The ninth point of the Boy Scout Law is “A Scout is Thrifty”, and the first phrase in the Scout Handbook’s definition of that law reads, “A Scout works to pay his own way and to help others.”
Our fundraising activities help us to keep the cost of our program down by paying for all of our equipment, the badges we present, expenses related to our courts of honor, some administrative costs like making copies and postage, and occasionally to cover cost overruns on our outings. Overall, we spend over $10,000 per year on these types of items, and we need to do fundraising to pay for them.
- We conduct four fundraisers a year: Between them we can raise more than the $10,000 we need, but only with the support and effort of all our members.
- Hoagie Coupons: We sell hoagie coupons from Wawa which are redeemable at any local store for a shortie hoagie. The coupons sell for $4 and every sale helps support the Troop’s program. Our goal is to sell 2000 of them each year.
- Popcorn: We participate in the National Boy Scouts of America popcorn sale. We keep about 35% of our sales. This fundraising effort also helps support the local council program and resources available to the Troop.
- 5K Trail Run: We held our first trail run in 2014, and it was a great success! Each of our Scouts and families should plan to either participate or volunteer in this key fundraiser each October.
- Pancake Breakfast: In 2017, the patrol leader council decided to add a new fundraising opportunity. The pancake breakfast coincides with the Trail Run in October and was a great fellowship time and helped with the Troop financial support. We’re looking forward to many years of this fun and rewarding event.
- All Scouts should help: They’re helping to pay their own way, helping others in their patrol, and helping Scouts with financial need
- Distribution of Funds: Recent IRS findings have clarified that fundraising can’t be used to provide individual benefit. In other words, we’re not permitted to credit a percentage of raised funds back to individual Scouts to offset their own expenses. However, we are permitted to use the funds to lower the cost of the program for the group. As a result, our Troop recently adopted a fundraising policy that allocates funds to patrols for program and gear of their choosing. The remainder is applied to Troop expenses and camperships for Scouts with financial need