Yankee Candle Fundraising has Closed

June 2020 – Yankee Candle Fundraising, perhaps the largest and well-known fundraising program in the country, has ended its program in response to a Coronavirus impacted restructuring. The fundraising arm’s parent, Yankee Candle, owned by Newell Brands, is also laying off an unspecified number of employees across its Home Fragrance Business Unit.

The official statement on the Yankee Candle Fundraising website reads:

“In light of the impact that COVID-19 is having on our Fundraising business, we have made the difficult decision to close down the Yankee Candle® Fundraising program. We know that many of you rely on us to help you raise funds and we are sorry that we will no longer be able to support your fundraising efforts…”

Existing spring 2020 Yankee Candle Fundraisers will continue as planned, but any new fundraisers will be turned away indefinitely.

The news of the closure of Yankee Candle Fundraising comes as a shock to many schools, churches, sports teams and other groups that have relied on year after year of the candle giant’s sales to support their causes.

“Yankee Candle Fundraising is a household name across America, and often a go-to method of raising funds for a group. COVID-19 has impacted us all, and we are shocked to see such a great and well-known brand closing down their fundraising program”, said Matt Vassau, Founder and CEO of Driven Coffee.

Alternative to Yankee Candle Fundraising

Since 2013, Driven Coffee Fundraising has been a rapidly growing part of Driven Coffee Roasters. The Driven Coffee Fundraising program has helped thousands of organizations achieve their fundraising goals and is regarded as the top coffee fundraising program in the country.

Driven Coffee, based just outside of Minneapolis, consists of a small team of dedicated coffee enthusiasts that share the mission of making the world a better place through producing the best coffee possible.

Early in its inception, Driven Coffee realized that many people were seeking a healthier alternative to the existing candy bar and popcorn fundraisers.

“Most every household in America has coffee in their cupboard, even if they’re not a coffee drinker themselves. When a supporter is approached and asked if they would like to buy a bag of craft roasted coffee to support the group’s cause, participants are rarely ever turned down. It’s a no-brainer, why not try a new specialty coffee roaster and help out a great organization? It’s a win-win!”, said Merissa Mignanelli, Fundraising Program Manager at Driven Coffee.

Driven Coffee Fundraising pairs its craft roasted coffee with gourmet loose leaf tea, Ghirardelli hot chocolate, locally produced honey sticks, and premium beverage flavor syrups made in-house. These products truly offer something for everyone–from the coffee fanatic, to the sweet tooth, to the healthy snacker–the product offering covers all.

Some of the unique benefits of Driven Coffee Fundraising include:

• No startup fees or minimum orders
• Custom color labels with your name and logo for traditional fundraisers
• 100% Arabica coffee roasted fresh for each fundraiser
• 40% profit margins for traditional fundraisers; 30% for online fundraisers
• Dedicated fundraising specialist
• Product can be stored at room temperature
• Product separated per participant

Traditional, Hybrid, and Online Fundraising Options

Driven Coffee Fundraising offers a traditional order form fundraising model, as well as hybrid and online-only options. With social distancing practices in place across America, the online fundraising option has been accommodating, allowing Driven Coffee Fundraising to thrive in this new environment where larger and more entrenched companies like Yankee Candle Fundraising have struggled and ultimately had to close their doors.

Through email blasts and social media campaigns, groups can send out a unique link to Driven Coffee Fundraising’s web store, where supporters can easily place an order from their computer, smartphone, or other connected device. The products are promptly shipped, direct to the customer, with the group automatically receiving credit for the sale. Once the fundraising campaign has ended, the group is issued a check for 30% of all web sales.

“During COVID-19 our online fundraising program has taken off! With so many sports teams’ seasons delayed, many have come to us in need of raising funds, but are unable to run a traditional fundraiser. Our online fundraising program has been a great solution for these teams and countless other groups, as supporters can simply order coffee online, have it shipped to their door, and the group gets 30% in the process. It really is a great program for the unique situation of Coronavirus.”, stated Michaela Jorstad, Fundraising Specialist at Driven Coffee Fundraising.

Traditional and hybrid fundraising programs are also available–with 40% profit margins. Whatever your group’s needs and COVID response precautionary measures, Driven Coffee Fundraising is able to accommodate your unique situation.

Personalized Service with a Dedicated Fundraising Specialist

Unlike the massive fundraising conglomerates out there, Driven Coffee Fundraising is different–offering personalized service, a dedicated fundraising specialist, and a unique strategy to optimize your group’s fundraising efforts in the current environment.

When signing up for a fundraiser with Driven Coffee, you will be connected with a Fundraising Specialist who will guide you through the various program options, product lineup, and build a unique strategy to generate maximum results for your group.

Learn More About Driven Coffee Fundraising

If you were disappointed to learn of the termination of the Yankee Candle Fundraising program and are looking for an alternative, reach out to see how Driven Coffee Fundraising can help.

Learn more about Driven Coffee Fundraising here. You can also fill out an information request form and a dedicated fundraising specialist will be in touch to help answer any questions you have and to get your group’s campaign started. Driven Coffee looks forward to learning more about your group and helping you to reach your fundraising goals this season!