berliner Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 I had posted this in another thread but didnt want it to get lost on page 4. Looking for everyone elses ideas & input to make the list longer. "My first SM as ASM told me the average BSA SM spends about 2,500$ a year ... The kids should not spend their time only fundraising, yet sometimes you need larger sums for different things. There is grants for nearly anything; some exclude membership fees but if you looked hard enough; I heard of troop that got grants for uniforms… I did a lot of reading and tought myself a lot about grants and am working on piecing together a "tutorial" I want to put on youtube or something to pass on the knowledge (so any additions, comments, hints, ideas welcome :-) I already added a couple things from this thread). Fundraising 101 -Bake Sale -Cookies/Choclate/Candy Bars/Popcorn/Lemonade/Wine -Pens with troop details -Giftwrap -Mulch -Emergency/Rescue/Space Blankets -Meal event: Pancake Breakfast, Spaghetti Dinner, BBQ, Sausage Sizzle, Invite Rotary, Masons, Lions, local sports team … -Scout Shop (at events, online on troop page, FB etc) -Uniform Exchange -Auction -Scout Disco -Game/Quiz night, Pub Crawl/Party, ... Grants 202 Transportation/Fuel Grants (Overseas?!) Membership fee Grants Grants for repairs of existing structures Special note: if you need money for anything having to do with water or hygiene there is a Foundation from Eagle Scout Bill Gates & his wife that specializes in just that. There is heaps of places to apply for grants, but sometimes you have to look at national or even international level. Grants seem more complicated and complex than they actually are: don't fear the paperwork or having to apply for more than 1 grant. You need to turn in 20 or 30 pages? 95% is going to be photocopies of registration, tax number etc. Not much you have to write yourself except fill out the forms, a letter from your committee. Simple really. When I arrived the Scout Group in New Zealand was "scared" of the "large sum" of 12,000$ for a roof, but also needed walls and replace water damage in the floors and redo the bathrooms... There had been big ideas and great plans to add the scout hut to civil resilience as an emergency community center with water tanks and … I picked up the ball and started pushing the locals a bit LOL After a couple of builders quotes I estimated the Group needed 50-55,000$. They thought I was nuts. I was "active" Grant Admin for about 6 months, and about a year after I started had raised or helped raise about 16,000$ and repairs have started. Depending on how you see it I was bringing in over 1,000$ to 2,000$ every month. My teachers always told me I don't work up to my abilities LOL. The Group Leader has now asked me for a 18,000$ transportation grant for jamboree … 16k of 70k … Still working on it ;-) " (You know its bad when you start to quote yourself LOL) So keep the various ideas, pros & cons coming :-D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5yearscouter Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 we have a flag program that brings in almost 10k a year. They sell subscriptions to adults in the neighborhood around the scout hut, the scouts will go out and put out a flag in the morning on 8 holidays a year, then go back and take the flag down before dark. They charge like $45 or 50 the first year and $40 each year after that. The initial $ pays for a long piece of conduit and a flag. in the ground at the person's house they put a piece of PVC as a receiver with a red cap on it, wherever the homeowner wants the flag posted. draw a map of the yard to find the red plug. scouts take off the plug, unroll the flag and place the conduit into the receiver and salute the flag. The scouts get paid a minimal amount in their scout acct and the rest goes to the troop acct. Oh there is also a line for people to add a donation if they want, and there is often an extra $50 in the envelope when it comes back. The flags are stored in long coffin looking wooden boxes in the scout lodge that double as a long cabinet to do work at the lodge. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berliner Posted September 21, 2013 Author Share Posted September 21, 2013 Thank you very much for your input 5yearscouter. I like the idea, very patriotic. Difficult for Troops overseas unless they are on base, but a great idea. The one thing our Charter asked of our Troop was a flag ceremony at the George Washington Masons Ball (before that I got a friend from the USAF to come by, made the boys look sharp ;-) ) So any more ideas for fundraising, grants and the like? In New Zealand some scout troops sell coupon/voucher books, or "scout choclate" in front of the super market, schools ... Having stands at community/school/sport events with bake sale/sausages what not is not just a great fundraiser but good recruiting as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basementdweller Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 So far no real information here. Lots of bragging. I am impressed with what your are saying but....I need real nuts and bolts on what I need to do to find folks who are distribute grants. How do I know what companies have foundations or how to locate foundations who distribute grants? How do I know what their focus is? Is there a website or publication that one could reference.. In need tenting, backpacks, sleeping bags and money for our own van or to buy our CO a new one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutNut Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 How do the taxes on these grants work? Since your unit is owned by your CO, are the grants in your CO's name? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berliner Posted September 23, 2013 Author Share Posted September 23, 2013 So far no real information here. Lots of bragging. I am impressed with what your are saying but....I need real nuts and bolts on what I need to do to find folks who are distribute grants. How do I know what companies have foundations or how to locate foundations who distribute grants? How do I know what their focus is? Is there a website or publication that one could reference.. In need tenting, backpacks, sleeping bags and money for our own van or to buy our CO a new one. companies, foundations and grants is 3 different things. - you can directly ASK companies: my scout group in NZ got 1,500$ Gear Voucher from an Outdoor Store. What camping gear retailers are in your area? Army shops? Big Auto Company/Garage? - I found several websites for Grants in NZ but have no particuler ones for the states (because I didnt look) In NZ for 20$ you can buy a Grant Guide, the Goverments Council holds info evenings once a year or so. - Grants are often given by churches, schools, goverment etc. Foundations tend to specalize more. There is also 2 types of Grants: - most Grants are on-off payments but for planing reasons some Grants prefer -multi-year projects with yearly payments or so. Foundations are, for example but not limited to, financing one project or objective over a very long period of time with larger sums. Best bet is to do a web search (different seach engines = different results) with the words *grant* and *your city/state/country* I did find a UK Grant for Scouts that was only for travel to camp etc. As stated above I started this thread to create a refence for Grants etc as so far I have not found one. Thanks for your input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berliner Posted September 23, 2013 Author Share Posted September 23, 2013 How do the taxes on these grants work? Since your unit is owned by your CO, are the grants in your CO's name? Oi getting specific. Cool - keep 'em coming 8-) In New Zealand Scouts there is no Charterd Organisation concept. The Grant is given directly to the Scout Group. Paperwork has to be signed by: Scoutmaster/Groupleader as well as Committee Chair, C-Treasurer and maybe C-Fundraising Officer/Grant Administrator. Photocopies you need to turn in with the Grant application include the tax number and the charity certificate (again NZ / US will be different, just saying) Now I was not treasurer so I can not say this for sure and will check, but as the Scout Group does not pay taxes it doesnt matter, if you get builders quotes the grant will only cover cost without tax as the Scout Group gets any paid taxes back at the end of the year anyway. (hope it makes sense, someone help me with the translation of Brutto Netto LOL) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basementdweller Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 Been there done that......American companies are used to being asked for help.......I have contacted various tent manufactures, National and local outdoor stores or outfitters. Without naming companies, most did not respond. I have contacted several local foundations with very specific request and no help.... Heck I can't even get our council to get boys in need books and shirt. I can get a dozen loaves of bread, a couple packs of hotdogs and kool aid donated by the local grocer, no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berliner Posted September 23, 2013 Author Share Posted September 23, 2013 Been there done that......American companies are used to being asked for help.......I have contacted various tent manufactures, National and local outdoor stores or outfitters. Without naming companies, most did not respond. I have contacted several local foundations with very specific request and no help.... Heck I can't even get our council to get boys in need books and shirt. I can get a dozen loaves of bread, a couple packs of hotdogs and kool aid donated by the local grocer, no problem. Sounds like you have done your best so far. Just dont give up. I know exactly what you mean - first thing I got for our spaghetti dinner was a couple loaves of bread. You have to keep on going, with grants and any type of fundraising it takes a lot of effort and teamwork. There is special grants for transportation, as in buying vehilces. Big oil companies have fuel vouchers for volunteers (got turned down like 80% so far, but not always ;-) ) How much are you looking at just for a couple tents, sleeping bags and backpacks? How many kids/$$$. Have you asked you local Lions Club, Rotary Club or Mason Lodge? What about Veterans of Foreign Wars? If there is any Troops closing/folding in your area, what about the gear? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berliner Posted September 23, 2013 Author Share Posted September 23, 2013 Been there done that......American companies are used to being asked for help.......I have contacted various tent manufactures, National and local outdoor stores or outfitters. Without naming companies, most did not respond. I have contacted several local foundations with very specific request and no help.... Heck I can't even get our council to get boys in need books and shirt. I can get a dozen loaves of bread, a couple packs of hotdogs and kool aid donated by the local grocer, no problem. one more thing I was looking at, totally off the chart here: but "work & income", sort of like welfare NZ, would actually help with fees, but not sure about shirts. Just something I started looking into, but you need both of the parents having low income and willing to work thrue the paperwork. Now books you might swing as educational material. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boomerscout Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 there used to be a directory of foundations. The reference librarian at the public library is the one to contact. Maybe a letter to the editor of the local paper can unearth a decent van for you or at least some no longer used tentage and other gear. Gather up any photographs you have of your troop doing Scout stuff. Sort them, and place 'em in those plastic sleeves that fit into a looseleaf binder. so you have a flip thru album. During slow business hours visit the Coke distributor, the Pepsi distributor, the beer distributor, and any busy mom & pop restaurants and hardware stores. Doing this is probably illegal in National's eyes. Have your 501©3 number with you and some of your SM business cards with contact info In my first troop, our sponsor the Mothers' Club had the world's oldest concession trailer which they would set up at every home football game. They made enough selling hot dogs, pop, hot chocolate to fund most of the activities. Most scrap paper drives don't do well as one-offs. However, if the community knew that First Saturday of every month you'd be collecting newspapers you may be able to fill the trailer every month A quick search theru the internet told me most big corporations have stopped donating to Scouts because of LGBT issues. You would probably be better off approaching the local self-made men as they are still very independent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basementdweller Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 Been there done that......American companies are used to being asked for help.......I have contacted various tent manufactures, National and local outdoor stores or outfitters. Without naming companies, most did not respond. I have contacted several local foundations with very specific request and no help.... Heck I can't even get our council to get boys in need books and shirt. I can get a dozen loaves of bread, a couple packs of hotdogs and kool aid donated by the local grocer, no problem. In theory, In the US the councils are supposed to provide shirts and books upon request for those in need. I have filled out the forms and submitted them a number of times, more than 15, and have received the requested uniforms and books twice. I have requested camperships for day camp a number of times and have NEVER received one..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berliner Posted September 24, 2013 Author Share Posted September 24, 2013 thank you very much boomerscout: yes indeed a visit to a local library can never replace 1,000 online searches! Ask the librarian by all means. -Check your records if before your time your pack/troop already apllied to something somewhere (treasurer/historian) -Gambling Trusts A lot of grants in NZ are given by Trusts run by the big gambling companies (casino/lotto). There is local licensed places that do smaller grants as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berliner Posted September 24, 2013 Author Share Posted September 24, 2013 Been there done that......American companies are used to being asked for help.......I have contacted various tent manufactures, National and local outdoor stores or outfitters. Without naming companies, most did not respond. I have contacted several local foundations with very specific request and no help.... Heck I can't even get our council to get boys in need books and shirt. I can get a dozen loaves of bread, a couple packs of hotdogs and kool aid donated by the local grocer, no problem. So in theory you have an advantage and dont have to find something new. Camperships sounds cool, wish they had them here. Good on the BSA for offering it, bad if its not working. Do you have a person on the council to talk to, I mean did you hand in your paperwork 15 times to the same person? Did you ever follow up and ask why they where rejected or not considerd? Did they simply have too many applicants or not enough money? Was something missing? Did you slam the door on the way out? ... ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basementdweller Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 Been there done that......American companies are used to being asked for help.......I have contacted various tent manufactures, National and local outdoor stores or outfitters. Without naming companies, most did not respond. I have contacted several local foundations with very specific request and no help.... Heck I can't even get our council to get boys in need books and shirt. I can get a dozen loaves of bread, a couple packs of hotdogs and kool aid donated by the local grocer, no problem. All the applications were handed to the DE 4 different years which means 4 different people. ZERO response even to follow up calls, voice mail as they do not answer their office or cell phones, and emails. rejected no.......Ignored yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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