Boy Scout and Cub Scout Fundraising Ideas

For over a century, the Boy Scouts of America has provided a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness. Like all other organizations, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts need fundraising to support both their own programs and those of other charities.   All scout fundraising events are required to be authorized by the Boy Scouts of America through the use of a Unit Money-Earning Application. Part of the guidelines is that units must ensure that their is value given for value received. This is why raffles are never approved fundraisers for example.  In other words, units must provide some kind of good or service for the money, good, or service they receive.

One of the biggest decisions faced is often deciding what type of fundraiser to do. A Boy Scout Troop in Southington, CT, held a flamingo flocking fundraiser to cover troop expenses. In St. Petersburg, VA, Boy Scout Troop 100 conducts an annual car wash fundraiser. Every Spring, Troop 348 in Cannonshire Community, CT, sell and spread mulch as their annual fundraiser.  Fundraisers by other Boy Scout Troops and Cub Scout Packs include flag subscription services, cardboard boat races, clothing drives, pancake breakfasts, can & bottle drives, carwashes and product sales of all kinds such as such as first aid kits, doughnuts, candy bars, cookie dough, flower bulbs, cutlery, and mulch.

Check out our complete list of fundraising products and do-it-yourself fundraising ideas for your next Boy Scout and Cub Scout fundraiser.

You can also choose from a wide variety of Boy Scout and Cub Scout DIY fundraising ideas to supplement your programs. How about a don’t come event, toilet seat toss, goblin insurance, pass the can, womanless beauty pageant, or thons of every type?  Perhaps you can adapt one of these creative DIY fundraiser events to suit your needs:

Bike Scavenger Hunt – This is great exercise and a great fundraiser both. Individuals and teams (consisting of 3 to 5 riders) will be given a list of at least 35 sites/things around town to be photographed. Points will be assigned to each photo. Each participant must furnish their own digital camera with picture review capability (Bring extra batteries!). The hunt should last three or four hours. Read more…

Flamingo Flocking – All you need for this fundraiser is 10 pink plastic flamingos (lawn decorations). Pick 10 yards in your community to be the lucky recipients. Attach cards to the flamingoes’ necks with a phone number along with all the pertinent information regarding your group. State that for a $10 donation, the flamingos will be removed but for $15 they will be moved to the lawn of their choice. Read more…

Seeds to Grow – Instead of asking for donations from your members and supporters or selling a specific product or service, consider giving money away! This fundraiser relies on your volunteers and supporters individual ideas, talents, dedication, and their willingness to do something special for your organization. Each individual raises funds in a manner that interests them. How does it work? Your organization provides a small amount of “seed money” to each participant – $5 to $20 – and challenges them to use the money and their ingenuity to raise funds. Read more…