Every donation from your home kitchen is a gift of time, talent and treasure. Community Loaves is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and we want you to know the value of what you give. Each of our program recipes includes an estimated donation value: our best estimate of what it costs to bake and package each item.
How we estimate the cost
Our estimator uses current ingredient prices from well-known retailers such as Amazon, Costco and Trader Joe's, along with Flour Fundraiser pricing for our flours. It includes the packaging, too.
We update these prices whenever we learn of a price change, so the value stays current.
It's still an estimate. Your actual cost depends on where you like to shop. Farmers market honey costs more than Costco honey, for example. If you spend more or less on an ingredient, you may wish to adjust your own records.
How to find the value for any recipe
1. Open your recipe. Go to Program Recipes on your volunteer dashboard and choose the item you're baking. (New to the Recipe Wizard? See Finding and Using Our Program Recipes.)
2. Find the estimated value. On the right side of the recipe page, under the bake times, you'll see Estimated donation value per loaf. Click Learn more.
3. See the full picture. The Projected Donation Value page shows the estimated value per item. Use the Change Recipe menu to look at another recipe.
4. Check the details. Click Ingredient costs for a line-by-line breakdown: each ingredient, the recipe amount, a typical purchase size, the projected cost and where we priced it.
Prices shown are examples and change over time.
Where you'll see this value
This is the value shown on your volunteer profile for each item you donate. Use it as a benchmark for your financial giving.
Your time counts, too. See Can I Track My Volunteer Hours for Company Matching and Community Service?
Save with our Flour Fundraiser
Through our Flour Fundraiser, you can buy our program flours and supplies at a significant discount from retail prices. Every purchase supports local mills and helps fund our program. That's what we call a win!
Our signature printed bread bags, cookie packaging and labels are available too. Order them under Order Supplies on your volunteer dashboard.