TROOP 33 FUNDRAISING
We take a three prong approach to the challenge of fundraising.
the vast majority of funds designated for Scout use.
You can only knock on doors so many times each year, so only a few of our
fundraisers are sales campaigns. Let me explain our fundraising program in
greater detail, and how it relates to our overall program.
#1 September-October: Concession Stand
AYSO SOCCER
A concession stand that goes on for 9 Saturdays, we operate a concession stand at Kiwanis Park for the AYSO soccer games. We sell hot and cold beverages, pastries, candy, snacks, hot dogs, and polish sausage. The profits are split between the troop and Scouts working the Saturdays.
#2 October: Council Popcorn Sale
This goes on for about 4 weeks. This is your basic door-to-door, friends,
family, relatives, sales campaign. We support our council while providing
unlimited earnings potential to our boys. ALL profits go to boys' Scout
Accounts.
#3 December: Spaghetti Dinner
This involves a short two weeks sales campaign, followed by a half day event,
the actual dinner. It's good for involving our church and local community.
Scouts earn a 50% commission from each ticket they sell.
#4 May: Pancake Breakfast
This involves a short two weeks sales campaign, followed by a half day
event, the actual breakfast. It's good for involving our church and local
community. Scouts earn a 50% commission from each ticket they sell.
#5 June: Concession Stand
DULCIMER FESTIVAL
We have another concession in July at the Gebhard Woods Dulcimer Festival.
This is a combination fundraiser and a free campout. We do funnel cakes,
chicken & veggie wrap sandwiches, sweet corn, etc. The boys enjoy working
at the booth, plus it's a fun festival to attend with a really great crowd.
On Saturday night they have "Cruise Night" in downtown Morris, Illinois
with classic & muscle cars, which the boys really enjoy attending. This is
a working campout which provides a fun/fund event. The boys run the booth.
#6 July: Concession Stand
ELLWOOD HOUSE ART FAIR
We have a concession at the Ellwood House Art Fair. Chicken wraps,
lemon shake ups, sweet corn, etc. No sales campaign, just a half
day event cooking with counter sales, plus we enjoy a fantastic fireworks
display at the end. The boys really enjoy doing this. It's also good
community exposure.
#7 July: Concession Stand
HOPKINS JULY 4 FESTIVAL
We have a concession at our community 4th of July event. Polish sausage,
hot dogs, lemon shake ups, sweet corn, etc. No sales campaign, just a half
day event cooking with counter sales, plus we enjoy a fantastic fireworks
display at the end. The boys really enjoy doing this. It's also good
community exposure.
#8 August: Concession Stand
DEKALB CORNFEST
Late August at the end of the summer we have another concession with funnel
cakes, lemon shake ups, sweet corn, etc. at our local community event,
"DeKalb Corn Fest". Everyone in town shows up plus many from the Chicago
suburbs, about 100,000 people or so. This is our largest single fundraiser
and a great opportunity for community exposure. That was about two weeks
ago and we earned around $3300 with over 40 workers spread out over the
weekend.
#9 August: Concession Stand
DEKALB CAR-FEST
At the end of the summer we have another concession,"DeKalb Car-Fest".
Located at Huntley Park, people from the northern Illinois area show up
with vintage automobiles. We provide a simple food booth with primarily
cold drinks, hot dogs, and polish sausage.
We earned around $350 and
people kept thanking us for being there. This event takes place the same
weekend at DeKalb Cornfest.
We have a very active program with day trips, weekend adventures, mini
tours, summer camp, and high adventure tours. Usually 70-85 activities
per year.
.
IN 2003 WE HAD FOUR EVENTS OVER $100.
These prices were all-inclusive of all expenses except souvenirs.
Aviation Centennial Mini Tour $120
Summer Camp $165
Northeast USA-Canada $250
Southwest USA-Mexico $575
We also had a boy attend Philmont with another troop for a Cavalcade at
$825. He could have done both the Northeast and Southwest tours with us
for the exact same price.
We try to keep prices low, values high, and give each boy a chance to earn
his own way. Boys of all economic levels are active in our program. Any
boy willing to work at our fundraisers can pay his way on any trip.
Summary
We feel this fundraising program gives us balance. Half our fundraisers
depend on boys going out and selling tickets or popcorn to the community.
The other half does not require any advance sales, the customers come to us.
We just work and serve food.
Not all boys like selling things, they just want to work. We split our
concession booth profits among those boys working based on the number of
hours worked.
The sales campaigns rely on a commission earned based on total sales. Boys
can make an unlimited amount of money depending on how much they sell.
We are considering trying to add one more concession event, early in the
summer before the big trips. Since these are short-term commitments of
time and do not require advance sales, they work out very well for older boys.
It's they who have asked for another concession event.
We do have to invest substantial funds in food service equipment, and have
significant start up costs for each concession we do. Basically we equip
and mobilize a small restaurant.
It's a lot of work, but for the boys it also provides challenge, builds
teamwork, develops leadership, etc., you know the drill. We try to use our
fundraisers as we do any Scouting event, to further achieve the aims of
Scouting.
Any boy willing to work can achieve his goals of going on any trip we
offer. Setting goals and achieving them. Our events provide incentive,
our fundraising program provides means. It all works together to achieve
the aims. At least it all seems to work out fairly well for us.