different supporters prefer different ways to order, so give your sellers a few practical options.
Personal conversations
Face-to-face conversations work well with relatives, coworkers and neighbors. They give sellers a chance to explain the goal and answer questions immediately.
Text messages
A short text with the deadline and product choices is easy to send and easy for the recipient to revisit.
Social media
Parents and participants can share the fundraiser on their personal pages. The best posts include a real photo of the group and a clear explanation of what the money supports.
Email can be useful for workplace contacts, extended family or an organization’s existing supporter list. Keep the message concise and make the ordering instructions obvious.
Whatever channels you use, keep the product information, pricing and deadline consistent. Conflicting details create extra work and can lead to order mistakes.
Keep Order Collection Organized
The easiest way to reduce errors is to choose one system and use it for the entire fundraiser.
Depending on your group, that might be a paper order form, an online form, a shared spreadsheet managed by one coordinator or a fundraising platform. The specific tool matters less than consistent use.
Your order record should capture:
- Seller or participant name
- Customer name
- Customer contact information
- Quantity of each product
- Total amount due
- Payment status
- Any notes needed for pickup
Set a clear rule for payment. If payment is due when the order is placed, say so at the beginning. If your group allows another arrangement, document it carefully.
Before submitting the final order, have a second person verify the totals. Compare product quantities, payment totals and the number of individual customer orders. A brief review can catch small mistakes before they affect the whole group.
Plan Pickup Day Before the Fundraiser Begins
Pickup should not be treated as an afterthought. It is part of the fundraiser experience.
Choose a location that participating families can access easily. Then set a specific pickup window rather than asking everyone to arrive whenever they want.
Organize orders by seller or participant before pickup begins. Clearly label each order, keep a master checklist and designate one person to handle questions or missing information.
Send a reminder that includes:
- Pickup date
- Pickup time
- Exact location
- Who to contact with a problem
- Any storage or handling instructions supplied with the fundraiser
When pickup is organized, families leave with the correct order and your volunteers spend less time solving avoidable problems.
Make the Fundraiser Feel Personal
People are more likely to support a fundraiser when they understand who benefits.
Use real, specific language in your promotion. Instead of saying, “Please support our fundraiser,” explain what the group is working toward.
For example:
- “Your purchase will help our team cover tournament fees.”
- “We are raising money for new classroom technology.”
- “This fundraiser will help send our students on their spring field trip.”
Photos can also help. A team photo, classroom picture or image of the volunteers behind the project reminds supporters that there are real people connected to the goal.
After the fundraiser ends, share the result. Thank supporters and tell them what their purchases helped accomplish. That final update builds trust and makes people more willing to participate the next time your group needs support.
Common Fundraising Mistakes to Avoid
A few simple mistakes can make a fundraiser harder than it needs to be.
Too many choices
A huge catalog may look impressive, but it can slow decisions and complicate order sorting. A focused selection is easier to sell and manage.
Unclear deadlines
Use one order deadline everywhere. If different sellers share different dates, late orders become difficult to manage.
Vague pickup information
“Pickup next week” is not enough. Give the date, time, location and contact person.
Waiting until the end to organize orders
Update totals during the campaign. Do not wait until the last night to discover missing payments or incomplete forms.
Talking only about the product
The pretzels matter, but the purpose matters too. Remind supporters what the fundraiser will make possible.
Why Soft Pretzels Work Well for Group Fundraising
A useful fundraiser product should be easy for supporters to recognize and enjoy.
Soft pretzels fit many occasions. Families can serve them as snacks, bring them to gatherings or save them for a game-day spread. The familiar product makes the offer easy to explain, while the different formats give supporters practical choices.
There is also a local connection. Eric’s Pretzels operates a commercial bakery and pretzel café inside Dot’s Market in Centerville, Ohio, and our handmade pretzels are available through dozens of retail locations around Southwest Ohio.
Groups that want to see where Eric’s Pretzels is sold can use our Store Locator. Anyone interested in trying our products before organizing a fundraiser can also explore our Best Sellers collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of groups can run a soft pretzel fundraiser?
Soft pretzel fundraisers can work for schools, sports teams, booster clubs, churches and community organizations. The group should confirm its eligibility and fundraiser details with Eric’s Pretzels before announcing the sale.
What products are available for an Eric’s Pretzels fundraiser?
The current fundraiser lineup includes three $10 choices: a three-pack of traditional soft pretzels, a six-pack of pretzel sticks and a half-pound bag of pretzel nugs. Confirm the current lineup when scheduling your fundraiser.
How long should a fundraiser run?
A focused one- to two-week selling period is often easier to manage than a long campaign. Your group should allow enough time to reach supporters while keeping a clear sense of urgency.
How should orders be tracked?
Use one consistent system that records the seller, customer, product quantities, amount due and payment status. Have a second organizer verify the final totals before submitting the order.
How do we get started?
Contact Eric’s Pretzels to discuss your group, fundraising goal, expected timing and current program details. Confirm the product lineup, profit structure, ordering process and pickup arrangements before promoting the fundraiser.
Ready to Plan Your Soft Pretzel Fundraiser?
A successful fundraiser does not need to be complicated. Start with a specific goal, keep the offer simple, give sellers clear instructions and plan pickup before sales begin.
If your school, team or community group is looking for a familiar food fundraiser with straightforward choices, Eric’s Pretzels would be glad to discuss the current program and help you understand the next steps.
Want to try the pretzels first? Explore the Eric’s Pretzels Best Sellers collection, or use our Store Locator to find a participating retailer near you.