How to Run an Amazing Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser (2024)

Charitable organizations always look for new and better ways to find and motivate new supporters and donors. The best way to get people excited is often to host events or competitions that attract a large crowd. This is why chili cook-off fundraisers are popular. They allow participants to have fun and show their skills while helping those in need.

Let’s talk about how to run a chili cook off fundraiser.

What is a Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser?

A chili cook-off fundraiser is a fun competition to see who can cook up the best bowl of chili. Each participant or team prepares a specific recipe to be judged. The dishes are prepared in advance and usually kept anonymous as judges taste them individually to choose a winner. Winners or top contestants are awarded prizes, and the competition can be quite fierce.

But here’s the fun side of the event: People will purchase tickets to attend the cook-off and test the chili. Entertainment should be offered – think bands, DJs, and more. Sell drinks and desserts to go with the chili and host fundraising raffles to bring in more funds.

What Will I Need to Run a Chili Cook Off Fundraiser?

If you want to organize a successful chili cook off, there are a lot of moving parts. You will need to manage several factors, including the location, contest rules, recruiting chili cooks, judges, event promotion, day of event logistics, and more.

We suggest creating a strong event committee of staff and volunteers to get these things in place. Here are some specific elements to consider.

Determine the Chili Cook-Off Budget

Determine how much you can afford to spend on the event by drawing up a complete fundraising event budget.

If you have a supporter’s backyard big enough to accommodate guests and participants, you can hold the event there. Otherwise, you may have to rent a venue, which can be costly. Some venues may be willing to offer a discount if you explain the cause and offer them an event sponsorship. If not, then make sure to look for options that are affordable and easy to reach.

Next, it’s time to find sponsors for your cook-off. Always think about your network of supporters and start there. Since this will be a chili cook off fundraiser, it is also a good idea to contact restaurants and chili or Southwestern food producers and use their products as samples. This will save you money and help sponsors reach a wider audience, making it a win-win for everyone involved.

However, it can be a bit tricky to win sponsors. You will have to explain why they should contribute or offer you free products. Be prepared! Create a presentation and list sponsorship benefits to convince them to sponsor your event. Be clear about where you want to host the event, how many attendees you expect, and how sponsoring can benefit them. Read more on common benefits to event sponsors.

Enlist Volunteers to Help

Since you are planning a charity event and want to keep as much of the event proceeds as possible, you will need volunteers to help perform event day tasks such as managing participants, coordinating with judges, distributing food, and the like.

Fortunately, many people are willing to offer a helping hand. This is a fun event, and your supporters will want to be involved. You cannot pull this off on your own; hence, do not hesitate to seek help from your donors and supporters.

Recruit Chili Cook Off Participants and Attendees

The next step is recruiting and selecting chili cooks. If you want your competition to be fun and exciting, you should recruit participants with experience in cooking for large numbers of people. Many times this will be local celebrity chefs or restaurant teams.

You can introduce a small participation fee to cover some costs. This will not only help accumulate funds but also ensure entries are serious.

Keep an Eye on Everything with a Chili Cook Off Website

Using an event ticketing website will make the event much easier to manage. This will greatly simplify the process of registering event attendees, securely accepting mobile donations and selling additional items, registering volunteers, downloading financial and participant reports, and ensuring tight security.

Cook Off Rules and Judges

Chili cook-offs can be quite competitive for fun events! Selecting the right judges can help you promote the event online and add some authenticity to it.

You will need to create and publish the cook off rules before the event. Here is an idea of chili cook off rules that you might customize for your event:

Sample Chili Cook-Off Rules

1. Chili is defined as any kind of meat, the combination of meats, beans, or vegetables cooked with chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients. Each entry must be labeled “Meat or Vegetarian,” and there will be competitions in each category.
2. Only one entry per person, group, or restaurant is allowed.
3. All ingredients must be pre-cooked before the event. Chili is to be brought ready to eat but will be reheated.
4. Each contestant must prepare a minimum of 20 liters (or 400 samples) of chili.
5. Contestants are responsible for supplying their serving utensils and serving the chili during the event.
6. A gas stove, table, chairs, and tasting spoons and cups for use in serving the chili will be provided by the organization.

You will need to form a committee to judge the event. The judges should be well-known and respected in your community. Chefs and restaurateurs are the obvious choices, plus perhaps a local celebrity who can bring in some media attention. If you have a connection with an Instagram star or food blogger, that would also work.

Add Entertainment and Revenue Boosters

You want the event to be fun and attract a large crowd, right? Then you need to choose a host or M.C. to entertain the guests. Your M.C. will provide live commentary, interview participants, maybe sing, and entertain guests. Music is also key. Recruit local bands or DJs to help rock the event. Include a 50/50 fundraising raffle to bring in the money!

Promote the event widely in your area to ensure you receive the kind of attention you want. You can also use social media to reach your audience. Paid online marketing can be effective for this type of special event fundraising.

Rocking the Event Day

If you plan properly, check everything twice, and have a contingency plan if things go wrong, this will be easy and fun. Remember, your top priority is to raise money, so solicit donations throughout the event.

After the cook-off, get together with your planning committee and evaluate your event while it’s still fresh in everyone’s minds.

Conclusion: Chili Cook-Offs Make Great Fundraisers

Chili Cook-Off Fundraisers are a great way to raise money and awareness for a cause. They are not easy to coordinate, so be sure you have a dedicated team willing to help get the job done. Follow the above steps and get help from DoJiggy with an amazing fundraising event website.