Ready, Steady, Bake! Bake sales are a deliciously fun way to raise money whilst spending quality time with friends and family. They can be held almost anywhere and at any time of the day or evening, making them a flexible option for you. Here are some things to think about when planning your bake saleWHERE AND WHEN?If you are hosting a bake sale at work, choose a busy day of the week. For example, colleagues working part-time hours might not be around on a Friday. Your building receptionist is usually a great person to ask which days of the week are busiest.Choose a busy, accessible area where it’s easy for colleagues to see and visit your stall. Start your bake sale in time for your colleagues first coffee break, whilst also giving yourself ample time to set-up the stall.Hosting a bake sale at home? To make sure as many as your friends and family are available, try to avoid public holidays or dates of popular events.TOP TIP: Host your bake sale on or shortly after pay day!WHO CAN HELP?Encourage different people to bake to ensure a variety of different baked treats and ask them to fill in a 'cake name card', highlighting any potential food allergens. Those who don’t want to bake can drop off some of their favourite store-bought treats. Also find out who can help you on the day – both setting up your bake sale stall and managing it! JUSTGIVINGYou might have friends and family who would like to support your fundraising event, but can't make it along to your bake sale. It's a good idea to set-up a JustGiving page (at www.justgiving.com/charity/universityofedinburgh) ahead of your event and let them know they can donate through your JustGiving page.Step 1: Add your photo to let your friends and family know they’re at the right pageStep 2: Use your story to let your supporters know why you’re fundraisingStep 3: Set an ambitious fundraising targetWhen creating your page, JustGiving will automatically generate a unique URL; it’s worthwhile changing this to something easy to remember. And please opt-in to receive keep in touch with your chosen charity (that’s us) when completing your page.SPREAD THE WORD!Don’t be shy - promote your bake sale as much as possible!Bake sale at Work: Share details via email, calendar invite, staff notice boards etc.Bake sale at Home: Share on your socials and via your mobile phone Apps.BE PREPAREDIt’s a good idea to decide in advance whether you are going to have set prices or if supporters can simply make a donation. It’s also a good idea to have plates, napkins, food bags, a couple of knives (for cutting tray bakes / full-size cakes) and some gloves or hand sanitising gel for handling food. If you set-up a JustGiving page, we can send you a QR code that you can display at your bake sale for people who might not have cash.MATCHED GIVINGSome companies (big and small) support their employees fundraising efforts through matched funding. Ask your employer if they offer matched funding (or similar).GETTING YOUR MONEY TO USIf you have set up a JustGiving page for online donations and collected cash as part of your fundraising, simply bank the cash and pay the donation into your JustGiving page.You can also donate online, via bank transfer or by cheque –email fundraise@ed.ac.uk for more information.Get inspiredPauline WardFrom selling cakes in a world record bid to running a 10k, Pauline Ward shows that supporting a cause can be heaps of fun.Read Pauline's storyLinda McTurkLinda used her love of baking to raise money in aid of the Anne Rowling Clinic.Read Linda's story Useful linksGet in touch Kerry.Mackay@ed.ac.ukJustGiving www.justgiving.com/charity/universityofedinburgh (external website)Ready, Steady, Bake Download our Bake Sale info sheet Jan 01 2026 - Dec 31 2026 Ready, Steady, Bake! A sweet way to raise money.
Ready, Steady, Bake! Bake sales are a deliciously fun way to raise money whilst spending quality time with friends and family. They can be held almost anywhere and at any time of the day or evening, making them a flexible option for you. Here are some things to think about when planning your bake saleWHERE AND WHEN?If you are hosting a bake sale at work, choose a busy day of the week. For example, colleagues working part-time hours might not be around on a Friday. Your building receptionist is usually a great person to ask which days of the week are busiest.Choose a busy, accessible area where it’s easy for colleagues to see and visit your stall. Start your bake sale in time for your colleagues first coffee break, whilst also giving yourself ample time to set-up the stall.Hosting a bake sale at home? To make sure as many as your friends and family are available, try to avoid public holidays or dates of popular events.TOP TIP: Host your bake sale on or shortly after pay day!WHO CAN HELP?Encourage different people to bake to ensure a variety of different baked treats and ask them to fill in a 'cake name card', highlighting any potential food allergens. Those who don’t want to bake can drop off some of their favourite store-bought treats. Also find out who can help you on the day – both setting up your bake sale stall and managing it! JUSTGIVINGYou might have friends and family who would like to support your fundraising event, but can't make it along to your bake sale. It's a good idea to set-up a JustGiving page (at www.justgiving.com/charity/universityofedinburgh) ahead of your event and let them know they can donate through your JustGiving page.Step 1: Add your photo to let your friends and family know they’re at the right pageStep 2: Use your story to let your supporters know why you’re fundraisingStep 3: Set an ambitious fundraising targetWhen creating your page, JustGiving will automatically generate a unique URL; it’s worthwhile changing this to something easy to remember. And please opt-in to receive keep in touch with your chosen charity (that’s us) when completing your page.SPREAD THE WORD!Don’t be shy - promote your bake sale as much as possible!Bake sale at Work: Share details via email, calendar invite, staff notice boards etc.Bake sale at Home: Share on your socials and via your mobile phone Apps.BE PREPAREDIt’s a good idea to decide in advance whether you are going to have set prices or if supporters can simply make a donation. It’s also a good idea to have plates, napkins, food bags, a couple of knives (for cutting tray bakes / full-size cakes) and some gloves or hand sanitising gel for handling food. If you set-up a JustGiving page, we can send you a QR code that you can display at your bake sale for people who might not have cash.MATCHED GIVINGSome companies (big and small) support their employees fundraising efforts through matched funding. Ask your employer if they offer matched funding (or similar).GETTING YOUR MONEY TO USIf you have set up a JustGiving page for online donations and collected cash as part of your fundraising, simply bank the cash and pay the donation into your JustGiving page.You can also donate online, via bank transfer or by cheque –email fundraise@ed.ac.uk for more information.Get inspiredPauline WardFrom selling cakes in a world record bid to running a 10k, Pauline Ward shows that supporting a cause can be heaps of fun.Read Pauline's storyLinda McTurkLinda used her love of baking to raise money in aid of the Anne Rowling Clinic.Read Linda's story Useful linksGet in touch Kerry.Mackay@ed.ac.ukJustGiving www.justgiving.com/charity/universityofedinburgh (external website)Ready, Steady, Bake Download our Bake Sale info sheet Jan 01 2026 - Dec 31 2026 Ready, Steady, Bake! A sweet way to raise money.
