Fundraising: Fun, Safe AND Successful

1. Fundraising: Fun, Safe AND Successful Bob Germony NE-III-181

2. The scouting experience is greatly enhanced through the use of a professional fundraising (money earning) program which will aide in scouting by providing necessary resources and equipment.� The purpose of this manual is to teach the new or existing leader the fundamentals of fundraising within scouting.� Fundraising is a multiple step process, from planning, to execution, to acknowledgement. This document will guide you through the steps needed to make your fundraising endeavor a success for years to come.� Well rounded scouting programs will require additional income. This usually comes from the sale of a products or a project involving the talents, participation and effort of unit members and families. Policies and procedures are found on the money earning application. A unit�s money-earning methods should reflect scouting�s basic values. Reviewing this guide when planning money-earning projects will help you conform to scouting�s standards.

3. Fundraising Guidelines Getting Started

4. Fundraising Guidelines What is the fundraising need? Remember that individual youth members are expected to earn their own way. The need should be beyond normal budget items covered by dues. Specify the fundraising purpose Identify the fundraising activity Define up-front costs, all expenses involved and expected outcomes Remember the best fundraisers have a specific purpose or need for the troop.

5. Fundraising Guidelines Things to Consider

6. Fundraising Guidelines Is the fundraising activity consistent with scouting values? When fundraising, the name and goodwill of Scouting must be upheld. �Because of Scouting�s good reputation, customers rarely question the quality or price of a product.� � Guides to Unit Money Earning Projects (Form #34427B). If this is taken advantage of, it may harm Scouting; character building and citizenship training of the youth. Customers must find/receive value in the product purchased, function attended, or services received, even when sales are confined to parents and friends so it is critical to consider this when choosing a fundraiser. Commercial products must sell on their own merits, not the benefit received by the Boy Scouts. The good name of Scouting cannot be used to sell a product, traded on, or capitalized on by promoters of shows, benefits or sales campaigns.

7. Fundraising Guidelines A return on sales to a unit or to council for advertising a product is not permitted. The good name of scouting cannot be used for advertising by a local business. A local business cannot give back a monetary amount based on sales it makes. For example, for every widget sold, troop x will get 25 cents. Activities involving gambling, selling raffle tickets, lotteries, bingo or other games of chance are not permitted per BSA (Boy Scouts of America) Rules and Regulations. Pyramid schemes are not permitted to be used for fundraising Fundraising must avoid solicitation of money or gifts. The BSA Rules and Regulation state, �Youth members shall not be permitted to serve as solicitors of money for their chartered organizations, for the local council, or in support of other organizations. Adult and youth members shall not be permitted to serve as solicitors of money in support of personal or unit participation in local, national, or international events.� For example: Scouts and leaders should not identify themselves as scouts or as a troop participate in the Salvation Army�s Christmas Bell Ringing Program. This would be raising money for another organization. � Guides to Unit Money Earning Projects (Form #34427B).

8. Fundraising Guidelines Is it a Youth Activity?

9. Fundraising Guidelines Fundraising should be a learning activity in which youth learn self-reliance; how to represent themselves well to others while honestly earning the money they need to pay their own way. This is an important part of youth training. Youth must be capable of doing the fundraiser. Fundraising dollar goals and commitments must be reasonable and attainable.

10. Fundraising Guidelines Will Youth be Safe?

11. Fundraising Guidelines Youth must be safe while engaging in fundraising activities When youth go into the community to earn their own way, as well as others, the following safety tips apply: ALWAYS sell in pairs accompanied by an adult NEVER sell after dark unless you are with an adult Do NOT carry large amounts of cash with you Do NOT enter anyone�s home ALWAYS walk on the sidewalk and driveway; do NOT cut through the yard Watch for traffic and obey traffic laws ALWAYS act like a Scout and be polite and courteous

12. Fundraising Guidelines Keep in Mind (Contracts)

13. Fundraising Guidelines �If any contracts are to be signed in your unit, will they be signed by an individual, without reference to the Boy Scouts of America and without binding the local council, the Boy Scouts of America, or the chartered organization? Before any person in your unit signs a contract, he must make sure the venture is legitimate and worthy. If a contract is signed, he is personally responsible. He may not sign on behalf of the local council or the Boy Scouts of America, nor may he bind the chartered organization without its written authorization. If you are not sure, check with our district executive for help.� � Guides to Unit Money Earning Projects (Form #34427B)

14. Fundraising Guidelines Obtain Unit Committee and Charter Organization Approval

15. Fundraising Guidelines Your fundraising activity should avoid competition with your chartered organization, other units, your local council and the United Way. Check with your chartered organization representative and your district executive to make certain that your chartered organization and the council agree on the dates and type of fundraiser; that the activities do not conflict with functions of the Chartered Organization, other scouting units or local organizations. Your Unit AND Chartered Organization should review and approve the fundraising project. Ensure that the fundraising activities will not harm local business or anyone�s livelihood.

16. Fundraising Guidelines Submit a Unit Money-Earning Application

17. Fundraising Guidelines �The local council is responsible for upholding the Charter and By-laws and the Rules and Regulations of the BSA. To ensure compliance, all unit fundraisers MUST OBTAIN WRITTEN APPROVAL from the local council NO LESS THAN 14 DAYS before the fundraising activity. � � Guides to Unit Money Earning Projects (Form #34427B) BEFORE beginning any fundraising activities, the Unit Money-Earning Application must be completed and submitted to the Council scout office. The Unit Money-Earning Application serves as a checklist to assist in the preparation of fundraising activities Upon submission to the local council, the Unit Money-Earning Application begins the review process to ensure that the fundraising activities meet Scouting standards.

18. Fundraising Guidelines Money earning Application found at: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34427.pdf

19. Fundraising Guidelines Conducting the Fundraising Event

20. Fundraising Guidelines Now the �Fun� in Fundraising begins! It�s time to plan the actual event. With your fundraising activities outlined: purpose, type of event and time frame, you now need to: Designate responsibilities for each aspect of the fundraiser to scout youth and leaders Identify and obtain the materials needed to conduct the Fundraiser Plan the logistics of carrying out the fundraising activities

21. Fundraising Guidelines Train or practice the activities that will be needed to conduct the fundraiser so that everyone knows what to do and how to do it Execute! On the day or time frame of the fundraising event, put the plan into action and FUNDRAISE! Evaluate your performance during planning and execution. Then review your performance and learn how to do better for the next fundraising event

22. Fundraising Guidelines When may uniforms be worn? (While Fundraising)

23. Fundraising Guidelines The official uniform is intended to be worn primarily for use in connection with Scouting activities. However, council executive boards may approve use of the uniform for any fundraising activity. Uniforms may NOT be worn when selling commercial products such as cookies, candy, doughnuts, or anything that is not an official council-sponsored products. Uniforms may NOT be worn when selling tickets to a non-scouting event such as a community dance or sporting event. Uniforms may be worn when selling council-sponsored sales programs such as, council popcorn sales and council scout show candy sales. Youth in Scout uniform may sell tickets in the name of scouting for such things as Pack shows, Troop suppers, Scout expositions, Troop car washes, Council sponsored sports games

24. Fundraising Guidelines Accountability

25. Fundraising Guidelines Remember that the unit belongs to the Chartered Organization, not the Boy Scouts of America, and is ultimately responsible for the finances and outcome of your unit. The unit Committee is responsible for the accounting of all goods, services and monies for a unit�s fundraising activities. The committee may assign others to plan and coordinate the project�s operations, but all funds spent or collected must be controlled and accounted for by the committee by doing the following: All funds spent or collected must pass through the unit�s bank account. The committee assigned unit treasurer handles this. All funds collected while fundraising must be recorded and deposited in a timely manner. Expenses should be paid by check whenever possible, after verification of receipt of goods or services.

26. Fundraising Guidelines A financial report that summarizes the outcome of fundraising activities is to be submitted to the Unit Committee for review and approval. It may also be provided to the unit�s Unit Commissioner. All legitimate expenses should be paid when due In the event of the dissolution of a unit or the loss of a charter, the Unit Committee must apply funds and property to the payment of unit obligations and must turn over the surplus, to the local council.

27. Fundraising Guidelines Evaluation

28. Fundraising Guidelines The evaluation step in fundraising is by far one of the most important parts to a successful program. Before, during and after any fundraising event it is critical to assess your actions every step of the way. Reviewing as you go along will help you to correct future problems for the event, but more importantly becomes a learning experience as you develop and conduct future fundraising activities.

29. Fundraising Ideas

30. Product Sales Consider selling a product in which the organization gains a percentage of each sale.

31. Food Sales Choose a busy spot or a craft fair or festival and check ahead with business owners, the police and health department about permits and food regulations.

32. Garage Sales You�ll make more money if your goods are clean and well displayed. Tag clothing with size labels, and make sure prices are clearly marked.

33. Annual Sales Restrict your sales to either books or clothing and hold the sale at the same time each year. Plan ahead to get a good location and publicize the event. If you have a good spot for storage, you can collect donations year round.

34. Sponsored Events In a walk-a-thon or bike-a-thon, for example, a group of people commit to participating in the event and then ask family, friends, and local businesses to sponsor them for a certain amount of money (such as 50 cents a mile). Choose a safe route and check it first with the police. You�ll need to prepare sponsor forms with the name and address of the group, the purpose of the event, the date and time, and the route. Also include columns for the sponsor�s name, address, and amount pledged per mile (establish a minimum). Encourage local athletic groups to participate.

35. Chores and Odd Jobs Have all your members spend a Saturday cleaning, painting, raking leaves, or putting up storm windows. Advertise ahead of time and schedule as many jobs as possible.

36. Recycling Many communities have recycling facilities that will pay you for cans, bottles, or other items.

37. Requesting Goods or Donations Another kind of fundraising effort is to ask for something other than money. Ask print shops, typesetters, or art supply stores if they will give you a discount. Ask local businesses to donate new or used office equipment, a computer, a VCR, or movie tickets or other products that may be used in an annual sale. Ask a Web design firm to do pro bono work for your group. Send each business an individualized request describing your group and its goals and asking for a specific item or service. Being tax-exempt may encourage donations.

38. Miscellaneous Have a car wash, have a talent show, sell plates for a breakfast or dinner event� use your imagination!

39. Works Cited "Guidelines for Unit Fundraising." Rip Van Winkle Council - BSA. http://www.rvwbsa.org/fileupload/UnitFundraising.pdf (accessed May 7, 2008). "How to Fundraise - Fifteen Ways to Fundraise." Helping Animals. http://www.helpinganimals.com/ga_fundraise.asp (accessed May 7, 2008). Lehman, Zimmerman. "Fifteen Rules of Fundraising." www.zimmerman-lehman.com. 2008. http://www.zimmerman-lehman.com/max_12.htm (accessed May 7, 2008). "Unit Money-Earning Application." Boy Scouts of America National Council. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34427.pdf (accessed May 7, 2008).

40. The EndThank You