Cornell Dining rules for club food sales and fundraisers
Cornell Dining sits at the center of food fundraising on campus. Its approval is required for any food sale, and its own tabling policy sets separate limits for groups that want to visit a dining location.
This page pulls the rules into one place so a club leader can plan the food, the pickup and the paperwork together. 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.
Approval for food sales
Cornell states that any food sales must be approved by Cornell Dining, and that a temporary food permit may be required. The approval is part of the wider fundraising review that begins with the Event Scheduling Request, submitted at least three weeks ahead.
Choose products that are easy to approve
Pre-sealed, pre-packaged vendor food
Cornell says items such as Krispy Kreme donuts should be pre-sealed and pre-packaged by the vendor. Sealed boxes, wrapped cookies and bottled drinks are the simplest to describe.
Clear ingredient information
Bake sales must list the ingredients of all products. Even for vendor food, keep the vendor's ingredient and allergen information ready.
Local suppliers where possible
Cornell prefers suppliers in Tompkins County or a request-for-proposals process open to local merchants.
Tabling in a Cornell Dining location is different
Cornell Dining allows approved outreach tables in its locations, but its policy says there is no sales activity of any kind at those tables. Fundraising can be an approved outreach goal, which means awareness and requests for support, not selling food from the table.
Groups request a table by emailing [email protected] at least one week ahead, naming the organization, the goal, the location and the time. Approved groups may not leave materials behind, may use only identifying signage on the table, may not take photos, and must stay at the table.
How pre-orders help
Because a pre-order fundraiser takes orders and payment ahead of time, the pickup itself is a handoff of sealed items, not a sale at a table. A club still needs to confirm with Cornell Dining that its plan is acceptable before the pickup is announced.
Frequently asked questions
Can a club sell food at a table inside a Cornell Dining location?
No. Cornell Dining's tabling policy says there is no sales activity of any kind at outreach tables, although fundraising can be an approved outreach goal.
How do I request a table at a Cornell Dining location?
Email [email protected] at least one week before the event with your organization, your goal, the location you want and when. Some outdoor spaces also need to be registered in Cornell's 25Live scheduling tool.
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)
- Cornell Dining, Outreach, Postering and Tabling Policies and Requests (scl.cornell.edu, Dining section)
Last reviewed: September 2026.