Selling maple syrup as a fundraiser?

[barnbc76]

I am considering selling some of my maple syrup to help a family member/future family member out. Long story short my cousin's fiance has had many medical problems for years now, things have been getting worse, and they have just started asking for help financially. I give most of my syrup away as gifts but i believe I will have some I could sell. I already purchased some of the nicer maple shape bottles 750ml with the thought as using them as gifts, now I am thinking someone might pay ,more for them, wondering what sorts of things i should start considering if i am going to do this. I think I should have 3-4 gal at least to sell, it doesn't sound like much but i was thinking there might be some good suggestions for what works best.

[michael marrs]

I think it is a good idea, I belong to an archery club, who's treasurer robbed for $65,000. This club has been there for 75 years, and could have buried us. Last year , they said I could tap the trees there. It was supposed to be for me, then I decided to donate the syrup back to the club to sell. I only got 6 gals, but it was sold fast, with jars donated by members, and this year, I already have a gal, ordered. Last year I got taps in feb, 21.This year, I have about 80 taps put, put in feb 12th. I already have 70 gals of sap to cook. Your cause is better then mine, and I wish you luck, and the family that you are doing it for, nice job

[5 Oaks]

I'd say GO FOR IT!! You on Face Book? Maybe post a Photo. Have an auction, let them bid on it by posting their bid. Be sure to explain it is to help cover some medical costs. If your set up for it, i'd also hold a "make your own bottle of syrup" auction. The winner can come to your place and help out, and come home with a bottle of syrup they helped make. I do that for kids (for free) at my house, hard to tell who gets the bigger thrill, the kids or the adults.

[barnbc76]

Thanks guys, I hadn't considered an auction or facebook for that matter, I stopped using that years ago. Any thoughts on the best sizes to offer? Plastic/glass, I have a prefilter and cone filter for the first time this year, I hope this will give me good enough quality syrup. Thats terrible about the theft, I've seen a good non-profit business get robbed and vandilize but I think its worse when it is one of your own.

[gbeneke]

Go for it. I put all of my syrup in 12 oz. bottles. My church needs money for an electrical project, (small rural church with few funds). A fellow maple sapper and I gave free bottles to anyone who made a donation to the fund of $10 or more. We have made $800 for that fund and everyone is happy. Glad you are doing the good stuff. Boiling that sap for a good cause will make it less work and more fun!

[DaveB]

I did just that for a nephew going to World Youth Day. I basically gave him 60 pints that he would sell at $10 (a reasonable price for fund raising) and he sold out very quickly. He also picked up cash donations and I think he wound up making over $1000. We just used basic Sugarhill containers - nothing fancy.

Good luck!

[barnbc76]

I decided to keep it simple, since I already had the 25.3oz maple leaf bottles I sold 4 by the end of the day at work today. I sold them for $25 a peice.

[barnbc76]

Update, I've sold out what I have on hand and 4 more on order, I had to order more cases of bottles because they are so popular. I have never successfully sold anything in my life, (not for lack of trying) but I feel this is a great success already.

[Run Forest Run!]

Congratulations! You must feel terrific. :D

[backyard sugaring]

We been donating syrup for years. When groups are doing pancake breakfast we make up a bunch of small bottles and people will pay extra for the real stuff. My wife every year does a maple basket and is always a top seller at the silent auctions. Bake sales are the best. Good luck in your fundraiser.

[Twisted Minds]

Last spring, a friend of our sons was needing to raise money for a mission trip overseas, so I asked our local tavern if I could do a raffle to raise funds. We put together some 32 number boards and sold for $2 a pull and the winning number got a pint of syrup and a pound of freshly picked morels. Sold 10 boards and raised $640 for the girls trip in about 2 weeks, and I was never so happy to give away my syrup and mushrooms! I've found that if there's a good cause, most people are pretty generous, and if they have a chance to get something for their "donation", that's an extra incentive to loosen the wallet.