Cornell club fundraiser approval: what you need before you sell
If you lead a Cornell student organization and want to run a food fundraiser, Cornell has a specific approval process. Student and Campus Life publishes it as the Fundraising and Sales Activity page, and it is the first thing to read before you spend any money.
This guide turns that page into a short checklist, then shows where a pre-order fundraiser on Cornell Craves fits. Rules change, so confirm the current requirements with the office named here before you plan around them.
Money never touches Cornell Craves. Students pay the club directly over Venmo or Zelle, and there is no commission or fee.
The core rules, in plain language
Submit an Event Scheduling Request at least three weeks ahead
Cornell requires a completed online Event Scheduling Request form at least three weeks before the proposed sale or fundraising activity. Approval runs through the Office of Community Relations.
Food sales need Cornell Dining approval
Any food sale must be approved by Cornell Dining, and a temporary food permit may also be needed. If you sell something like Krispy Kreme donuts, Cornell says the products should be pre-sealed and pre-packaged by the vendor.
Bake sales must list ingredients
Any bake sale must list the ingredients of every product.
Sellers must be part of the Cornell community
Everyone who takes part in the sale must be a member of the Cornell community.
Proposals need samples or detailed descriptions
Your proposal must include either actual samples or detailed descriptions of everything you plan to sell.
Proceeds must go to an allowed purpose
Net proceeds can support the programs and services of a registered student organization, a sorority or fraternity, a university department or unit, a charitable organization, or an academic program-related individual sale.
Prefer local suppliers
Cornell prefers products from suppliers in Tompkins County, or bought through a request-for-proposals process open to local merchants.
Where a pre-order fundraiser fits
A pre-order fundraiser built around pre-packaged, vendor-sealed products lines up with what Cornell describes. The club collects orders in advance, buys only what was ordered, and hands out at a planned pickup. That keeps food handling to a minimum and makes the proposal easy to describe.
Whether your specific setup counts as a sale that needs the full approval path is a question for the Office of Community Relations and Cornell Dining, so ask them in writing before you buy anything. Say what you will sell, the price, the pickup place and the date.
What Cornell Craves does and does not do
Cornell Craves gives your club a live listing, online ordering, QR pickup passes and analytics. It does not approve fundraisers, hold money or grant permits. 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.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead do I need to apply to run a fundraiser at Cornell?
Cornell asks for the Event Scheduling Request at least three weeks before the sale or fundraising activity.
Who approves food sales for Cornell student clubs?
Cornell Dining must approve any food sale, and the Event Scheduling Request is reviewed by the Office of Community Relations.
Can a Cornell club sell homemade food?
Cornell requires bake sales to list every ingredient and says vendor-sealed, pre-packaged products are the expected model for items like donuts. Check with Cornell Dining before selling anything made in a home kitchen.
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.
Sources
- Cornell Student and Campus Life, Fundraising and Sales Activity page (scl.cornell.edu/get-involved/campus-events/fundraising-and-sales-activity)
Last reviewed: September 2026.