In the opening paragraphs, it’s important to quickly answer key questions that readers may have about who owns alumni cookie dough. Many colleges and universities have fundraising programs where student groups sell cookie dough and keep a percentage of the profits. This raises the question – who actually owns the remaining unsold cookie dough inventory after the fundraiser ends? Let’s dig into some quick answers:
Does the cookie dough company own unsold inventory?
Typically no. The cookie dough company provides the product to the student group but does not maintain ownership. Once the dough is purchased by the students, it belongs to the university.
Do the students own leftover cookie dough?
No. While students sell the cookie dough and collect the profits, the inventory itself is considered property of the university. Students are selling on behalf of their college organization, not as individuals.
Does the alumni association own extra cookie dough?
This depends on the specific arrangement, but often yes. Many campus cookie dough fundraisers are organized through the alumni association. They coordinate the fundraiser and handle unsold inventory at the end. So in many cases, the alumni association takes ownership of leftover cookie dough once the sale period ends.
Can leftover cookie dough be resold the following year?
Unfortunately, no. For health and safety reasons, perishable food products cannot be resold after long periods of storage. Cookie dough has a limited shelf life, even when frozen properly. So unsold inventory cannot be saved for the following year’s fundraiser.
Now that we’ve answered some initial questions, let’s dive deeper into university cookie dough fundraisers and the issue of leftover inventory ownership.
Common Reasons for Cookie Dough Fundraisers
Campus clubs, sports teams, fraternities/sororities, and other student groups often organize cookie dough sales as a convenient fundraising option. Here are some top reasons these fundraisers are so popular:
- Easy product to sell – Cookie dough is a universally appealing product that’s easy to market to students, faculty, alumni, and community members.
- Good profit margins – Groups can buy frozen cookie dough wholesale and sell it at a retail markup, keeping a percentage of profits.
- Turnkey operation – Cookie dough companies provide marketing materials, take orders online, and ship cookie dough directly to customers after the fundraiser.
- Builds teamwork – Participating in the fundraiser together fosters team building and bonding.
- Flexible timeline – Fundraiser time length can be customized, often lasting 2-6 weeks from start to finish.
With minimal time and effort, student groups can quickly raise substantial sums through cookie dough sales. It provides an easy template for groups seeking fundraising opportunities.
What Happens at the End of Cookie Dough Fundraisers
A typical cookie dough fundraiser flows as follows:
- The student group partners with a cookie dough company to organize the fundraiser.
- Group members market and sell dough through word-of-mouth, social media, and other channels.
- The cookie dough company collects and processes all orders.
- Several weeks later, cookie dough is delivered directly to customers’ homes.
- The group receives their percentage of profits from the total sales.
- Any remaining unsold inventory is relinquished back to the university.
Once the last customer shipment goes out, the cookie dough company reports back the total units sold. The group’s share of the profits is calculated based on that sales figure. But invariably there is leftover inventory that never gets purchased.
Often, this leftover dough accumulates at the university offices where the fundraiser was coordinated. This brings up the question – who takes ownership of the unsold cookie dough that comes back to the school?
Common Policy Is for Alumni Association to Take Ownership
While policies vary by school, a common structure is for the alumni association or advancement office to assume ownership of excess cookie dough inventory at the conclusion of the fundraiser. There are sensible financial and logistical reasons behind this practice:
- The alumni association organizes the fundraiser, so it is natural for them to handle any leftovers.
- They have resources to store cookie dough properly in large freezers.
- They have an institutional process for managing donations, rather than an informal student group structure.
- Their office budget can absorb the cost of any losses from unused inventory.
By having the alumni association take responsibility for excess cookie dough, it relieves the burden from student groups and avoids potential issues down the line. The alumni office staff are also better positioned to explore options for putting extra dough to good use.
What Happens to Leftover Cookie Dough Inventory?
Unfortunately, reselling inventory the following year is not an option due to food safety standards. And student groups lack the infrastructure to distribute or donate large quantities of frozen cookie dough. This leaves the alumni association to dispose of unused dough at the end of the fundraiser.
Common practices for dealing with leftover cookie dough include:
- Discarding in the trash – Simplest option but results in waste.
- Donating to food banks or shelters – Can be logistically challenging for many non-profits to accept.
- Distributing to university departments – Common approach is giving dough to on-campus offices and facilities.
- Hosting a cookie dough sale for university community – Some schools have sold leftovers at discounted prices on campus.
The most efficient practice tends to be redistributing cookie dough to university departments and employees. This allows the alumni association to quickly dispose of excess inventory while providing a treat for hardworking staff around campus. Many schools have found this the simplest resolution.
The Benefits Outweigh the Burden of Leftover Inventory
Despite the issue of unused cookie dough at the end of the fundraiser, these sales still provide a valuable source of revenue for student groups. Any losses on inventory are more than covered by the profits earned for the organization. And by having the alumni association handle any leftovers, it minimizes the logistical burden on students.
Here is a summary of key benefits of cookie dough fundraisers:
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Lucrative profits | Groups earn a high percentage of sales, often 40-50% profits. |
| Turnkey operation | Cookie dough company handles orders and shipping. |
| Minimal time commitment | Fundraiser lasts 2-6 weeks from start to finish. |
| Few upfront costs | Groups pay only for dough they sell, not unsold inventory. |
With strong earnings potential and limited workload, a cookie dough fundraiser can be well worth the extra dough left over at the end. Any unused inventory can be redirected elsewhere by the alumni association overseeing the fundraiser.
Options Exist for Redistributing Unused Inventory
While leftover cookie dough cannot be resold, alumni associations do have options for putting extra inventory to good use:
Donate to Food Pantry or Homeless Shelter
Donating to local charities is a great option, but can have logistical challenges. Make sure the recipient has sufficient freezer space and ability to distribute frozen items. Bake and package dough first so it’s shelf-stable.
Distribute to Academic Departments
Giving dough to university offices is simple and efficient. It eliminates waste while providing staff around campus a tasty treat for their hard work.
Organize On-Campus Cookie Dough Sale
Some schools have held sales open only to campus community members, selling leftover dough at a big discount. This eliminates inventory while raising a bit more money.
See If the Cookie Dough Company Will Buy Back
It never hurts to ask! Some companies will do buybacks of unopened dough, although terms vary. Negotiate the best rate possible.
With smart planning, alumni associations can minimize leftover cookie dough. But when extras inevitably remain, putting dough to use across campus is the simplest solution. This eliminates waste while spreading joy.
Closing Thoughts
Campus cookie dough fundraisers provide needed fundraising revenue for student groups, albeit with the burden of excess inventory at the end. By having alumni associations coordinate the sale and handle leftovers, the logistics stay manageable for students. Redistributing extra dough across the university community helps maximize use of unsold inventory. While not a perfect solution, cookie dough sales remain a valuable financing opportunity when handled strategically.