Pre-order food fundraiser guide for college clubs
A pre-order fundraiser is the lowest-risk way for a student club to sell food. You take orders first, close the sale, then buy exactly what was ordered. There is no leftover stock and no cash box.
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.
How to run one
1. Pick a product people already want
Familiar brands sell themselves: donut dozens, cookie boxes, bubble tea, pretzels, wings or a pizza night. Choose sealed, easy-to-carry items.
2. Set a price, a cost and a goal
Know what you pay the vendor, add your margin, and set a dollar goal. The pricing guide shows how to work backward from your goal.
3. Set an order deadline and one pickup
A firm close date lets you place a single order. One pickup window keeps helpers to a minimum.
4. Post it and promote it
Post the drop on Cornell Craves so it appears in the live campus feed, the week view and the map, then share the link with your members.
5. Confirm payments
Students pay the club by Venmo or Zelle. The club confirms each payment in its orders dashboard.
6. Order, hand out and review
Place the vendor order after the deadline. At pickup, scan QR passes. Afterward, check analytics to see what sold.
Why pre-orders work
Pre-orders let you measure demand before you spend. They also make approvals easier to describe, since you can state the exact product, price, pickup place and date.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pre-order fundraiser?
A fundraiser where customers order and pay before the club buys the product. The club then buys only what was ordered and hands it out at a set time.
How do I avoid unsold food in a fundraiser?
Pre-order. Close orders by a deadline and buy only that quantity.
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.