About fundraising for the pack

[seed]

Is it alright for the dens to have their own fundraising? It's seems like no matter what we are doing, only the one den shows up. After having quite a few car washes, and no one else coming to help, the leader doesn't think it's fair to share with others who do not participate.

 

I will be addressing the problem at the parent meeting, but if there is still no co-operation, what shall I say? Any and all advice greatly appreciated!

[Torveaux]

Stop having so many fundraisers.

 

Have one good fundraiser and get the whole group on board.

 

We told our parents this year what the target number was for each boy to sell popcorn in order for us to fund the program at its current level. The alternative was for each parent to simply write a check for the amount of profit the pack would have realized from the sales. Everyone sold popcorn and only a few did not reach the target number (about $200 in sales). We sold 3x the amount of popcorn that we did last year.

 

It is pretty easy for families to get burned out on multiple fundraisers. Find the best one and make it work.

[ScoutNut]

NO - Dens are NOT allowed to do their own fundraising.

 

You need to let your families know that boys are supposed to pay their own way in Scouts. The Pack needs the cooperation of EVERYONE if it is going to be able to provide a great program for THEIR boys.

 

Remind them of the Law of the Pack -

 

The Cub Scout follows Akela.

The Cub Scout helps the pack go.

The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.

The Cub Scout gives goodwill.

[scoutldr]

Do you have a Unit Budget Plan? After the annual program is planned, sketch out the budget...costs of activities, B/G banquet, PW Derby, monthly awards, Den expenses, leader training, etc. Then plan fundraisers and set dues to raise that amount of money. No more, no less. Then provide a copy of the Pack Budget to all parents with the expectation that this is THEIR program that THEY must support.

If the funds are not there, the program will NOT be delivered. As someone wise once said, "There is no such thing as a free Wolf badge."

 

I have heard units amassing five figure bank accounts through constant fund raisers...that's simply not necessary.

[Lisabob]

I have to agree with Torveaux. We joined a pack that did 3-5 fundraisers a year, each of which raised a couple hundred dollars. Given the time & effort, and bad feelings generated (why doesn't so-and-so participate, this person is doing all the work, etc..) it wasn't worth it. It was tough to wean them from some of these (they'd become the personal fiefdoms of certain parents) but we finally got down to just one - made more money, caused less stress, a winning situation all-around.

 

We also found that if parents knew where the money was going they were more willing to support our fundraiser. Share your budget for a specific event that everybody really likes to attend so they can understand what you do with all this money they help raise.

 

Another way we got parents to participate with their boys is by offering a dues rebate to those who reached a certain sales goal. Other times, we offered "free" things to boys who reach goals, like daycamp registration, their hat or scarf for their rank, etc.. These aren't really free of course - they raised the money to buy them through the sale - but mom and dad didn't have to pay out of pocket so they were happy.

 

If you go this route though, make sure you set up some pack-level opportunities to earn sales (like a show&sell event) so that kids whose extended families live far away or where the parent(s) can't be much help for personal reasons have a shot at earning their way too. These are often the kids who need scouting the most but can afford it the least.

 

And don't forget to communicate the sale dates well in advance, in writing (flyers are great). Parents are as over-scheduled as their children these days.

 

Lisa'bob

A good old bobwhite too!

[seed]

Thanks for all of the replies. We do have a budget in place, it's just that something special became available to us, and we want to help the families pay for it. We are an inner city pack where money is hard to come by. We'll have to settle this at a parent meeting, so at least now I'll know what to say.

 

 

 

Thanks!

[madkins007]

In our pack, we had dues of $45/Scout (part was for registration, part were den dues, part was pack funds). You paid them up front, then could earn money in fundraising to help pay them for next year, or pay for camp, etc.

 

This way, families that did not participate did not reap the benefits of the labor of others, and people could make their own choice. By the way- this policy was voted on by the entire pack every couple years and passed easily each year. We also were an inner-city, low-income pack.

 

It IS a good idea, though, to keep a careful eye on fundraising too. It can run away with you if you let it!