When I first looked into Krispy Kreme Fundraising for a local sports team, I was skeptical. Another fundraiser that promises big returns but delivers headaches?
But here’s what caught my attention: this program has been running since 1955, and last year alone, organizations raised about $37 million through it.
That’s not hype. That’s actual track record.
The doughnuts themselves? Fresh from the store, they’re exactly what you expect from Krispy Kreme.
The setup process takes some planning, but once you understand the system, it’s straightforward.
I’ll walk you through everything that works, what doesn’t, and whether this fundraising method makes sense for your situation.
What Krispy Kreme Fundraising Actually Is
Krispy Kreme Fundraising is a wholesale-to-retail program designed for nonprofit organizations. You buy doughnuts at a reduced cost and sell them at full price.
The difference between what you pay and what you charge is your profit.
The program operates in three distinct ways, and picking the right one decides how much work you’ll do and how much money you’ll make.
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The Three Methods That Actually Work
Pre-Sale Fundraising: The Planning Approach
Pre-sale fundraising gives you the longest window to collect orders. You hand out order forms, collect money upfront, place one big order with Krispy Kreme, and distribute the doughnuts when they arrive.
This method works best when you have 2-3 weeks to promote your fundraiser. You’re only ordering what people already paid for, which means zero waste and most profit margin.
The downside? You’re handling a lot of paperwork.
You need to track who ordered what, collect money from multiple people, and coordinate delivery or pickup.
If you have solid volunteer support, this method generates the highest returns.
One-Day Sales: The High-Energy Approach
One-day sales compress everything into a single event. You order inventory upfront, set up at a busy location, and sell everything in one day.
I’ve seen this work incredibly well at Saturday morning soccer games, outside grocery stores, and at community festivals. The key is picking the right location with heavy foot traffic.
The risk? You’re buying inventory before you have buyers.
If you purchase 100 dozen doughnuts and only sell 60, your profit margin drops significantly.
Weather can kill your sales. A rainy Saturday morning means people stay home, and you’re stuck with boxes of unsold doughnuts.
Digital Dozens: The Low-Effort Approach
Digital Dozens operates entirely online. You get a custom link, share it with supporters, and they order directly through the website.
Customers receive redemption codes via email and pick up their doughnuts at any participating Krispy Kreme location.
This method needs the least work from you. No inventory management, no delivery logistics, no cash handling.
You share a link, and people buy.
The tradeoff is lower profit potential. You’re not capturing the full 50% margin because you’re not physically handling and selling the product.
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The Real Profit Breakdown
The advertised profit margin sits at 50%. Here’s what that looks like in practice:
| Method | Your Cost Per Dozen | Selling Price | Profit Per Dozen | Effort Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Sale | $8-9 | $16-20 | $8-11 | High |
| One-Day Sale | $8-9 | $12-16 | $4-7 | Medium |
| Digital Dozens | Varies | Set by Platform | Lower | Low |
Your actual profit depends on how much inventory you move. Sell 100 dozen through pre-sale at $10 profit per dozen, and you’ve made $1,000.
But that needs collecting 100 orders, which takes time and effort.
Run a one-day sale where you purchase 100 dozen but only sell 70? Your profit just dropped by 30%, and you’re eating leftover doughnuts for a week.
Product Quality: What You’re Actually Selling
Fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts from a store are excellent. When customers pick up in-store or get them within hours of purchase, quality stays high.
Shipped doughnuts tell a different story. They arrive frozen and need thawing.
The texture changes slightly, and you can taste the difference.
They’re still good, but they’re not the same as fresh-from-the-store doughnuts.
This matters for pre-sale fundraising where you’re collecting and delivering. If your supporters expect peak Krispy Kreme quality and get doughnuts that taste slightly day-old, their enthusiasm for your next fundraiser drops.
Digital Dozens solves this problem because customers pick up fresh product directly from stores. Pre-sale and one-day sales need managing expectations about quality.
How to Actually Get Started
You can’t just walk into a Krispy Kreme and start a fundraiser. The process needs approval:
Step 1: Submit an application form online. You’ll need to provide your organization name, contact information, and fundraising goals.
Step 2: Send a letter on official letterhead explaining how you’ll use the funds. Krispy Kreme wants to know they’re supporting legitimate nonprofit activities.
Step 3: Wait for approval. A representative responds within three business days.
Step 4: Choose your method and place your order with 72 hours advance notice.
The 72-hour lead time means you need to plan ahead. You can’t decide on Monday to run a Saturday fundraiser.
Budget at least two weeks from application to actual sales.
Minimum orders typically start at 50 dozen, though some locations accept 25 dozen least. Check with your local store for specific requirements.
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Who This Works For (And Who Should Skip It)
You’ll Succeed If:
You have strong community connections. Schools with active parent groups, churches with engaged congregations, and sports teams with supportive families see the best results.
Your network decides your sales volume.
You can handle logistics. Pre-sale fundraising needs tracking orders, collecting money, and coordinating distribution.
If you have volunteers who can manage spreadsheets and schedules, you’ll do well.
You can pick good locations for one-day sales. Access to high-traffic areas like shopping center parking lots, farmers markets, or community events makes or breaks this method.
You have 2-3 weeks to plan and execute. Krispy Kreme Fundraising works best when you have time to build momentum and promote effectively.
Skip This If:
You need money within the next week. The 72-hour order lead time plus application process means this takes at least 10-14 days from start to finish.
Your organization has minimal volunteer capacity. Someone needs to handle the administrative work, and it’s more than you might think.
You’ve already run multiple Krispy Kreme fundraisers recently. Supporter fatigue is real.
People only buy so many doughnuts in a year, and if you’ve already tapped your network twice this year, a third campaign will struggle.
Your community isn’t particularly interested in doughnuts. Some regions have strong doughnut culture.
Others don’t.
Know your audience.
The Challenges Nobody Mentions
Weather Kills Sales
Rain, snow, or extreme heat destroys one-day sales. You can’t control the weather, but you’re still responsible for the inventory you ordered.
Timing Matters More Than You Think
Doughnuts sell better in fall and winter than summer. Morning sales outperform afternoon sales.
Saturday mornings beat Sunday afternoons.
Get the timing wrong, and your profit margin suffers.
The Administrative Burden Is Real
Pre-sale fundraising creates serious paperwork. You’re tracking dozens or hundreds of person orders, collecting money from multiple people, and coordinating delivery logistics.
One person handling this alongside their regular responsibilities will burn out fast. You need a team.
Quality Control Is Outside Your Hands
You’re dependent on Krispy Kreme’s production and shipping. If orders arrive late or quality issues occur, you’re managing angry customers with no real recourse except calling Krispy Kreme customer service.
Learn More About Krispy Kreme Fundraising Success Stories
What Makes This Better Than Other Fundraisers
Brand recognition matters. When you tell someone you’re selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts, they know exactly what they’re getting.
Compare that to selling random products from a catalog where people aren’t sure about quality.
The 50% profit margin beats most other fundraising options. Wrapping paper fundraisers typically net 40%.
Cookie dough sits around 40-45%.
Krispy Kreme Fundraising at 50% gives you better returns if you execute well.
The program’s 70-year history means the infrastructure exists. Application processes work smoothly, order fulfillment is reliable, and the company understands nonprofit needs.
Multiple methods accommodate different organizational strengths. Can’t handle inventory?
Use Digital Dozens.
Have strong volunteer support? Run pre-sale.
Need quick results?
Try one-day sales.
My Final Verdict on Krispy Kreme Fundraising
Krispy Kreme Fundraising delivers on its core promise: you can make money selling doughnuts that people actually want. The 50% profit margin is real, assuming you sell your inventory.
The program works best as part of a diversified fundraising strategy as opposed to your only revenue source. Running 2-3 Krispy Kreme fundraisers per year alongside other activities generates steady income without exhausting your supporter base.
Success depends more on your execution than the program itself. Pick the right method for your organization’s capacity.
Choose good timing and locations.
Promote effectively through your networks.
The $37 million raised last year across all participating organizations proves demand exists. Whether you capture meaningful revenue depends on your specific circumstances, volunteer capacity, and community engagement.
For organizations with strong networks and solid volunteer support, Krispy Kreme Fundraising generates reliable returns with manageable work. For groups with limited capacity or weak community connections, the results will disappoint.
The program does what it promises. You buy doughnuts wholesale, sell them retail, and keep the difference.
Everything else is execution.