Fund Raisers                      15   11/15/93  06/23/94

Who has a new idea for fund raising. Parents are tired of the some old thing. What's new and exciting?

  The Knowledge Network             Clean Man            11/15/93
  This is a good fund raiser ...    Shaneo C             11/30/93
  A Variety of Fundraisers          DMueller51           12/01/93
  Halloween Insurance               TimRG9               02/01/94
  INbox Repost: Fundraiser Ideas    Scout Ldr            05/08/94
  Looking For Fundraiser Id         Kim GSLead           05/08/94
  Repost: T54 Tag Sale, Greenbus    Scout Ldr            05/21/94
  Repost: Tents needed              Scout Ldr            05/21/94
  Repost: Viele, Fund Raising Id    Scout Ldr            05/21/94
  As promised -                     GenK                 05/24/94
  more info about T54 Tag Sale      REDBUD5841           05/26/94
  Company Picnic Catering           TR Guy               06/11/94
  Tax Deductible Caution            BlakeFam             06/17/94
  Monthly Income                    INYO                 06/22/94
  INbox Repost: Fund Raising        Scout Ldr            06/23/94

Subj:  The Knowledge Network                 93-11-15 10:45:58 EDT
From:  Clean Man
Posted on: America Online

As a Scouter myself, I thought you might be interested in a wonderful fund raiser I was just introduced to.  It is called The Knowledge Network.  They provide top quality educational products with a unique combination of education and entertainment designed into each product.  It makes the learning process fun.  After the traditional up front work the program becomes  passive, and the Non-Profit organization continues to earn income over time.  This income can become quite substantial.  
E-Mail for more info. 

Subj:  This is a good fund raiser ...        93-11-30 02:38:45 EDT
From:  Shaneo C
Posted on: America Online

... but keep it under control.  For as long as I have been with our troo and for as long as there is verbal history we have been involved in this fund raiser.  Our boys run the game booths at corporate picnics.  There is a local company that contracts with the corporations for the games and prizes and then offers out our services.  The boys, along with several adults, set up the games and prizes and run the games during the picnics.  This alows the members of the corporation to enjoy the picnic and not miss out because they have to run a game.  It also helps out the game company.  We ask for a donation of $30 per boy with the number of boys needed depending on the number of games ordered.  The scouts also get to go through the food line as we are usaually there 4 to 7 hours.  
But watch out. We got good enough to be in demand.  We had 2 picnics a Saturday one summer and burned out our families.  As you can gess it is always the same ones volunteering.  We then started turning down smaller picics and raised the donation to $30 to limit our clientel.
It is a good fund raiser but there are plenty more considerations.  E-mail me if you would like to know more.   This past summer with our limitations we still made  over $2000

Subj:  A Variety of Fundraisers              93-12-01 01:02:57 EDT
From:  DMueller51
Posted on: America Online

     I'll mention some of the fundraisers that have worked well in our district for many years.  Our district is both rural and suburban.  Danville, a town of 5,000 and our county seat, has 2 troops.  Troop 301 runs a ham stand Labor Day Weekend and at an orchard's fall festival.  They sell baked and spiced ham sandwiches, platters, and whole hams.  They hold this in the front part of a grocery store parking lot, are open 24 hours a day for the weekend.   The community expects it each year and it has become a troop reunion of sorts.  Troop 302 sells cheese logs and ham and beans at the community's flea market days. 
      Troop 306 in the next community east has their boys sell Tom Watt items to pay for their dues, registration, and   camp fees.  Boys may sell as much or little as they choose.  For troop expenses garbage bags are sold.  Several doctors and concession stand are their regular customers.         
      Troop 106 inside the city sells Christmas fruit baskets.  They take orders and then work the two weekends before Christmas making and filling orders.  They buy their stock from the grocery across the street and are allowed to set up a stand in the parking lot and advertise inside the store.  
       One rural troop has been known to plant strawberry bushes for a local nursery and the parents set up a concession stand during the nursery's sale days.    
      Our success has been finding a product, event, or campaign that the community looks forward to and recognizes.  Pack 306 used to sell popcorn.  They sold truckloads.  During the fall every Cub Scout, parent, and leader in the community had the phone number of Mrs. Harris, the project chairman.  Even if their pack didn't sell popcorn, they could tell you who did.    Now pack 306 and several other  troops and packs earn their entire yearly budget from the council's popcorn sales & bowlathon.
     Also, fundraising chairman should be a committee position, never the Cubmaster or Scoutmaster.  It's a good way for a new parent to get involved.  You have an established procedure & contacts & they can be successful and move on to other unit responsibilities.
     Good luck.

Dave Mueller

Subj:  Halloween Insurance                   94-02-01 19:25:19 EDT
From:  TimRG9
Posted on: America Online

   Our Troop came up with the idea of insurance for halloween. The troop members sell policys a couple of weeks before halloween. The insurance policy states that we will cleanup any mess on their property after halloween. They pay $5.00 and have to call the number of the parent listed before 6:00 PM on the day after Halloween. This has been a very good moneymaker as we have only had to cleanup 1 yard in 4 years.

Tim
MC Troop 234 Southwest Michigan Council

Subj:  INbox Repost: Fundraiser Ideas        94-05-08 02:43:14 EDT
From:  Scout Ldr
Posted on: America Online

Subj:  Fundraiser Ideas                      94-05-08 02:01:48 EDT
From:  Kim GSLead

I am in the process of preparing a group of 18 Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts for a trip to Europe in 1995.  Part of the preperation is financial.  I am looking for an asortment of successful fundraiser ideas.  

    1.  Is there already some such collection of this  
         type of information??

     2.  If there is not, could be begin such a
          collection?

Subj:  Looking For Fundraiser Id             94-05-08 20:24:27 EDT
From:  Kim GSLead
Posted on: America Online

In my last message I was asking for fundraiser ideas for my group's trip to Euorop.  We has been planning this trip for almost a year already.  We have raised about $500.00 /girl so far.  The cost of the trip per girl will be about $2000.00 to $2500.00. 

We hope to fundraise about 1/2 of the tirp.  So 1/4 would be paid for by the parents and 1/4 paid for by the girl through baby sitting, odd jobs, etc.

We are looking for successful fundraiser ideas both small and large.

Subj:  Repost: T54 Tag Sale, Greenbush       94-05-21 02:17:46 EDT
From:  Scout Ldr
Posted on: America Online

Subj:  Troop 54 Tag Sale                     94-05-18 16:50:11 EDT
From:  REDBUD5841
Posted on: America Online

Our annual Tag Sale will be held on the first Saturday in June of 1994, at the Columbia Plaza in East Greenbush.

Subj:  Re: Tag Sale                          94-05-18 19:44:42 EDT
From:  Kim GSLead
Posted on: America Online

What exactly is a "Tag Sale"

Subj:  Re: Tag Sale                          94-05-18 21:43:20 EDT
From:  BlakeFam
Posted on: America Online

And where is a "Greenbush"?

If this is not germaine to a wide geographic area, this is probably not a good thing to clutter up this forum. ??

Subj:  Re: Tag Sale                          94-05-19 07:23:36 EDT
From:  GenK
Posted on: America Online

However, I know of a tag sale held recently in Connecticut that was a major fund raiser. Perhaps the details of how such things are managed will be of interest, help, -- yes, maybe even inspiration -- to many. And if we can't go and participate, we can learn from others' experiences.

So -- tell us. What merchandise is offered at this tag sale? How did you acquire it? Is this an annual event? What kind of profit do you expect? What kind of cooperation do you have from youth, parents, friends?

Gen (who loves tag sales)

Subj:  Repost: Tents needed                  94-05-21 02:21:38 EDT
From:  Scout Ldr
Posted on: America Online

Subj:  tents needed                          94-05-19 14:35:22 EDT
From:  Gregory749
Posted on: America Online

--------Attention CEO's, Distributors, Camping Outlets!!!-------

Troop 1 in Sacramento Califorina started more than 75 years ago
and is the oldest troop West of the Mississippi is now in need
of new Tents. 

The troop will need 15 backpackable three or four man tents with
rain flies. able to withstand the test of young campers. eg.
good zippers and strong seams. The troop goes on at least one
outing each month; rain, shine or snow. 

To keep the price of these tents to a minimum troop 1  would
like to offset the cost of these purchases by testing equipment
for a tent manufacture company or supplier. 

Troop 1 would be willing to provide written reports, and factual
information for the tested items.

The troop is looking for information and pricing on good quality
tents. If you can assist us with this request it would be
greatly appreciated. The troop has a fund set aside for this
equipment and is ready to make a deal..

                              Yours Truly 

                              Mr.Gregory Smith

reply to;
74142.2307@compuserve.com
greg.smith@24stex.com
gregory749@aol.com

Subj:  Repost: Viele, Fund Raising Idea      94-05-21 02:39:04 EDT
From:  Scout Ldr
Posted on: America Online

Subj:  Fund Raising ideas                    94-05-20 09:22:30 EDT
From:  Viele
Posted on: America Online

If any troops or packs are interested in fund raising ideas, please send a requet to: Viele.  I will send you several very good ideas.  Please provide your postal mailing address in your e-mail.  
Steve Lewis 
Troy, NY 

Subj:  As promised -                         94-05-24 18:25:49 EDT
From:  GenK
Posted on: America Online

this is from a friend recently involved in a major fund raiser - Jamie is a Scout and a staff member in KOOL. We had discussed this sale before the event and he kindly wrote out the details for us to share. THIS sets quite a standard for fund raising :))

Date:  Tue, May 24, 1994 6:06 PM EDT
From:  JTatum
Subj:  Re: tag sale
To:      GenK

Posted on: America Online (using WAOL)

Here was the general organization of the scout tag sale:

For almost a month before the sale, pickups were made on weekends by adults with kids along to do the lifting and such.  In the beginning, pickups went into a rented trailor, which was moved to the sale site later on.  A couple of classified ads were placed, signs (big signs.. :)  ) were placed around town telling of the tag sale accepting tax deductable donations.  (Another thing to do - Get the tax deduction slips).  About two-three weeks before the sale, the trailor was moved to the site.  Everybody helped to move the masses and masses of items into the site, as well as under tarps in the case of the larger stuff.  The pricing begins one to two weeks before the sale.  Adults began to price items based on their judgement - remember, most of what you'll get will be low quality.  If it seems like a deal, it will sell.

Tag sale day timeline:

7:00am - Final setup - anything left over to do
 
8:00am - Gates open

8:00am-11:00am - Regular sales - Everything full price

11:00am-12:00pm - 'Specials' go into effect in certain areas

1:00pm - Half price begins

1:30pm - Fill a bag for a dollar time begins

2:00pm - Most everything free

3:00pm - Start cleanup - Throw away waste

This was pretty much our timeline.  This was not followed exactly, moreover it was made up as we went along (as it has been every year).  The specials and the special prices did not apply to everything.  The biggest exemptions were in the electronics area and the few cars we got had a constant price too.

Some notes about volume:  The reason the set-up timeline is so long is that if you beef the sale up well it will get a lot of volume.  This will, of course, vary according to location and time of year, and several other factors.

Well, that's about it.  Keep in mind that this was just a general outline.  What you do for your tag sale will vary according to your estimates, etc.  Ours have been quite profitable lately, bringing in $25,000+!  We do find, however, that the longer you have been running them for, the more donations you recieve, etc, so that does make a difference.

~J

Subj:  more info about T54 Tag Sale          94-05-26 16:06:22 EDT
From:  REDBUD5841
Posted on: America Online

I have recieved many questions about the Tag Sale; I hope that this will help to clarify things.
 East Greenbush is a town outside of Albany NY

 A Tag Sale is bassicly the same as a garage sale, Yard sale, or lawn sale.  We call it a Ta Sale for originallity, and to set it apart from all of the "garage sales" in our area.

 The merchandise offered at a Tag Sale is any item that someone will be willing to pay for.  We have our Troop members search for donations to the Tag Sale, and we usually profit around $500 from this event.  Due to its hight profit this has been our Troop`s main fund raiser for many years. We have Troop members and leaders come in during the sale and help to run it.

Subj:  Company Picnic Catering               94-06-11 00:53:58 EDT
From:  TR Guy
Posted on: America Online

     Local quarry run by former Scout/Scouter asked if we'd cater his company picnic.  Prof'l caterers wanted $8-12 a person.  We catered 130 folks @ $6.00, prepared food ourselves, made 50% profit.  Scouts sang grace, served food and enjoyed magician's act the company hired.  Each Scout that was there-and they ALL were (with a parent!) earned $20 toward Summer Camp...and had a great time.  Remainder of profits to troop.   On top of that, company told us to buy a trailer and send them the bill.  We did.  (Thank you again Lannon Stone Products!) Catering same co. picnic this summer again and looking forward to good fellowship with them, and good earnings for camperships.
           "TR Guy"  Keith Klein, SM, T-107, Lannon Fire Dept., Lannon, WI

Subj:  Tax Deductible Caution                94-06-17 03:16:50 EDT
From:  BlakeFam
Posted on: America Online

Based on IRS guidelines, donations to a local unit (Pack, Troop, Team Post) are NOT tax deductible.  The local BSA Council is a n IRS 501(c)3 entity, and donations to a 501(c)3 are deductible, subject to the 3% rule, etc.  The tax status of a local unit is not determined by their Scouting status, but by their chartered organization.  If an individual donates something to a church, say, that has a Scout unit, and the church passes it on to the Scouts, that would be deductible.  Do not assume that anything given "in the name of the Scouts" is tax-deductible in the eyes of the IRS!  Local units of all programs are advised to check with their local councils (BSA,GSUSA,Campfire) to get up-to-speed on all the new Gov't regulations on fundraising, and on local and state regulations.  Be careful - nothing is worse that having someone come back after an audit, and complain how "The Scouts" got them in trouble with the IRS...

Subj:  Monthly Income                        94-06-22 00:55:54 EDT
From:  INYO
Posted on: America Online

As a Scoutmaster, I' ve been involved in many fundraisers, some requiring alot of time and effort from alot of people. I have recently found a much better and easier fundraiser that can provide a monthly income to almost any non profit organization. Please e mail me for all the details.

Subj:  INbox Repost: Fund Raising            94-06-23 01:29:40 EDT
From:  Scout Ldr
Posted on: America Online

Subj:  Fund Raising                          94-06-22 17:16:24 EDT
From:  LadyDM
Posted on: America Online

I am looking for some ideas of a fund raising project for my Junior troop that has been council approved that is different that the children can do other than a car wash or bake sale.