Fundraising with Candles

by Deane Brengle, Editor of the Fundraising for Small Groups Newsletter

Candles are one of the most popular non food fundraisers available. It's easy to see why.

There were over 2 billion dollars in retail candle sales last year.
Candles are a popular gift item great for holiday fundraisers.
Over 98% of U.S. households have at least one candle.
There are a great variety of scents to please everyone.
Profits from brochure sales are available to you immediately.

This booklet is designed to get you acquainted with candle fundraising if you haven't done it before. If you are already doing a candle fundraiser this booklet will help you discover the latest offerings and ideas in candle fundraising.

Overview of this Fundraiser

This is a pre-sell brochure fundraiser. Candles are sold to parents, relatives, friends, supporters, and the general public by way of a brochure/order form supplied by a fundraising supplier. Orders are taken over roughly a two week period for specific candle scents. At the end of the sale period order forms are tallied and the candles are ordered. About two weeks later your candles are delivered and you distribute the candles to your buyers.

All candles suppliers offer a wonderful variety of candles scents and sizes. Many suppliers offer different brochures for you to choose from so you can find one to compliment your group and its buying habits. Some suppliers are now offering soy based candles. These candles are supposed to burn cleaner and longer.

A candle fundraiser is a good fit for many groups including: school groups, orchestra and marching bands, sports teams, church groups, pre-school and day care centers, booster clubs, and any other nonprofit group.

Potential Income

Generally speaking, you can make up to 50% profit on a candle sale. The best way to figure out what you will make from a sale is to talk to each company and have them help you calculate how much your group will sell and what your profit will be.

Other things will affect your profit so be sure and ask about them:

Cost of the brochure/order forms
Cost of the money collection envelopes
Cost of shipping
Availability/cost of computer reports (sales totals by student and/or teacher)
Availability/cost of distribution sheets for each seller
Availability/cost of prize programs (can add or deduct 3-5% of the total)

Potential Disadvantages

Many candle suppliers have a minimum order so be sure and ask.
Candles are vulnerable to heat and may not be suitable for a summer fundraiser in all areas.

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Complexity

This fundraiser is pretty straight forward, but there are several questions you should ask yourself:

Pre Pay or Post Pay- pre pay is when your customers pay when they order. Post pay is when your customers pay when they receive the product. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. The general thinking is that pre pay sales generate less sales volume. But post pay sales generate losses when customers can't be reached or don't pay. Before you decide which way to go make sure you ask your candle supplier. Some only do prepay. Others have strict rules for post pay.
Scheduling- once you determine you want to do a candle sale, it will take about one week to get your brochures, two weeks to hold your sale, one week to total your sales (and get late orders) and two weeks to get your candles delivered and distributed. That's six weeks start to finish.

Recommended Fundraising Supplier
I've taken the time to carefully review all the suppliers that provide candle fundraising programs and I am recommending FastTrack Fundraising.

FastTrack Fundraising features Diane's Candles. Every candle from Dianne's is made in the USA. They use only the highest grade of waxes available including natural soy wax and 100% food grade wax. All of the candles are completely fragranced throughout. The purity of the custom formulations ensures the highest quality of premium, clean burning candles. All wicks are lead free.

They offer two different candle fundraising brochures:

Touch of Elegance II - A 15 item pre-sell brochure with prices ranging from $9 to $29. Jar and tin candles, scented diffusers, lamp candles, humidor candles, and room sprays.

Blooming Success - A 12 item pre-sell brochure with prices ranging from $9 to $29. Jar and tin candles, a citronella bug bucket, and scented candles.

Find out more about FastTrack Fundraising Candle Fundraisers.