How to run a club fundraiser in New York City
A New York City club fundraiser works best when it respects how city students live: short pickup windows, locations near transit and orders collected in advance. Here is how a Cornell student organization can do it.
Money never touches Cornell Craves. Students pay the club directly over Venmo or Zelle, and there is no commission or fee.
What is different about fundraising in New York City
Members and buyers are spread across boroughs and often commute by subway, so long table shifts rarely work. Pre-orders with one or two pickup windows are easier for everyone.
A city-friendly plan
Pick a transit-friendly pickup spot
Choose a location near a subway or tram stop, or inside a building your members can access, and confirm any building rules first.
Use short windows
Offer one or two pickup windows of about an hour so members do not wait around.
Pre-sell everything
Collect orders online and buy exactly what was ordered, so you avoid waste and upfront cost.
Keep payments simple
Students pay the club directly over Venmo or Zelle. Cornell Craves takes no commission and never holds the money.
Cornell clubs in New York City
Recognized Cornell student organizations, including groups at Cornell Tech and Weill Cornell Medicine, can list a fundraiser on Cornell Craves. Email [email protected] and we will help with your first New York City drop.
Frequently asked questions
How do you run a club fundraiser in NYC?
Pre-sell a food item online, pick a transit-friendly spot and a short pickup window, and hand out with QR pickup passes.
What is the easiest fundraiser for a college club in New York City?
A pre-order food fundraiser with a single pickup window.
What is the easiest way for a Cornell club to run a food fundraiser?
Post it on Cornell Craves. A club picks a brand, sets a price and a goal, chooses pickup spots and times, and the fundraiser shows up in a live feed that every Cornell student can see. Orders are collected online and members scan a QR pass at pickup.
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. Ordering is for current Cornell students with an @cornell.edu Google account. Cornell Craves is an independent student project and is not run by Cornell University.
Contact
Questions or want to list a fundraiser? Email [email protected] or message @cornellcraves on Instagram.