Howdy, howdy, howdy! I'm Ben, and I want to dive into a fundraising question I get asked all the time: How in the world can you give 100% of your proceeds to a school and still make money?

If you're scratching your head over that one, hang tight, 'cause I'm about to break it down for you.

A lot of vendors in our Vendors United group do fundraising gigs for schools, churches, and community events, and they’re not just making money — they’re helping their communities thrive.

But it sounds crazy, right?

How do you give away “100% of proceeds” and still turn a profit?
Let’s unpack it.

Fundraising for Schools and Your Communit

Schools are constantly fundraising — candy bars, book fairs, yard sales, you name it.

If you’ve got kids in public schools, you probably feel like there’s a new fundraiser every week.

Schools are underfunded, and teachers have to pay out of pocket for supplies.

You can step in and make a huge difference with your hot dog cart while earning yourself a solid income.

Here’s what’s so genius about this: When you approach a school with a fundraising plan, you’re not just pitching a way to sell food.

You’re offering them a way to keep more money in the community — no overpriced candy bars or third-party fundraising companies taking a cut.

You’re making it local and impactful.

Plus, it opens the door to incredible business opportunities for you as a vendor.

The Secret to Giving 100% of Proceeds and Making Money

Now, here’s the kicker: When you say you're giving 100% of proceeds, what you’re really saying is you’re giving the profits after costs.

And this is totally fair and legitimate.

Here’s how it works:

• Cost of Goods Sold (COGS): This includes your hot dogs, buns, napkins, condiments, propane, ice, etc. You subtract this from your total revenue to find your profits.
• Your Paycheck: After covering your COGS, you pay yourself for your time, effort, and business operation. This is just like being an employee — even though you’re your own boss, you deserve to get paid for the work you’re doing.
• Proceeds to the School: Once you’ve covered costs and paid yourself, what’s left is donated to the school. That’s your “100% of proceeds.”

So let’s say you earned $1,000 at a school fundraiser:

• Your COGS (food, supplies, etc.) = $400.
• You pay yourself 50% of the net profit ($300).
• The remaining $300 is donated to the school.

Boom!

You just donated 100% of the profits while still paying yourself a fair wage.

Helpful: Fundraising for License Fees

Everyone wins.

Why Schools and Communities Love This Model

This approach works because schools are desperate for reliable, effective fundraising options.

Let’s be honest: Candy bars that cost $2 and are half the size they were three years ago just don’t cut it anymore.

The kids only get a small fraction of the money, and the rest goes to the chocolate company.

When you come in with your hot dog cart and offer something real and local, the community benefits in a huge way.

Helpful: Back to School Vending Opportunity

You’re not just feeding people — you’re helping the school meet its goals, and you’re keeping the money in the community instead of sending it off to some big corporation.

Ideas for Fundraising Events

If you’re wondering how to get started, here are some killer opportunities to pitch to schools:

1. Meet the Teacher Nights: Set up outside and serve hot dogs, drinks, or even breakfast items like coffee and donuts for teachers and parents.
2. Book Fairs: Offer snacks and drinks to parents and kids while they browse.
3. Sports Boosters and PTO Events: These are great recurring gigs. Whether it’s football games or monthly meetings, you can serve food and donate a portion of proceeds.
4. Morning Coffee for Teachers: Bring your cart to the school in the morning and serve coffee, breakfast sandwiches, or pastries.

And if you’re creative, there’s no limit to what you can do.

One vendor I know does community yard sales and makes a killing while donating a percentage of his earnings to local charities.

It’s all about thinking outside the box.

The Business Angle: Obscure Locations = Big Profits

Let me let you in on a little secret: The most successful vendors aren’t always at the spots you’d expect.

They’re not setting up at Fifth and Main, trying to pull people off the highway.

Instead, they’re hitting up obscure locations like industrial parks, small airports, and — you guessed it — schools.

These are the spots where you’ll find loyal customers and consistent business.

For example, I used to set up at an industrial park twice a week, and it was phenomenal.

Helpful: Vendor Location Tip – Tap A Lucrative Market

Nobody outside the park even knew I was there, but I was making bank because I was feeding the same hungry crowd every week.

These kinds of locations are gold mines for vendors.

Build Relationships and Watch Opportunities Grow

When you start working with schools, you’ll quickly build a reputation as someone who’s reliable, trustworthy, and community-focused.

And here’s the magic: Once one school works with you, they’ll tell another school.

Then another.

Pretty soon, you’ll have more gigs than you know what to do with.

Here’s how to get started:

• Reach Out to Schools: Start with the principal or the PTO organizer. Pitch the idea of a fundraiser where they get 20%, 50%, or even 100% of proceeds (after costs).
• Keep it Simple: Focus on how much money they’ll raise and how easy it’ll be for them.
• Deliver Big: When you show up and knock it out of the park, they’ll want you back for every event.

Final Thoughts on Fundraising with a Hot Dog Cart

Running a hot dog cart is about more than just selling food.

It’s about building connections, helping your community, and creating a business that works for YOU.

Fundraising gigs are a fantastic way to make money while making a difference, and they’ll open doors to opportunities you never even imagined.

If you want more tips, tricks, and insider advice, come hang out with us in Vendors United.

And if you want to take your vending business to the next level, go and get together with the best vendors on the planet inside the Vendors United community.

You can learn about it HERE (it is 100% free to try it out for 5 days!!)…

🧡🧡 Vendors United – 100% FREE 5 Days Trial – Try It Today! 🧡🧡

Whether you’re a pro or just starting out, you’ll find the support and resources you need to take your business to the next level.

I hope this helps you get started!

Watch Full VIDEO here…

If you’ve got questions, hit me up — I’d love to hear from you.

Until next time, I love ya and wish you all the success in the world.

Talk to you soon! 😊

If you’re ready to dive deeper, check out more free resources at HERE in this website.

It’s packed with info on everything from fundraising to running a successful street food business.