What if your group could raise $500 or more in a single weekend fundraiser—without stressing over big events or exhausting your volunteers? Good news: It’s not a dream. From sports teams to youth ministries, and PTAs to church groups, many are hitting big fundraising goals fast—by choosing the right product and keeping things simple. This article highlights how to raise $500 with a weekend fundraiser using real-life examples and practical tips.
Below are real examples of groups that reached or exceeded $500 in profit with strategies you can copy this weekend.
🏀 Youth Basketball Team: $540 in Two Days with $2 Popcorn
A middle school basketball team set up a snack stand during a weekend tournament. Their standout seller? $2 gourmet popcorn from Gogo-Fund.
Sales method: Kids manned the stand, offered bundle deals: “3 for $5”
Day 1: On-site sales = $162 profit
Day 2: Parents took orders at church = $378 more
🎽 Total weekend profit: $540 📌 Lesson: A small price point and fun flavors = quick sales and happy supporters.
🍫 Church Group: Katydids Candy = $655 in One Afternoon
A church women’s fellowship group needed to raise funds quickly for a local outreach project. They turned to a classic crowd-pleaser: Katydids Candy—premium milk chocolate and caramel pecan clusters.
Approach: Sold at a Sunday coffee hour + took orders via brochure
Promo line: “Old-fashioned candy, modern mission!”
Sales: 52 tins sold at $15 each
Cost per tin: ~$8.70
Profit per tin: ~$6.30
💰 Total profit: $327.60 from in-person + $327.60 from brochure orders = $655.20📌 Lesson: When people already love the product, it practically sells itself.
🏫 Elementary PTA: $770 in Popcorn Pre-Sales
One proactive PTA parent shared a flyer in the school newsletter with a clear call to action: “Help us build our new playground—one popcorn bag at a time!”
Product: $20 popcorn
Distribution: Order forms sent home Friday, collected Monday
Buyers: 15 families
Total bags sold: 77
Profit: $770
📌 Lesson: Keep the ask simple and make it easy to respond.
⏱️ Bonus Strategy: Raise Over $1,000 in Just 60 Minutes
Need to raise money fast? One high school cheerleading squad followed a focused 60-minute plan and raised $1,275 in profit using Cookie dough.
How it worked:
- Each volunteer brought a list of 30 contacts
- For one hour, they called and texted everyone on their list
- Orders were collected instantly, then tallied at the end
📌 Lesson: With a solid plan, popcorn, and 60 minutes, your team can blow past its goals.
👈 Want the full play-by-play? Check out the full blog post: How to Raise a Lot of Money in Less Than 1 Hour for Your Next Fundraiser
💡 Quick Takeaways
- Choose affordable, crave-worthy products like popcorn, cookie dough, and candy
- Focus on one strong event or deadline
- Use free materials (digital brochures, order forms, and flyers)
- Offer bundle deals or variety packs
- Use existing gatherings like games, services, or meetings to sell fast
Conclusion Raising $500+ doesn’t require a massive campaign. With classic products like Popcorn, Cookie Dough or Katydids candy, a clear goal, and a little energy, you can turn an ordinary weekend into a major win.
🎯 Want to give it a try? Start with Katydids Candy, Cookie Dough, $20 Popcorn Gallon bags, or $2 Pop-a-licious Popcorn—and get everything you need shipped fast, with no upfront cost for brochures.
Let’s make your next fundraiser fun, fast, and profitable.
