Scouting organizations, including Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) and the Girl Scouts of America, have wonderful impacts on children and teenagers across the country. Adult leaders teach participants many invaluable skills, including financial management. There’s no better time to learn about finances than during a scout fundraiser.
Some of the most memorable experiences for scouts are campouts, jamborees, and the vaunted High Adventure Base outings. These events cost money, and scouts are responsible for paying their own way. We’ve compiled a list of creative fundraisers to help scouts meet their financial obligations and get the most out of the program.
8 Scout Fundraising Ideas
A quick note before we get into the eight fundraising ideas: Scouts and adult leaders must follow rules such as the BSA fundraising guidelines or Girl Scouts money-earning guidelines. It stipulates that asking for donations without providing something in return, i.e., a service or product, is against the scouting way of honesty and self-sufficiency. So, while the following fundraising ideas are not necessarily free, you can easily make a profit by galvanizing your community.
1. Christmas Tree Sales
A time-honored tradition among all scouting organizations is the sale of freshly cut Christmas trees. Many holiday revelers want their houses to smell of earthy pine without having to cut down the trees themselves, so they’ll gladly go to a local lot for the purchase. This fundraiser typically takes several weeks, so make sure your troop has the important shifts covered!
2. Yard Sales
While yard sales aren’t necessarily turnkey operations, the model is a familiar one, and scouts should be able to organize one fairly easily. It’s always best to solicit donations from the community and market the event as heavily as you can.
3. Meat Stick Fundraisers
Country Meats offers a unique fundraising package for scouts and other organizations looking to raise funds. The company sells 144-count boxes of shelf-stable meat sticks for $0.75 per snack; most people charge a 100 percent markup and can make around $113 from each box. Country Meats sticks are big hits at fairs, festivals, and sporting events.
4. Pancake Breakfasts
Nothing brings a town together like a community pancake breakfast or another communal meal. Your troop can increase the profit margin by asking local restaurants to donate supplies. Even better, scouts can help make the pancakes to satisfy requirements for their Cooking or Simple Meal merit badges. They can then serve and bus the dining room. You may need a commercial kitchen (church will do) or food handler’s licenses; be sure to check with your local jurisdiction.
5. Flag Sales
Scouts and love of country go hand in hand. To that end, many troops rake in a lot of dough by putting on uniforms and selling flags door-to-door or at community events. Maximize profits by timing your flag fundraisers around patriotic holidays, such as July 4th and Veterans Day.
6. Car Wash Fundraisers
Who doesn’t love a quick car wash? Summertime is the perfect season for this classic fundraiser that requires minimal training. All you really need is space from a local business (along with a few buckets and rags, of course). Having a few sign-wavers near busy roads is always a lot of fun, too.
7. Bottle Recycling
The idea behind this fundraiser is simple: if your city, county, or state offers money for plastic bottles or cans, collect as many as humanly possible and cash in. Double-check with your local officials on any bulk recycling requirements or protocols. If all systems are go, post on all the community forums to get the word out.
8. Shoe Drive Fundraiser
Something a little different from the typical product-driven fundraiser is a shoe drive fundraiser. Instead of offering wares to the community, you ask the community to bring you the good stuff.
In this case, the good stuff is gently worn, used and new shoes, which Funds2Orgs’ team of coaches advises you on how to collect during your shoe drive fundraiser. Your troop will receive a check based on the collective weight of the collected shoes. It’s a great way to make some cash while also promoting sustainability and community engagement.
Why Choose a Shoe Drive Fundraiser?
A shoe drive fundraiser through Funds2Orgs might sound a bit complicated, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Our fundraising team will send you everything you need for a successful shoe drive fundraiser. All your scouts have to do is lead the event marketing and shoe collection. Just give us a call once you’re ready for our team to pick up your bags of shoes.
Shoes that our organization receives go to our micro-entrepreneur partners in developing countries. These businesspeople sell the products to help provide for their families and, in the process, stimulate local economies. Check out Funds2Orgs’ FAQs for more context about our unique shoe drive fundraisers.
Choose an Impactful, Lucrative Scout Fundraiser with Funds2Orgs
If your troop is a little fatigued over the same old fundraisers (not that there’s anything wrong with those delicious Girl Scout cookies), consider running a Funds2Orgs shoe drive fundraiser. Help your community declutter their closets and keep shoes out of local landfills—and get paid doing so!
Want to take the next step? Visit our get started page to receive an information packet and get in touch with our team.
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