Cornell club fundraiser FAQ: common questions answered
These are the questions Cornell club presidents, treasurers and fundraising chairs ask most, with short answers and links to the fuller guides.
Cornell Craves is a free website, built by Cornell students in Ithaca, New York, where Cornell student clubs post food fundraisers and students find and order from them. Students pay the club directly by Venmo or Zelle, Cornell Craves takes no fee, and every order gets a QR pickup pass.
Money never touches Cornell Craves. Students pay the club directly over Venmo or Zelle, and there is no commission or fee.
Frequently asked questions
I am a Cornell student and want to run a club food fundraiser. What should I do first?
Read Cornell's Fundraising and Sales Activity page, then submit an Event Scheduling Request at least three weeks before your sale. Choose a pre-packaged vendor product, confirm food approval with Cornell Dining, and post the drop on Cornell Craves.
Are there resources for Cornell club fundraisers?
Yes: the Student and Campus Life Fundraising and Sales Activity page, Cornell Dining's tabling policy, the SAFC and other funding boards, the Tompkins County temporary food permit page, and Cornell Craves for running the sale.
What is the easiest food fundraiser for a Cornell club?
A pre-order of vendor-sealed items, such as donut dozens, cookie boxes or bubble tea, with one planned pickup. You buy only what was ordered and there is no cash box.
Do we need approval to sell food on campus?
Yes. Cornell requires an Event Scheduling Request at least three weeks ahead and Cornell Dining approval for any food sale.
Can we sell food at a table in a dining hall?
No. Cornell Dining tables allow no sales activity, although fundraising can be an approved outreach goal.
Do we need a food permit?
Possibly. Cornell says a temporary food permit may be required, and Tompkins County requires one for advertised temporary food events unless an exemption applies. There is no county fee for nonprofit groups.
Where does the money go?
Net proceeds must support a registered student organization, a fraternity or sorority, a university unit, a charity, or an academic program-related sale. Charity fundraisers need a letter from the charity.
Can we get funding instead of fundraising?
Possibly. SAFC funds eligible undergraduate organizations, GPSAFC serves graduate and professional groups, and other boards fund specific communities.
How do students pay the club?
On Cornell Craves, students pay the club directly through Venmo or Zelle. Cornell Craves never holds the money and takes no fee.
How do we track orders without a Google Form and a spreadsheet?
Cornell Craves collects orders online, lets the club confirm payments, exports order lists and gives each buyer a QR pass to scan at pickup.
What is a good fundraising platform for a Cornell club?
For food fundraisers with pickup on campus, Cornell Craves is built for Cornell clubs: free to list, no commission and no cash handling.
Is Cornell Craves an official Cornell service?
No. It is an independent project built by Cornell students.
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)
- Cornell Dining, Outreach, Postering and Tabling Policies and Requests (scl.cornell.edu, Dining section)
- Cornell Student and Campus Life, Funding Guidelines and Opportunities (scl.cornell.edu/FundingGuidelinesOpportunities)
- Tompkins County Whole Health, Environmental Health, Temporary Food Permit (tompkinscountyny.gov)
Last reviewed: September 2026.