Cheese Fundraiser NZ

Cheese is one of the highest-earning fundraisers a New Zealand school can run, at $5-10 profit a pack. Here is how it works, when to run one, and the best cheese fundraising suppliers to compare.

A cheese fundraiser works like a pie or cookie dough drive: families sell to friends, workmates and neighbours over a couple of weeks, and the supplier delivers on a set day. The difference is the margin. Because good NZ cheese sells for a premium and doubles as a gift, it earns more per sale than most other products.

It is a strong year-round option, and a standout around Christmas and Easter when people are buying cheese to share and to give.

Why cheese fundraisers work

Best profit per sale

At $5-10 profit a pack, cheese earns more per unit than almost any other product fundraiser.

Sells as a gift

Quality NZ cheese makes an easy present, so orders climb before Christmas and Easter.

Year-round appeal

Unlike seasonal products, cheese sells in every term, which makes it a dependable earner.

Cheese fundraising suppliers to compare

Jones Family Farm

A well-known NZ cheese fundraiser with strong margins and a product families reorder year after year.

View this fundraiser

Meyer Cheese

Award-winning Waikato gouda in a range of styles. A premium option that sells well as a gift.

View this fundraiser

How cheese compares to other NZ fundraisers

Cheese earns the most per sale of any product fundraiser. Here is how it stacks up against the other popular options.

Fundraiser	Type	Effort	Profit margin	Profit per sale	Best for	Best season
Pie fundraiser	Product	Low	40-50%	$2-4	Whole school, families	Year-round (winter peak)
Cheese fundraiser	Product	Low	30-40%	$5-10	Families, gift buyers	Year-round (Christmas peak)
Cookie dough	Product	Low	~40%	$3-5	Families, primary schools	Year-round
Chocolate bars	Product	Low	40-50%	$1-2	Quick sells, all ages	Year-round
Wine fundraiser	Product	Medium	20-30%	$5-10	Adults, gifts	Year-round (Christmas peak)
Samosa fundraiser	Product	Medium	~40%	$2-4	Communities, offices	Year-round
Sausage sizzle	Event	Medium	High	~$2 per unit	Foot traffic, hardware stores	Weekends, summer
Colour / fun run	Event	High	Very high	Sponsorship-based	Whole school	Term 1 & 4
Raffle	Event	Medium	High	Varies	Everyone (Class 1 licence over $5k)	Year-round
Online crowdfunding	Online	Low	~95% (after fees)	Donation-based	Big goals, distant supporters	Year-round

Cheese fundraiser: common questions

How much can a cheese fundraiser raise in NZ?

Cheese carries some of the best margins of any product fundraiser, at $5-10 profit per pack. A school selling a few hundred packs over two to three weeks can raise $2,000-$4,000.

When is the best time to run a cheese fundraiser?

Cheese sells all year, but orders lift before Christmas and Easter when people buy it as a gift or for entertaining. Those are the strongest windows to run one.

How does a cheese fundraiser work?

Families take order forms to friends, workmates and neighbours over a set selling period, usually two to three weeks. The supplier delivers the cheese frozen or chilled on one day, so plan a pick-up window and cold storage.

Which cheese fundraiser is best for schools?

It depends on your community. Jones Family Farm and Meyer Cheese are both proven NZ options. Compare margins, minimum orders and delivery areas, then pick the one that fits your school.

Compare cheese and other high-earning fundraisers

Browse the full directory of fundraisers for NZ schools and see which ones earn the most for the least effort.

Most profitable fundraisers All food fundraisers

Last updated: July 2026