Best fundraising platforms for college clubs: how to choose
There is no single best platform. The right choice depends on whether your club wants donations, a product sale or a local food event. Here is how the main types compare.
Money never touches Cornell Craves. Students pay the club directly over Venmo or Zelle, and there is no commission or fee.
Types of fundraising tools
Donation and crowdfunding pages
Best for a specific cause with a wide network of supporters and alumni. Weakness: on campus they pull little from people who are not personally close to your club, and platforms may take a fee.
Product catalog sales
Best for long campaigns and sales to family. Weakness: shipping, long timelines and lower margins.
Restaurant nights
Best for very low effort. Weakness: small returns and little data.
A Google Form and a spreadsheet
Best for a first try. Weakness: manual payment matching, paper pickup lists and no reach beyond your own contacts.
Campus food fundraising sites
Best for clubs whose community is on one campus. Cornell Craves is built for Cornell clubs: a public listing, online ordering, direct payment, QR pickup and analytics.
What to check before you choose
Fees
Ask what percentage or flat fee comes off each sale. Cornell Craves takes none.
Who holds the money
Direct payment to the club avoids delays and keeps your records simple.
Fit with campus rules
Cornell clubs need to follow Cornell's fundraising rules whatever tool they use.
Reach
A public campus feed can bring in buyers who were not on your list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best fundraising platform for Cornell student clubs?
For food fundraisers with pickup on campus, Cornell Craves is designed for Cornell clubs: free to list, no commission and QR pickup passes.
What is the best fundraising platform for college clubs with no upfront cost?
A pre-order model keeps upfront cost near zero because you buy only what was ordered. Pair it with a tool that takes online orders.
Does Cornell Craves take a cut of the money?
No. Students pay the club directly through Venmo or Zelle. Cornell Craves never handles or holds the money and takes no fee.
Who can use Cornell Craves?
Clubs must be legitimate Cornell student organizations, and new clubs are reviewed before their first drop goes live. Ordering is for current Cornell students with an @cornell.edu Google account. Cornell Craves is an independent student project and is not run or endorsed by Cornell University. It does not replace any Cornell approval, and each club stays responsible for following university and county rules.
Contact
Questions or want to list a fundraiser? Email [email protected] or message @cornellcraves on Instagram.
Last reviewed: September 2026.