The Girl Scouts are well known for their cookie sales. Scouting America troops, packs, and crews have no national fundraising item. Each Scouting America unit makes their own fundraising decisions. Many councils participate in popcorn sales, but the strong competition in many areas causes troops to look for alternative ways to raise funds. I've seen troops selling many different items and services including poinsettas, carwashes, flags, both flower and light bulbs, and even mulch.
To help with your efforts, here are some Scout fundraising ideas you might consider. While you will find hundreds of different Scouts BSA and Cub Scout fundraising ideas on the internet, I'd like to take a moment to present a few of them here.
It's best to do a fundraiser that targets people outside your unit. A cake auction, for example, would most likely be attended only by Scouting families. So, the same families that would be paying the unit expenses are still paying them. Fundraising should be an opportunity for other community members to support Scouting if they want.
All scout fundraising events are supposed to be authorized by Scouting America through the use of a Unit Money-Earning Application at this page. There's more details about scout fundraising on this page.
When checking out new fund raising options, a lower up-front investment and a larger percentage of profit are two keys to success. It's also important to have a product that people need or want but don't often purchase for themselves.
Comments: Oct 25, 2013 - Den 6 Dad
Folks: One excellent idea we had was to collect scrap metal. Used a truck and trailer from couple of our Den Leaders, and went house to house collecting scrap steel, car parts, aluminum, copper, old batteries, etc. Delivered to a local scrap metal recycling yard (who also gave the boys a great tour) and raked in $1,000 for the Pack. The scrap metal yards will also help you organize and event. Good luck!
Mar 10, 2014 - Irene mckee
Do the Scouts still offer help to the older members of the population for a fixed fee, also worked towards some badges?
I was a Girl Guide (Scout) in the UK many years ago, where we did a fund raiser, called "Bob (shilling) a Job!
As a senior I would be happy to make donations to the Scouts 2 or 3 times each year, I live on an acre and find clearing all the tree limbs, a bit much for me!
Please advise if the scouts would be interested!
Sincerely, Irene McKee
Aug 19, 2014 - Wendy LaBerge
We are starting a new troop too. We are planning a garage sale. All families who are starting the troop will chip in stuff and all proceeds go to the new troop. We are also looking into grants too. In the past we have done christmas tree wreaths which generated a decent amount of money. However you need one person who's job is only the wreath sales. Good Luck to you!!!
Sep 21, 2014 - Jeff B
Would doing a fund raiser with a local restaurant be against the BSA rules? I know Culvers and McDonalds support our local school with donating a small portion of the proceeds to them.
Thanks
Nov 19, 2014 - Veronica Sparks
We do well with Krispy Kreeme doughnuts. All of the info you need is on their website. They are very easy to work with and the kids get 50% profit.
Jan 06, 2015 - Cheryl
I was wondering if you every had parents ask why the Pack needs to do fundraising? We have a very small Pack and it has been a topic of conversation and I'm wondering if there is a easy answer to this. We currently don't have scout accounts setup do to lack of scouts that do things so we have a general fund that it all goes into right now. Any suggestions would be great.
Thank you!
Apr 09, 2015 - Stephanie Santos
Cheryl, I would tell the parents that fundraisers are needed because scouts are a non profit organization. Therefore, any and all monies made go toward pack functions such as camping or awards. Our pack doesn't have dues so to make up for that we do a lot of fundraisers. We don't want a possible scout to not join because of dues every month.
May 03, 2015 - Chris Kuhl
We have a very small Troop. We did the beef jerky fundraiser and it went so well that we are doing it again. Once people tried the jerky, they loved it and wanted more. We are looking to build up our funds so we have something planned every month and some months have 2 events going on. Jerky sales, car wash, restaurants will sponsor a "family day" and they pay the scouts 10-15% of the days sales on a day you choose to do it. Announce to everyone to eat at the restaurant you choose and they put their receipts in a box (provided by the troop) and then restaurant pays out the percentage at the end of the day. Pancake breakfast, BBQ plate sale, and currently we are asking academy for a donation to purchase something to raffle off. Of course anything you choose has to be approved before council, Also, most major corporations will sponsor a troop. I am looking into a few to sponsor the boys for camping trips so the single parents in our troop will only have to pay their own way.
Aug 19, 2015 - Jojo
Chris, who did you do the beef jerky sales with? I've been looking on the web for places. Want a
reputable place if you don't mind saying. Thanks.
Aug 19, 2015 - scouter paul
@jojo - Country Meats has a nice
product for scouts to sell. There
is a link to their site towards the
top of the page.
May 26, 2016 - Moose
Curious about something. Would it be out of the ordinary for an
individual den to do some fundraising on their own? I'm looking
at the "future" for these boys in scouting and seeing an
increase in cost for activities. And they have an opportunity
for some awesome activities after a certain age. Philmont, Sea
Base, Bechtel, Northern Tier and a multitude of other
possibilities. I keep hearing that as these boys hit a certain
age and their no longer the "cute" "ahhhhhh look at him" scout
that the amount of popcorn sales and stuff starts to drop off
dramatically. So I would like these younger scouts to basically
start stockpiling scout bucks over the next 4 - 5 years. So
that they're not scrambling to afford summer camps and stuff.
So back to my original question. Would it be out of the
ordinary to do individual Den fundraisers? What concerns do any
of you see coming from doing this? Would you look upon it
negatively if you were part of the pack? Thanks in advance.
May 26, 2016 - Scouter Paul
@Moose - What you are proposing is contrary to BSA guidelines.
You should read this page and this page.
May 26, 2016 - Moose
So basically the whole pack would have to approve the fundraising
and only those that wanted to participate in it would participate.
And then some of that money could be allocated to the "pack" and a
percentage to the scouts (that participated) individual scout
bucks account. Kind of like a lot of units/packs do with the
popcorn sales. Am I interpreting that correctly?
May 26, 2016 - Scouter Paul
@Moose - There's more to it. Fundraising is for the unit, not
for individual scouts. Your Pack needs to get a Unit Money
Earning Application approved by your chartered organization and
your local council.
If you read the Checklist for Approval (in
the link above), you are trying to earn money for individual
scout use sometime in the future, for some undefined need,
rather than for a current need for your current unit. That is
not what fundraising is for.
Here is another page that states fundraising can not
be credited to an individual for his expenses. This "individual
scout bucks" that you mention can be money contributed by the
scout and his family, but not from unit fundraising. Another
discussion on the topic can be found here.
It's
certainly a good idea for scouts and their parents to start
putting aside funds for expensive future adventures as soon as
possible. A Cub Scout could put aside a portion of payment for
his job, allowance, or birthday gifts into an account that will
be there for that Philmont adventure in 6 years. But, that
should be separate from unit fundraising.
Oct 03, 2016 - Cindi
wondering what is the fundraising money for then if not to assist the individual child with camping and opportunity costs through the BSA. Where does all of the money go to?
Oct 03, 2016 - carol
You should attend a Committee meeting to see where all the money
goes. It goes into the Treasury to cover expenses for the unit such
as awards, patches, badges, supplies, fees for events, food,
equipment, etc. A yearly budget is set, based on the calendar of
events and their costs. The popcorn sales goal for each boy is
based on this budget. If you want all the fees covered for all the
boys for all the events & trips, there is a much larger budget and
fundraising goal. One year we had a tremendous popcorn sale and
spent almost $2500 on our Blue & Gold banquet and didn't have to
charge anyone and had the food catered at a hotel banquet hall with
a magician. When we don't do so well, it's potluck dinner in the
school cafeteria or we have to sell tickets to cover the costs.
Dec 13, 2016 - Sheena Cater
We are a brand new troop, just starting out. Do we have to submit a Unit Money Earning Application for each fundraiser? Is there a generic budget plan for new troops? I have no idea what to expect regarding monthly expenses or setting budget goals for our troop. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Dec 15, 2016 - Michelle Lister
I am new to this fundraising thing. Popcorn sales just aren't
going to well. Looking for a different fundraiser idea for my
troop. In specific, I am looking for a fundraiser for
hurricane preparedness items. My troop is comprised solely of
special needs adults. Looking for hand-crank radios, first-
aid kits and/or flashlights. Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Apr 06, 2017 - Jeff Carver
It seems we are dealing with similar issues as those here in raising funds for our growing expenses. Popcorn and pancakes only go so far and often times we are still short. We were looking around for other possible options and I am wondering if anyone has considered selling flags.
Apr 11, 2017 - Moose
Many options for fundraising. Troops could do a black friday
childcare fundraiser. Watch kids while parents shop. Bake
sale. Aluminum cans. If you're located close to a sporting
facility like an NFL stadium (for example), check and see if it
is OK to walk the parking lot and pick up aluminum cans. Or
possibly set up containers for people to deposit their cans in.
Strip laptops and computers of their valuable metals and parts.
Wreaths I've heard people have success with. Country meats
(beef jerky and stuff) I've heard has done well for some. Car
wash. Some restaurants will donate a portion of their sales
during a specific time of day for one day. Some do up to 25% of
their sales during dinner time. If it's a popular restaurant,
that can add up quick. Rummage/garage sale. Pumpkin patch at
the church or chartered organization location. Springtime =
flowers. Fall, yard clean-up (raking leaves). After christmas
"real" tree recycle program. $10 - $15 for pickup (depending on
drive time) and recycling of tree or $5 per tree drop off for
recycling.
Jun 01, 2017 - Debbie Epps
I have been reading through these ideas and I am feeling like they do not meet all of the guidelines for scouts. I was told no raffling or chance games....yet I continuously see raffles as suggestions for scouts. Any clarification please.
Jun 03, 2017 - Scouter Paul
@Debbie - I didn't reread every comment, but I only see "raffle"
in one comment and "chance" nowhere, other than yours. For
official clarification, please see the Unit Money-earning
Application linked in the content above where it gives guidance on
raffles and games of chance.
Sep 24, 2017 - M Porter
@Debbie
From BSA www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/510-274.pdf
Will the fundraising activity uphold the good name of the BSA? Does it avoid games of chance, gambling, etc.?
Selling raffle tickets or other games of chance is a direct violation of the BSA Rules and Regulations, which forbid gambling. The product must not detract from the ideals and principles of the BSA.
Jan 02, 2020 - Denise Cummings
My grandson in a pack in Ovid Mi, it’s a totally unorganized, out of control
meeting. When asked if the leader how much money do we have the say
“we’re good”. They will not answer. How do I get answers. The Christmas
Caroling that was to be done at the local senior center was a joke. They
didn’t know anything of it and would not let kids sing that had walked to
the facility. Un- prepared. Sad learning experiences.
Jan 22, 2020 - Bruce Boyd
The Boy Scouts needs to take a page from the Girl Scouts and abandon
the Popcorn selling because it not NEAR as lucrative as selling cookies!
The one snack that can definitely compete with cookies are “ Thin
Brownies”! We can actually mimic the same flavors the Girl Scouts are
using for there cookies into Thin Brownies and sell them! I believe this
could finally put a fundraising item together from the Boy Scouts that can
actually compete with the Girl Scout cookie sales
Jan 22, 2020 - Stacey
Recently my younger joined a new troop for girls. During their
last meeting it was mentioned that the troop needed to start
doing more fundraising to help for camp and such. However there
was a statement that was made that parents would have to sign a
consent form similar to that of the Girl Scouts when parents
agree to take a certain amount of cookies/product and then be
financially responsibly for the product. I am wondering if this
is acceptable. I have never heard of a BSA unit requiring
parents to sign a consent/ commitment form for fu?draising.
Feb 07, 2020 - Kristen
@Stacey, I don't know about a specific
form, but when our Troop distributes
camp cards, parents sign a sign out
sheet that states, that they are
responsible for the cards they take, if
the cards are lost or damaged,they are
financially responsible for what they
took. They are always able to return
unsold cards as long as they are not
missing any parts. This form was put in
place after a parent misplaced a number
of cards and the Troop was still
responsible to pay the district for
them.
Oct 10, 2021 - Carol Iannessa
I’m interested in doing Goblin insurance. Wondering if I
need to do anything formal before we try this?
Oct 13, 2021 - Scouter Paul
@Carol - Yes, you need to get it approved by submitting a Unit Money-
Earning Application beforehand.
Feb 19, 2023 - Erin Crawford
Can we have a fundraiser for our troop where a restaurant donates a
portion of sales a particular night to the troop? If so, what is the
procedure?
Apr 19, 2023 - Scouter Paul
@Erin - Yes, you can. See this BSA page for more info about procedures.
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