With a mission to become a household name, Icing Smiles is thrilled to announce the launch of its new, exciting website, marking a significant milestone in our journey towards greater awareness and impact.

Every smile counts and every cake brings joy. Icing Smiles has been a shining beacon for over 14 years. Founded by Tracy Quisenberry, our organization has tirelessly served medically ill children and their siblings, spreading happiness one cake at a time. In today’s digital age, a nonprofit’s online presence is more crucial than ever. A strong website serves as the face of the organization, conveying its mission, values, and impact to the world. With a mission to become a household name, Icing Smiles is thrilled to announce the launch of its new, exciting website, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards greater awareness and impact.

The website refresh couldn’t have come at a better time. As Chelsea Boog, Marketing Manager, puts it,

This sentiment echoes the organization’s commitment to expanding its reach and making a lasting impression on communities nationwide. The revamped website is not just a cosmetic makeover; it’s a reflection of the growth, dedication, and innovation that define Icing Smiles.

Partnering for Progress: The Collaboration with Pixel Lighthouse

Behind every successful website redesign lies a dedicated team of experts. Icing Smiles found their perfect match in Pixel Lighthouse, a nonprofit website agency fueled by a passion for helping organizations thrive online. Together, they’ve embarked on a transformative journey to create a website that not only reflects the heart and soul of Icing Smiles but also paves the way for future growth and success. Andrea Hattox, Creative Lead, shares;

Reflecting on Growth: Tracy Quisenberry’s Vision

Tracy Quisenberry expresses her excitement, stating,

Indeed, in 14 years, Icing Smiles has delivered over 30,500 cakes and 6,600 dozen cookies, touching the lives of families in all 50 states. The Icing Smiles team has grown to a network of over 13,000 volunteers. The new website reflects this remarkable journey and sets the stage for even greater accomplishments in the future.

Bridging the Gap: Amanda Grinnell’s Optimism

Amanda Grinnell, Development Manager, sees the website launch as more than just a milestone—it’s a gateway to the future. By making resources readily available, the stronger online presence of Icing Smiles fosters a sense of community and connection. Amanda shares her enthusiasm for the launch.

The Impact for Families and Bakers: Lauren Smith’s Perspective

Lauren Smith, Operations Manager, finds immense value in the new site, which empowers families and bakers to effortlessly navigate and explore all that Icing Smiles has to offer. As new visitors arrive, they’ll seamlessly discover the heart of Icing Smiles’ mission, understanding the profound impact we make in the lives of medically ill children and their siblings. Moreover, they can easily navigate to apply for a cake or sign up to become a Sugar Angel, contributing their baking talents to our cause. Lauren shares,

A Testament to Excellence: Cindy Johnson’s Dedication

Cindy Johnson, Technology Manager, reflects on the evolution of Icing Smiles’ online presence.

With meticulous attention to detail, the Technology Team has ensured that the new website is a seamless experience for all visitors, brimming with excellence in every aspect.

Embracing the Sweetness: Inviting Visitors to Explore

As visitors explore the new Icing Smiles website, they’ll be greeted with a vibrant, user-friendly interface that reflects the organization’s spirit of joy and inclusivity. From heartwarming success stories to easy-to-navigate resources for bakers and families, every aspect of the website is designed to inspire, inform, and engage.

So, whether you’re a volunteer eager to make a difference, a family in need of a little sweetness, or simply someone looking to support a worthy cause, the new Icing Smiles website invites you to be a part of something truly special. Join us as we continue to spread smiles, one cake at a time, and illuminate the lives of those who need it most.

Icing Smiles Website Launch Contest

We’re thrilled to unveil our brand new website, designed to spread even more joy through the power of cake! To celebrate, we’re hosting a fun and interactive contest just for you.

How to Participate:

1. Explore: Visit our new website at www.icingsmiles.org and navigate through its pages.
2. Hunt for Keywords: Keep your eyes peeled for four specific keywords hidden across different pages of the website. These keywords will come together to form a special phrase.
3. Compose the Sentence: Once you’ve discovered all four keywords, put them together in the correct order to form the complete phrase.
4. Submit Your Entry: Fill out the contest form on our website for your chance to win!

What You Could Win:

Icing Smiles Swag Pack filled with Icing Smiles gear!

Contest Deadline:

Make sure to submit your entry before May 31, 2024 to be entered into the drawing.

Get ready to embark on a sweet adventure through our new website and uncover the hidden gems within! Best of luck and thank you for being a part of spreading smiles with Icing Smiles!

Contest HINTS:

• What makes cakes so important?
• These Super Star Sponsors deserve the spotlight and lots of thanks for making our program possible
• Fundraising or Friendraising – important parts of our mission and a great way to get involved
• The Angels of our Program

Icing Smiles achieved a huge milestone, delivering our 30,000th cake! Join us on the journey of serving Maia, a spirited one year old battling Stuve-Wiedemann Syndrome

In the world of cake decorating and charitable endeavors, Icing Smiles stands out. Recently, we hit an incredible milestone, delivering our 30,000th cake to families in need. But behind this impressive number lies a heartwarming story that exemplifies the power of compassion and the joy that a simple cake can bring to face adversity.

Maia’s Journey

Meet Maia, a spirited one year old, who despite the challenges life threw at her, embodies resilience and strength. Born with Stuve-Wiedemann Syndrome (STWS) that presented unique medical complexities, Maia found herself under the care of Sarah, a compassionate nurse at Siani Hospital.

Months passed with Maia living in the hospital, her health becoming a daily concern for the medical staff. Among those deeply affected by Maia’s situation were Sarah and her husband, Josh. The couple felt a calling to do more for this special little girl.

The Decision to Foster

Driven by compassion and an overwhelming desire to make a difference in Maia’s life, Sarah and Josh decided to open their hearts and home to her. They became Maia’s foster parents, providing her not only with medical care but also with the love and stability she needed.

Maia’s First Birthday

The most significant milestone in Maia’s journey has been her first birthday. Celebrating this occasion was more than just a party; it symbolized the triumph of life and love over adversity. Most children with Maia’s diagnosis pass before reaching this milestone. Josh shared, “I don’t know how long this baby’s going to live. Everyone’s telling us she’s not going to make it. It could be tomorrow; it could be 20 years from now. We don’t know, but we want to give her the best life that we can.” Maia’s resilience has shone through, and her joy has become a testament to the transformative power of care and compassion.

Sherrie’s Sweets and the Mermaid Cake

To make Maia’s first birthday truly special, Sherrie of Sherrie’s Sweets, an Icing Smiles volunteer baker, stepped in. Known for her talent and generosity, Sherrie crafted a stunning ombre mermaid themed cake, not just as a centerpiece for the celebration but as a symbol of hope and happiness.

Sherrie experimented with new skills and dyed rice paper to create an underwater effect and she created fondant embellishments to top off the beautiful ombre buttercream. All of this was complete with the perfect “Maia” nameplate.

Icing Smiles’ 30,000 Cakes

Icing Smiles is honored to serve Maia as our 30,000th cake! Maia’s story is just one among the 30,000 heartwarming tales of love and generosity that Icing Smiles has contributed to. As an organization, we have been delivering custom cakes to families around the country with critically ill children – bringing joy and creating lasting memories.

Watch the Full Story

To experience the full depth of Maia’s incredible journey and the impact of Icing Smiles, we invite you to watch the touching YouTube video interview with Sarah, Josh, and Sherrie. Prepare to be inspired and moved by the transformative power of love, compassion, and a simple slice of sweetness.

Icing Smiles’ remarkable achievement of 30,000 cakes is not just a number; it represents the countless smiles, the immeasurable joy, and the boundless hope that has been brought to families faced with critical illness of a child. Maia’s journey from a hospital bed to a loving home is a poignant reminder of the impact that small acts of kindness, like a beautifully crafted cake, can have on someone’s life. Join us in celebrating Icing Smiles’ sweet success and the extraordinary stories of resilience and compassion that continue to unfold.

Meet Becky Foy, Jodie Nicholes, and Ishita Kashyap.

Icing Smiles is delighted to announce the addition of three exceptional individuals to its board.

“These new board members bring a wealth of experience, passion, and dedication to the organization, strengthening our commitment to making life a little sweeter for children and their families during challenging times,” says Icing Smiles Executive Director Tracy Quisenberry. “As Icing Smiles continues to grow and expand its reach, it’s crucial to have a diverse and skilled leadership team steering the ship.”

Let’s take a moment to meet the three remarkable individuals who have recently joined Icing Smiles’ board.

Empowering People to Bake a Difference

Becky Foy, of St. Michael, Minnesota, is HR division director at Lakeside HR Group. Her expertise in talent development and human resources is evident in her professional life. However, it’s her journey into the world of cake decorating that brought her into contact with Icing Smiles.

Becky first started decorating cakes for her two sons’ birthdays. She vividly recalls a Spiderman cake she attempted for her son, which, despite her best efforts, didn’t turn out as expected. “It looked terrible,” she recalls with a laugh. This experience led her to delve into cake decorating, fueled by her fascination with shows like Ace of Cakes. Today, she not only bakes for her family but also for various occasions, using the proceeds to support charitable causes.

Her path to Icing Smiles began when she received an email from her son’s high school friend, who had come across Icing Smiles and instantly thought Becky should be part of this incredible organization. “Yes, I do!” she thought after exploring the Icing Smiles website. Becky became a Sugar Angel in May 2021, and since then, she’s completed seven calls to action.

“I was blessed with very healthy children, but I know people that weren’t,” she says today. “I saw the struggles and the pain. For me, to do something to bring a smile to their face during times when families have so many other things to deal with, to just take this off the parents’ place — I love to give back in that way.”

One of her most memorable experiences was creating a wolf-themed cake for a young boy named Henry, who was battling a rare blood cancer.

In addition to the cake, Becky gifted him a wolf print from an actual wolf that she had at home.

“I was able to not only deliver that cake but also give his parents that present to give to him, and he was so excited,” she recalls. “I was super happy for him. To me, that’s what it’s about. It’s that connection. You know there’s a reason you were chosen to do that cake for that child.”

Becky’s journey with Icing Smiles took a new turn when she was invited to join the organization’s board. Her background in HR and her experience on another nonprofit board made her a natural fit for this role. “We know what has to power what happens behind the scenes are people — not only people who work for Icing Smiles but also a lot of volunteers,” she says. “I hope I can make an impact where we’re trying to take that asset that is the people and think about ways to inspire them and keep them wanting to be part of the organization.”

Leveraging Three Decades of Media Experience

Jodie Nicholes first encountered Icing Smiles when she was a producer for NBC News.

A friend of hers in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a Sugar Angel, and when Jodie heard about the nonprofit, she knew she wanted to spread the word.

She produced a story featuring Tracy and Icing Smiles families that aired on 215 NBC affiliates and cable partners. This encounter ignited her passion for the organization’s mission, prompting her to dive headfirst into helping with PR efforts. Over the years, Jodie and Tracy remained in touch, with Jodie continuing to support the cause. Her dedication eventually led to an invitation to join the board, a role she embraced with enthusiasm.

“The little difference Icing Smiles makes in the life of a family is as important as some of the larger research missions,” says Jodie, who is now senior vice president of production services for 4media group. “It’s the daily connection. It’s the little bit that makes them feel like a child again. When you say ‘Baking a difference,’ it truly is.”

With three decades of experience in media, both in network news and her current role in advertising and marketing, Jodie brings a unique perspective to the board. Her extensive connections with national media outlets position her to enhance Icing Smiles’ visibility and reach. Jodie’s expertise in advertising also opens doors to creative marketing strategies and partnerships that can elevate awareness.

“There’s no end to what Icing Smiles and the people who put their love and passion into it every single day can do and how it can grow,” she says. “The need is out there. Getting various hospitals and cancer clinics and social workers to know about Icing Smiles is the biggest challenge. We have thousands of Sugar Angels ready on a dime. So it’s connecting our resources to the right people to expand the mission. I’m excited to be part of that and see how I can bring that awareness out.”

A Global Vision

Ishita Kashyap’s journey with Icing Smiles began when she moved from India to New York in 2019. While awaiting her work visa, she wanted to use her skills to give back to the community. “I always loved baking,” she says. “I wanted to do something baking related but where I could use my skills as a lawyer to give back.”

This led her to discover Icing Smiles, where she initially took on the role of a scheduling assistant. One of Ishita’s memorable experiences with Icing Smiles involved a 1-year-old boy with a heart condition. She struggled to find a baker for him, but Ishita’s determination led her to connect with a Sugar Angel willing to drive an hour and a half to make the delivery. The result was a heartwarming moment when the family received the cake, and the joy it brought to their faces left a lasting impression on Ishita. She also lent her legal expertise to ensure data privacy and protection during the intake process, ensuring that the valuable data collected and shared within the organization is handled with the utmost care and responsibility. 

As life unfolded, Ishita moved to Canada, where she is now a lawyer at McMillan LLP. As a member of the board, Ishita is eager to leverage her legal background, organizational skills, and passion for the cause to help Icing Smiles reach its goals. She recognizes the hard work involved in realizing the organization’s vision and is committed to contributing to its growth and success.

Ishita envisions Icing Smiles becoming a household name that transcends borders. She hopes to see the organization grow beyond the United States, with chapters spreading the mission of bringing joy and sweetness to children and families facing challenging times.

Join Us in Spreading Smiles and Sweetness

We are thrilled to introduce you to our three remarkable new board members, who bring their passion, skills, and dedication to the Icing Smiles family. With their invaluable contributions, we are better equipped than ever to continue making life a little sweeter for children and their families during challenging times.

Your generous donations enable us to provide custom cakes to children facing critical illnesses. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference in brightening a child’s day.

In a world where fundraising events are commonly held to support various causes, the concept of friendraisers is gaining momentum. Friendraisers offer a unique opportunity to not only raise funds for Icing Smiles but also spread awareness and engage with your community in a more personal and meaningful way. 

Understanding the Difference: Fundraiser vs. Friendraiser

While fundraisers and friendraisers share a common goal of raising funds, they differ in their approach and purpose. Fundraisers primarily focus on generating financial support for an organization, often through large-scale events or campaigns. 

On the other hand, friendraisers emphasize building connections, fostering relationships, and spreading awareness about Icing Smiles. Friendraisers aim to engage friends, family, and community members on a more personal level, inviting them to participate actively and become ambassadors for the cause they care about.

Everyone Knows Someone We Can Serve

The beauty of friendraisers is their ability to leverage existing relationships and networks. Everyone knows someone — an acquaintance, a friend, or a family member — who could benefit from Icing Smiles. By engaging our personal circles through friendraisers, we expand our reach and create a ripple effect of awareness and support.

“It is incredible through word of mouth who this organization can reach,” says Icing Smiles Founder Tracy Quisenberry. 

In this blog post, we will explore three friendraisers that can help support Icing Smiles.

1. Cake and Cookie Sponsorships

A cake or cookie sponsorship is when a Sugar Angel hosts a personal campaign to collect donations from their friends, family, and colleagues to not only help offset supply costs but also to raise funds for Icing Smiles. 

Icing Smiles provides all the tools you’ll need to get sponsors for your cake or cookies. In just a few short steps, you’re able to set up your personal fundraising page. We’ve made it easy by providing a template to help you get started, but you know your connections best. It can help to tweak the suggested messages or write your own to promote your fundraiser in your own style. After your page is up and running, we also provide templates you can use to reach out to your friends and family about your fundraising efforts and to thank those who donate.

This type of fundraising not only raises money for Icing Smiles. It also increases exposure for our organization and helps us expand our reach to new, previously unexplored networks of supporters. “People don’t realize it’s not just about money,” says Icing Smiles Founder Tracy Quisenberry. “It’s about telling our story.”

Cake and cookie sponsorships are important for Icing Smiles. In 2022, Sugar Angels helped bring in over $6,000 for the organization through their sponsorship pages. However, the true magic of these fundraisers is that they’re also “friendraisers.”

“By sharing about Icing Smiles and the cakes they’re making, more people are learning of our cause and mission, helping us to grow toward our organization’s goal of becoming a household name,” says Development Coordinator Chelsea Boog.

2. Violet’s Bake Sale

Violet’s Bake Sale is a classic and accessible friendraiser that taps into the power of community support. The beauty of it is that a virtual bake sale requires no physical venue. Instead, you use your phone, email, and social media to promote a personalized bake sale event page featuring different dessert packages. Then your local friends, family, and neighbors preorder which delicious desserts they would like from you, and you — or a Sugar Angel in the area who is willing to provide baked goods for your bake sale — can then bake and deliver the treats. The great part about a virtual bake sale is you receive the orders in advance. 

By involving the community in this tangible way, participants not only raise funds but also create opportunities for conversations about Icing Smiles’ mission and the impact it has on the lives of children and their families.

Whether you volunteer all the time or are still waiting for that call to action, you can host a virtual bake sale anytime, anywhere, and we’ve got all the stuff to get you started!

3. Best Cake Ever

Best Cake Ever is a peer-to-peer friendraiser that encourages individuals to showcase their baking skills and offer their favorite cake creations to raise funds for Icing Smiles. Every October, participants enter their cakes and then engage with their community to promote it, get votes, and raise donations for the Icing Smiles’ mission. 

We provide you with marketing tools for social media and email to get the word out to family and friends to vote for your cake in the form of donations! Each dollar made to each cake’s’ fundraising page counts as one vote for that cake ($1 = 1 vote, $20 = 20 votes, etc.) with all of the proceeds benefiting Icing Smiles. The cakes that receive the most votes win prizes like one-on-one cake-decorating lessons with famous pastry chefs, Icing Images edible printers, and other cake-decorating supplies from our sponsors. 

By sharing their passion for baking and Icing Smiles’ mission, participants can spread awareness while collecting donations to help us continue delivering smiles. 

Gather Your Friends to Bake a Difference

Friendraisers are an innovative and impactful way to make a difference while spreading awareness about Icing Smiles. By participating in peer-to-peer fundraisers such as Best Cake Ever, cake and cookie sponsorships, and Violet’s Bake Sale, we can actively engage our communities, involve friends and family, and contribute to the mission of Icing Smiles. 

Plus, when you volunteer to host a cake or cookie sponsorship, participate in the Best Cake Ever Contest, or host a bake sale with Icing Smiles, you will have a team of supporters behind you to ensure its success. We are here to help you and make this fun and easy for you while supporting our mission. 

Sheri Getz gets it — the pain, heartache, and uncertainty that accompanies childhood critical illness as well as the importance of small gestures that can bring a sense of normalcy, connection, and comfort during the most challenging times.

In 2011, her 16-year-old daughter, Sarah, passed away after enduring cancer for five years. Today, as an Icing Smiles Sugar Angel, Sheri bakes cakes and cookies for families coping with childhood chronic illness. 

“I understand where they are,” says Sheri, who when she’s not working as a new business construction consultant for Nicor Gas is running the bakery 2nd Shift Delights in Sycamore, Illinois. “It’s not a lot, but to get something in the mail, to know people are thinking about you in the hardest times in your life — it’s something small, but for me it’s something big.”

Sarah’s Cancer Battle

Sarah started complaining about knee and leg pain in 2004. For months, doctors dismissed it as growing pains. Then, in 2005, her leg began to swell and feel hot. 

“Sarah and I went into the hospital that night, and we didn’t come home for six weeks,” Sheri recalls. 

Sarah was diagnosed with cancer. She was only 10 years old. 

Her journey was arduous, with multiple rounds of chemotherapy and various procedures to combat the cancer. Eventually, they faced the heartbreaking choice of amputating Sarah’s limb above the knee to fight the aggressive cancer.

“This allowed her to actually be a kid,” says  Sheri, who describes Sarah as “an old soul in a young woman’s body.”

“Sarah smiled all the time,” she continued. “She was a happy kid. She was very active in sports and Girl Scouts. She had a plethora of friends. She loved her rock concerts and her purple and green fingernails.”

Throughout the challenging years, Sarah’s indomitable spirit allowed her to participate in activities she loved. Sarah learned how to sit skit. She spent a week at a dude ranch in Arizona. “She had cancer, but cancer did not have her,” Sheri says. 

Despite their valiant efforts, Sarah’s cancer relapsed, leading to further treatments and eventually hospice care. In September 2011, Sarah passed away at the age of 16, leaving behind a profound impact on Sheri and her family. 

The experience of witnessing her daughter’s struggle and feeling the weight of caring for a critically ill child forged a deep understanding within Sheri — a desire to provide support to families facing similar challenges.

Sheri’s Mission to Support Others

It was during her own healing journey that Sheri discovered Icing Smiles and immediately recognized the power of a cake. “I saw it as an opportunity to pay it forward for the things people did for us,” she says. 

With her baking skills honed over the years and fueled by her belief in the importance of bringing moments of happiness to families in distress, Sheri became an essential part of Icing Smiles’ network of Sugar Angels. 

In her role as a Sugar Angel, Sheri goes above and beyond, ensuring that no family is overlooked. She willingly travels long distances to deliver cakes personally, refusing to let logistics hinder her mission of bringing smiles to deserving families. Her dedication stems from her deep empathy and understanding of the profound impact such acts of kindness can have during times of crisis and uncertainty.

“In the beginning, everybody is there for you,” Sheri says. “But as time goes on, people forget about what you’re going through. Life just goes on. For people who are going through this, our life doesn’t go on. It goes on, but it goes on so, so differently. So finding little moments where you can be just like everybody else or you have that special moment where you get those cookies — it’s a reminder that, hey, someone is thinking of us.”

Become a Sugar Angel

Sheri’s journey as a parent of a child with a critical illness has been marked by heartache and resilience. She has transformed her pain into a catalyst for making a positive impact in the lives of others. Through her involvement with Icing Smiles, Sheri continues to honor Sarah’s memory and channel her love for her daughter into spreading joy, hope, and support to families in need. 

Her unwavering commitment to giving back and her ability to empathize with others’ struggles make Sheri an extraordinary Sugar Angel, an inspiration to all and a shining example of the power of compassion and resilience.

Do you want to bake a difference? All it requires is a love of baking and a passion for our kids.

Sherry Day has baked 17 cakes for Icing Smiles families. After each cake, she creates a cake sponsorship fundraising page to not only help offset her cake supply costs but also to raise funds for Icing Smiles. 

Cake and cookie sponsorships are important for Icing Smiles. In 2022, Sugar Angels helped bring in over $6,000 for the organization through their sponsorship pages. However, the true magic of these fundraisers is that they’re also “friendraisers.”

“By sharing about Icing Smiles and the cakes they’re making, more people are learning of our cause and mission, helping us to grow toward our organization’s goal of becoming a household name,” says Development Coordinator Chelsea Boog. 

How You Can Become a Friendraiser

A cake or cookie sponsorship is a type of peer-to-peer fundraiser. This is a strategy where a Sugar Angel hosts a personal campaign to collect donations from their friends, family, and colleagues on Icing Smiles’ behalf. 

Icing Smiles provides all the tools you’ll need to get sponsors for your cake or cookies. In just a few short steps, you’re able to set up your personal fundraising page. We’ve made it easy by providing a template to help you get started, but you know your connections best. It can help to tweak the suggested messages or write your own to promote your fundraiser in your own style.

After your page is up and running, we also provide templates you can use to reach out to your friends and family about your fundraising efforts and to thank those who donate.

This type of fundraising not only raises money for Icing Smiles. It also increases exposure for our organization and helps us expand our reach to new, previously unexplored networks of supporters.

“People don’t realize it’s not just about money,” says Icing Smiles Founder Tracy Quisenberry. “It’s about telling our story.”

That’s one of the big reasons why Sherry says she creates sponsorships for the cakes she makes for Icing Smiles: “The more I get the name out there, the more people are aware and can share with other people.” 

Fundraising Tips for Sponsorships

Fundraising doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Many people feel ​​apprehensive or nervous at the thought of asking people for money. Maybe you don’t like talking about money. That’s normal: Money is a taboo subject in our culture, and we often have an aversion to talking about money. Or perhaps you fear you’ll be rejected, even if you have a close, personal relationship with the person you’re asking.

“I can understand why people feel like it’s awkward to ask someone,” Sherry says. “But most people are willing to help with something that maybe they’re not capable of doing, like the cake themselves, but they’re willing to sponsor something.”

If you still have some lingering fundraising anxiety, here are some tips that can help.

1. Share Your Why

It can help to think about fundraisers as opportunities to build and deepen relationships with people in your network. When you ask for donations, focus on more than just the need. Friends, family, and colleagues will be more likely to contribute when they know why Icing Smiles matters to you. 

“I don’t think of it as asking for a donation,” Sherry says. “It’s more, ‘Hey, this is what I’m doing. If you’d like to join with me in it, if you want to help, that would be great.’”

Share your personal connection to Icing Smiles on your fundraising page and in messages to drive awareness and donations to your page. The story of why you got involved and why this work matters to you will help resonate with friends, family, and connections you have and often inspire them to act. In the end, people give to people.

2. Use Social to Spread Awareness

Remember that cake and cookie sponsorships are just as much about raising awareness as they are about raising money. Social media is a great platform to spread the word in creative ways. 

“Social media is really great to use as a tool,” Sherry says. “Everybody’s on there all the time looking at stuff. When you put it on social, people can share it and it gets shared again. You’re reaching so many people that way.”

3. Start Now

Starting is half the battle. Don’t wait to be in the mood to ask people for money. That mood likely isn’t going to hit you anytime soon. So begin now! 

Draft your letter (we’ve provided a few templates), identify the people you want to hit up, send a test email to yourself, and go. Send three personal emails before you go home. The next day, post your fundraising page to Facebook. Then fire off a nice letter to your mom or dad. You got this!

4. Be OK with Hearing No

You won’t get a donation from every person you ask, and that’s OK. It doesn’t mean that you did a bad job. There are plenty of reasons a prospective donor will say no. Sometimes people get distracted or don’t have the money to donate. It’s not a reflection on you in the slightest.

Understanding this, politely follow up with anyone who didn’t donate the first time you reached out. You can also suggest other ways they can show support for free, such as sharing your fundraiser on their social networks.

5. Say Thank You

Make sure you say thank you, whether by email, text, or phone. A thank you always goes a long way, and it lets your donors know that their efforts are appreciated. 

Say thank you and follow up with a short and fun report on how your call to action went and how your sponsorship campaign ended up. This closes the loop appropriately in your donor’s eyes and sets you up nicely to connect with them after your next cake or cookie delivery. 

Start Your Cake or Cake Sponsorship

Sugar Angels, are you ready to rally your friends, family, and networks to support your cake and Icing Smiles? Starting a fundraiser is easy. We’ll give you all the tools you’ll need to get sponsors for your cake.