How to Host a Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser

Amanda Woodiel shares how to host a fundraiser that builds community while helping others.

There are many ways to raise money for someone in need, and we’ve been the recipient of several generous and creative fundraisers since finding out that our oldest son has cancer. The fundraiser that was the most plain fun—and not just for us but for scores of people—was the chili cook-off fundraiser.

The Knights of Columbus at our parish came up with this idea, but anyone could pull off this fundraiser as long as you have a large space to meet, such as a gym, and are willing to take a step of faith. If you have someone in mind who could use some extra money for medical expenses or another urgent need, here are the essentials to a chili cook-off fundraiser.

Advertise. This is the hardest part of any event, in my opinion. Here are some advertising avenues we used: social media, bulletin blurb, pulpit announcement, flyers posted at the parish, and direct email. I posted the event on Caring Bridge, where I blog about my son, and that’s how many people outside our parish heard about it. When someone I worked with ten years ago texted me to ask me about it, I realized that this event had grown far outside of the walls of our parish.

In your advertisement, ask for food donations. We asked for pots of chili (of course!) but also asked for baked goods, bottles of water, and chili toppings such as cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips. The main concern is to drum up people who will make chili! If you feel like you don’t have enough, try asking people who are known to be good cooks or those closest to the family in need.

Charge admission. This is a fundraiser, after all. The Knights set the price at $10 for adults, $5 for kids, with kids under 5 eating free. They also charged $1 for drinks and $1 for desserts, which they had plated in generous portions. This, they explained to me, was done in order to prevent waste, as at other events they had seen people take a bite of dessert, throw it away, and grab another one.

Provide Dixie cups and small bowls for tasting along with spoons, napkins, and ladles (ask people to bring their own labeled ones or buy extras at the thrift store). Bring heavy-duty extension cords and power strips and know where the breaker box in the building is located! Also bring coloring sheets, crayons, and games for the kids.

Decide what your categories are (be sure you advertised this beforehand). We used “mild,” “medium,” and “hot” as categories and had people tell us what category their chili should go in, but you could use “traditional/no beans,” “with beans,” “white,” etc. Once the crock pots are arranged, mark each one with a sticky note that has a number on it. Select 3 to 5 judges. Provide them with paper and pens to make notes as well as their own table where they can discuss the results. You might also have a “people’s choice” award where everyone can vote for one chili overall.

Taste and award prizes! The Knights offered a $10 gift card to a local restaurant to the three winners.

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There was a palpable lift to our spirits in seeing people make such an effort to join us on our journey as well as the material help. #CatholicMom

Is it worth the effort? Here’s what I saw that night:

I saw almost two hundred people chatting, laughing, and sharing a meal together. I saw dozens of children run around and play games together. I saw a woman with a serious medical diagnosis being prayed over. I saw many people who don’t go to our church be brave enough to walk into a Catholic gym. I saw someone who is very suspicious of Catholicism chatting with a priest. I saw old acquaintances reunite. I saw people I don’t even know and made new friends.

In short, I saw a lot of good that night, and much of it had the mark of being important and eternal. For us, there was a palpable lift to our spirits in seeing people make such an effort to join us on our journey as well as the material help. It was fun, not that difficult, and a night we will not soon forget.

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