Fundraising Directory

Bunnings Sausage Sizzle Fundraising BBQ

The Bunnings Sausage Sizzle is a popular fundraiser for schools and community groups because they’re low cost to set up, easy to organise and fairly straightforward to run. But there are sausage sizzles and then there are Bunnings sausage sizzles, where the concept is turned up to satisfy a captive audience of hungry do-it-yourself-ers. It’s such a classic, it now even has its own meme!

Anyone who’s visited a Bunnings on a weekend has no doubt seen a community group out the front manning the sausage sizzle.  As far as venues go for a sausage sizzle, the high volume of foot traffic can easily lead to a high turnover of snags, drinks and dollars raised.

However, the phenomenon that is the Bunnings Sausage Sizzle BBQ fundraiser is highly sought after by community groups and can book out months in advance. Jessica from NSW says her local Bunnings has a three-year waiting list, however for Suzanne in Grafton the wait is more likely measured in weeks than months.

To apply you will need to contact the person in charge of activities at your local Bunnings.  Often, the process involves a written request on your organisation’s letterhead, then, if you are successful in securing a date, you will be provided with an information pack (or be asked to attend an information evening) that will detail;

• Items that Bunnings will provide (normally BBQ, gas, and shade cover)
• Items that you need to provide (such as gloves, serviettes, wipes, disinfectant spray, BBQ tools etc)
• Catering requirements (suggested amounts of sausages, bread, sauce and drinks) and
• Logistical needs (OHS guidelines, council food handling requirements, insurance)

Bunnings do their best to make it easy for you to hold a sausage sizzle, however, they may put a limit on the number of people who can safely work in the BBQ area, plus they may set prices for sausages and drinks so that regular shoppers have a fair expectation of what to pay.

So, how much can you expect to raise at a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle?

The success of your sausage sizzle can be impacted by the weather, the season, and the size of the Bunnings store; as such the amount your sausage sizzle will raise will vary between locations.

Melanie, from Poowong in VIC, made $1,700 one year and $700 the next from their group’s sausage sizzles, and whilst other groups have raised just a couple of hundred dollars, there are rumours of some groups raising over $2,700.

Jane in VIC knows that the amount of funds raised can also vary depending on how much of the food you are able to get donated, so as soon as you have a date finalised then it’s a good idea to approach your local supermarkets, butchers and bakeries and ask them if they will donate some (or all) of the goods you need.

It’s also important to remember to ask your local Bunnings if there are any council restrictions or OH&S requirements you will need to meet (just to be on the safe side).

Three helpful tips from people who have held a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle BBQ Fundraising are:

1.     Cook onions (their strong smell attracts hungry people)

2.     Stay in mobile contact with the next roster of volunteers (in case you need extra supplies picked up)

3.     Wherever possible have sausage sizzles on Saturdays over Sundays or weekday evenings (as they’re more successful).

In case you are able to also run a cake stall and raffle in conjunction with your sausage sizzle, check out some tips included in this article.

For more information on how your community group can organise a Bunnings sausage sizzle, contact your local store or visit the Bunnings website.

Suzanne Rogers Bunnings in Grafton have been great for Happy Paws Grafton. Waiting times are not long, they always make sure the space is good, staff are helpful and often the fund raising is successful.

Jasmin Pearson they’re good, our club held one this year one of our best fundraising days.

Rachael Grogan Have always been great for us. They are VERY popular so you have to book early here but totally worth the effort!

Melanie Wallace We have to get our requests in the year before and just wait to be given a date. We can’t choose unfortunately! But if it’s a good day weather wise, it can be fabulous. If it’s too hot or too cold, not so successful. One year we raised $1700, the following year $700. Hit and miss but worth the effort!!

Leeann Henao-White Sometimes my hubby goes to Bunnings just for the sausage sizzle!

Rachael Grogan Melanie, we apply that early too. Last one we made $1200 – was a perfect day and everyone was out DIY’ing and buying our sausages!!! :-). We ran out and had to send for more sausages a couple of times!! We have our next one in a couple of weeks!!!

Melanie Wallace We missed out this year unfortunately, but with a new Bunnings being opened soon closer to us, we hope to get two dates for next year to make up for it!

Jessica Whitmore i have just asked them if I could do one to raise money for novita and I have a 3 year wait at my Bunnings

Cathy Maguire Our local bunnigns is now doing ‘sizzles’ every day of the week. We just rang last week and got a mid-week date for October! We have tried for the past 2 years for the weekends, but no luck yet.

Nickers Roden We have 2 per year for our Kindergarten. We have permanent dates each year. Bunnings supply all the equipment, and you provide food, drinks, sauces etc. You keep all the money raised. It’s a great community partnership!

Robyn Bell When we get a BBQ it’s great. But it seems to be hit & miss at Bunnings Nunawading. One group I help is likely to not get one this year, yet another has had 2 and 2 more dates for the rest of the year! Weekends are the best – weeknights are a bit touch & go.

Kristy Spiegl Our Bunnings has an application process that is tedious and a long waiting list on top of that. But earns an average $1500 in six hours, so kind of worth it!!

Maryanne Martin Once you get your date locked in Bunnings requires one person to undertake an OH&S course … it’s advisable that two people attend this as someone from your group who has done the course must be at the fundraiser the entire time.

Jane Danzi We’ve had two over the past couple of years and were turned off last year by the poor financial outcome – only a couple of hundred after all the work to meet council restrictions and Bunnings restrictions. I know some groups do very well and I think part of that is getting all the sausages, buns and cool drink donated. We aren’t keen to try again.

Chez Leggatt we find it difficult to get ppl to help…but it is a good money maker….have to write asking at the end/beginning of each year

Kate Holzapfel Bunnings Carseldine is excellent!! Staff are wonderful, all you have to do is bring your bread and sausages. Great profits too.

Heather Barnes Bunnings at Munno Para is a regular spot for us. We normally get a few Saturdays a year (this year they messed up the bookings but we’re on a last minute list). Usually pretty good fundraiser for us. If we do three a year then we generally don’t need to do much else fundraising. The administration can be a bit hit and miss at times though.

Rebecca Smith We did one at Bunnings Mile End and all profits went to the school, we did have to bring everything but the profit was amazing! We did have to book a year in advance but it was def worth it and I hope to book another one soon.

Mary Gardam Our local Bunnings now holds a draw every quarter to see who the lucrative weekend spots go to, we send in an application each quarter and we’ve been lucky, we’ve been picked three times.

We have written a comprehensive eBook on running a sausage sizzle, that is contained, along with a HEAP of other amazing resources, templates and downloads, in our free resources section, which is free to join 🙂 Sign up here.

Originally published 21 August, 2019

You may also be interested in:

• Sausage Sizzle Catering Guide
• What should we charge for sausage sizzle and bacon and egg rolls?
• How do we get volunteers to help on fete day?
• Applying to be an IGA Community Chest beneficiary