Looking for $ Saving & Fundraising Ideas....Please Help???

[collins0616]

Maybe I missed something, but I didn't see the age of your girls. What about a babysitting night? NYE would have been great, but too late notice at this point. But maybe Valentine's Day? You could also organize a huge yardsale for the spring. A pancake breakfast or spaghetti dinner go over big in our area, too.

Have you applied for Wider Ops? That provides a little money per girl for the troop. Then you can turn around and apply for scholarship funds for the girls to offset some of the cost.

As for out-of-state travel... we are a NC based troop. We have traveled to SC and VA without any issue. We are currently planning a May trip to visit Dollywood in TN.

Our girls range from K-5th grade. Most all will have family going, so it wont be so much of an issue with the little ones.

I was a girl scout for 10 years when I was younger, but things have changed so much since then. How are Wider Ops different now? and What about scholorship funds? I know nothing about this, can you give me more info on both?
I am an assistant leader/cookie mom. This all came about because of course at our cookie mtg, when asked what they want to do with the money they earn (so we could set goals) they all said WDW cause none of the 23 girls have ever been except my dd. I know we wont make enough money off cookie sales so I am doing everything I can do to come up with as most accurate amount that it would cost and our leader and myself are sitting down next week to discuss if it is feasible to be able to come up with the funds in time. I have many parents who are willing to do what ever is ask of them. Since the girls can only do 2 fundraisers outside of cookie/fall product sales, then the parents can do fundraisers and donate the money to the troop.

You will love Dollywood and the Mountains! We live about 100 miles south and its absolutely beautiful. There are lots of fun things to do at the parks as well that could be incorporated into badge work.

 

[collins0616]

Personally, for my own dd's troop or if I was going to participate/contribute toward another troop's fundraising for something that is just a very expensive and for fun field trip, it would have to be something that the girls actually do the work to get paid for. So, for example, a raffle where the parents solicit all the gifts and the girls just walk around with tickets isn't real 'work', IMO - so I wouldn't contribute. However, if it was for an actual charity that was going to help people in need - I would do that. For just for fun things - it has to be actual work - like raking leaves or shoveling driveways. Obviously a trip to WDW is going to be fun (yes - you'll likely throw one or two things in there that are supposed to be educational, but it is fun) - so I think the real 'lesson' that a girl scout should be learning for this to happen is how to work hard to earn/save for things that you want to do.

Think about it - many, many people can't afford WDW trips...but have to work hard, put in extra hours and just get good and tired to try to save for it. Just because they're girl scouts doesn't make them any different than these folks.

Good luck.

I can fully appreciate your opinion on this. I think our girls work hard all year long. Some of the things they have done since school started is fundraising for candy and magazines to send to our local active duty military serving over seas, and will do that again with cookie sales. They recycle news papers and soda cans, for Christmas they collected and donated stocking stuffers for children in our local area for Christmas. Many of them are working on other community service projects like collecting (and couponing) for our local church's food pantry, volunteering (collecting/couponing for animal items) at the animal shelter, and on and on. These girls work hard all year long and give to others and now is the time for them to do something fun (and educational and associated with girl scouting at the same time). I feel like they work so hard throughout the year giving to others (which is what scouting is all about) but they also need to be taught to take some time for themselves as well.

 

[collins0616]

I see, this is different.

You need to be careful that you go about any fundraisers without breaking any of the rules.

For example : If you are going to do a pancake fundraiser, your tickets/flyer should NOT say Troop xxx, it should be worded very carefully.

It should say something more like Pancake breakfast is being sponsored by Parents of local youth organization, all proceeds will be donated to the group.

If this is the direction you have to go, I would advise you to be very careful using the Girl Scout name sake for any of the activities.

Yes, I will keep that in mind. Thanks for that!

 

[msmayor]

Our girls range from K-5th grade. Most all will have family going, so it wont be so much of an issue with the little ones.

I was a girl scout for 10 years when I was younger, but things have changed so much since then. How are Wider Ops different now? and What about scholorship funds? I know nothing about this, can you give me more info on both?
I am an assistant leader/cookie mom. This all came about because of course at our cookie mtg, when asked what they want to do with the money they earn (so we could set goals) they all said WDW cause none of the 23 girls have ever been except my dd. I know we wont make enough money off cookie sales so I am doing everything I can do to come up with as most accurate amount that it would cost and our leader and myself are sitting down next week to discuss if it is feasible to be able to come up with the funds in time. I have many parents who are willing to do what ever is ask of them. Since the girls can only do 2 fundraisers outside of cookie/fall product sales, then the parents can do fundraisers and donate the money to the troop.

You will love Dollywood and the Mountains! We live about 100 miles south and its absolutely beautiful. There are lots of fun things to do at the parks as well that could be incorporated into badge work.

If this is truly what the girls want to do, then the GIRLS need to earn the money. Part of the GS process is the girls LEARNING how to budget and provide the funds for the activities they want to do.

Expensive? Yes. They learn how to work hard and sacrifice other activities to reach their goal. If their parents do the fund raising they are essentially 'handed' a trip to Disney, and its not the same.

 

[collins0616]

So Im guessing the girls' parents are NOT paying? Or what percentage are they paying? Maybe plan it for NEXT May so the parents could help with a portion of it. Or if you want to go this may explain that they need to pay for a portion and they can make payments. THat way the girls as a troop dont have to come up with alot of money.

I do like the idea of a pancake breakfast. The Valentines day thing would be better if all the girls were older. Maybe a Carwash in the spring or a yardsale

I would like to be able to raise enough funds to pay for the girls ticket to the Girl Scout event and their lodging. It is over Memorial Weekend 2012. It is a celebration of the 100 years of Scouting. Worse case I would only want their families to have to pay for food & souveniers. If the families would like to go it will cost them the same as the girls since they will be part of the group, which will make it more affordable for them to be able to go if they want to.

 

[collins0616]

There is a Girl Scout event being held at Disney in May 2012. I'm guessing that the OP's troop is hoping to be at it. So scheduling the trip for 2013 is not an option.

And the OP stated that the parents will be doing the fundraising and donating the proceeds to the troop. But I would still caution her about this. Our council would like nothing better than to get their hands on a large portion of any cash donations made to a troop. It sounds like she's trying to work around the "2 fundraiser" rule. That could come back to blow up in her face.

Yes this is correct. If need be the parents will fundraise and pay for their childs attendance. If enough parents attend this would be considered a family outing, so then we wouldnt have to even run it through the council. I know there is alot of red tape, I am just trying to reward my girls for working hard for others all year long. I am already thinking that enough parents will attend that we will be going as families.

 

[collins0616]

If this is truly what the girls want to do, then the GIRLS need to earn the money. Part of the GS process is the girls LEARNING how to budget and provide the funds for the activities they want to do.

Expensive? Yes. They learn how to work hard and sacrifice other activities to reach their goal. If their parents do the fund raising they are essentially 'handed' a trip to Disney, and its not the same.

I understand that, and they will work hard for it. They have cookie sales, plus 2 other fundraisers they can do to earn money, but I am looking for back up ideas incase those dont earn enough. I can see in my head now how crushed they would be to work so hard to earn money and it not be enough and parents not being able to afford the difference. I just can not bring myself to potentially crush a childs hopes and dreams like that, ya know? We do have several girls in our troop that would not be able to afford any additional costs except a few small souveniers.

Its going to cost about $150-$200 per girl depending on if we add in a 2nd Yes program. That amount covers admission to Epcot for the Girl Scout Celebration and on Cultural YES program. Additional Yes programs are $26. If we stay on property our room rate will be $93 per night (after tax) but with that many I think it will be easier to rent houses with kitchens. It will Im sure be cheaper and we can cook most all meals (and pack lunch) to cut down on food costs. And then we have transportation.

 

[collins0616]

I appreciate all the comments, insights, and heads ups. If you have any ideas on cutting costs for a group or any ideas other ideas for sucessful fundraisers please let us know.

 

[mommyof3princess27]

I would like to be able to raise enough funds to pay for the girls ticket to the Girl Scout event and their lodging. It is over Memorial Weekend 2012. It is a celebration of the 100 years of Scouting. Worse case I would only want their families to have to pay for food & souveniers. If the families would like to go it will cost them the same as the girls since they will be part of the group, which will make it more affordable for them to be able to go if they want to.

Ok gotcha. I thought it was an event held every year but that makes much more sense. Maybe you could call disney and get a discount on a block of rooms. they can give you a price. I think they discount it a little bit

 

[msmayor]

I understand that, and they will work hard for it. They have cookie sales, plus 2 other fundraisers they can do to earn money, but I am looking for back up ideas incase those dont earn enough. I can see in my head now how crushed they would be to work so hard to earn money and it not be enough and parents not being able to afford the difference. I just can not bring myself to potentially crush a childs hopes and dreams like that, ya know? We do have several girls in our troop that would not be able to afford any additional costs except a few small souveniers.

Its going to cost about $150-$200 per girl depending on if we add in a 2nd Yes program. That amount covers admission to Epcot for the Girl Scout Celebration and on Cultural YES program. Additional Yes programs are $26. If we stay on property our room rate will be $93 per night (after tax) but with that many I think it will be easier to rent houses with kitchens. It will Im sure be cheaper and we can cook most all meals (and pack lunch) to cut down on food costs. And then we have transportation.

Don't get me wrong...I see where your heart is in a good place. But then do it outside of scouts completely. Yes, they're young...but the purpose of the program is to teach reaching goals and getting the reward at the end.

If they don't reach their goal of earning the money themselves, what do they learn? That someone else will bail them out. That it doesn't matter if we don't earn the money...someone else will give it to us.

I also believe that ANY time you involve the parents this much in coming up with the money you risk problems with the parents who are able to help/earn MORE than other parents, and who feel that Jane Doe shouldn't get to go because her mom and dad didn't help enough with the 'parent' fundraising.

 

[collins0616]

If this is truly what the girls want to do, then the GIRLS need to earn the money. Part of the GS process is the girls LEARNING how to budget and provide the funds for the activities they want to do.

Expensive? Yes. They learn how to work hard and sacrifice other activities to reach their goal. If their parents do the fund raising they are essentially 'handed' a trip to Disney, and its not the same.

I guess I should have worded my OP and provided more info. I am looking for lots of ideas to provide the girls to let them vote on the 2 fundraisers that they can do outside of cookie sales. If need be and they are not able to raise enough funds, I would like to give the parents some ideas to help raise the additional funds needed.
Does this make more sense?

 

[collins0616]

Ok gotcha. I thought it was an event held every year but that makes much more sense. Maybe you could call disney and get a discount on a block of rooms. they can give you a price. I think they discount it a little bit

They have alotted a block of rooms at Sports and CB for all girl scouts. The discounted rates are $89 & $150 plus tax. Considering the fact that we will have to have a minimum of 7-9 rooms for the girls and chaperones that will be $650-$850 per night. Even at that rate I still think its gonna be cheaper to rent houses/condos. If more than a couple parents go, we will definately have to have a ton more rooms.

 

[collins0616]

Don't get me wrong...I see where your heart is in a good place. But then do it outside of scouts completely. Yes, they're young...but the purpose of the program is to teach reaching goals and getting the reward at the end.

If they don't reach their goal of earning the money themselves, what do they learn? That someone else will bail them out. That it doesn't matter if we don't earn the money...someone else will give it to us.

I also believe that ANY time you involve the parents this much in coming up with the money you risk problems with the parents who are able to help/earn MORE than other parents, and who feel that Jane Doe shouldn't get to go because her mom and dad didn't help enough with the 'parent' fundraising.

Oh yes, I have already thought about that, because we do have some of those in our troop who are all about helping until the time comes lol. It will be made very clear to parents & girls that if you dont participate then you dont get any money toward your trip!

Apparently this is going to have to be an 'out of scouts' trip and just a family get together/outing. But thats ok. Then no one is pressured to go/help/come up with money.

 

[msmayor]

I guess I should have worded my OP and provided more info. I am looking for lots of ideas to provide the girls to let them vote on the 2 fundraisers that they can do outside of cookie sales. If need be and they are not able to raise enough funds, I would like to give the parents some ideas to help raise the additional funds needed.
Does this make more sense?

What you say makes sense in that I understand what you are trying to do...get these girls to WDW in May. I just think that by allowing and/or encouraging the parents to do their own fund raising it breaks the spirit of what a Girl Scout activity is all about. Expecting and/or encouraging their families to attend the trip (in my opinion) also negates it as a Girl Scout activity and makes it sound more like you are trying as a large group to raise money to fund a trip to Disney.

When I was a scout and a leader, we were of the mindset that the activities were for the girls...not their families. Going away independently allowed them to mature and learn independence, even at a young age. Families couldn't 'tag along' and participate.

 

[msmayor]

Oh yes, I have already thought about that, because we do have some of those in our troop who are all about helping until the time comes lol. It will be made very clear to parents & girls that if you dont participate then you dont get any money toward your trip!

Apparently this is going to have to be an 'out of scouts' trip and just a family get together/outing. But thats ok. Then no one is pressured to go/help/come up with money.

If you take that direction then its crystal clear that you cannot and should not AT ALL use Girl Scout money for this trip. Not a single dime.

You can't restrict a girl's participation in an activity because she didn't raise any money or her family didn't kick in.

 

[ceecee]

Our council is very strict as well with fundraisers (as it should be). Nuts and cookies are the big ones here. We also have a lot of rules (Safety Wise) about girl to adult ratio as well as sleeping arrangements. I had to jump through hoops to take my girls an hour away from home since it was in another state. Before doing anything, check it out with your council. I remember another troop in our area did a holiday raffle for an AG doll at a craft festival and they sold snacks, it wasn't allowed and all the $ had to be returned.

 

[Marionnette]

Oh yes, I have already thought about that, because we do have some of those in our troop who are all about helping until the time comes lol. It will be made very clear to parents & girls that if you dont participate then you dont get any money toward your trip!

Apparently this is going to have to be an 'out of scouts' trip and just a family get together/outing. But thats ok. Then no one is pressured to go/help/come up with money.

One thing that they impressed upon us, when I was a leader, is that you cannot exclude a girl from an activity just because she did not fund raise or she did not raise enough during fundraising. All money brought in during fundraising becomes the property of the whole troop. It doesn''t matter if Sally sold 12 cases of Thin Mints and Susie sold one box.

And I'm sorry, but if this becomes an "out of scouts" trip, then you shouldn't be fundraising at all. Each family should pay for their own expenses out of their own pockets and shouldn't be soliciting funds in the name of the Girl Scouts or the troop.

 

[mommyof3princess27]

I understand that, and they will work hard for it. They have cookie sales, plus 2 other fundraisers they can do to earn money, but I am looking for back up ideas incase those dont earn enough. I can see in my head now how crushed they would be to work so hard to earn money and it not be enough and parents not being able to afford the difference. I just can not bring myself to potentially crush a childs hopes and dreams like that, ya know? We do have several girls in our troop that would not be able to afford any additional costs except a few small souveniers.

Its going to cost about $150-$200 per girl depending on if we add in a 2nd Yes program. That amount covers admission to Epcot for the Girl Scout Celebration and on Cultural YES program. Additional Yes programs are $26. If we stay on property our room rate will be $93 per night (after tax) but with that many I think it will be easier to rent houses with kitchens. It will Im sure be cheaper and we can cook most all meals (and pack lunch) to cut down on food costs. And then we have transportation.

Thats not at all bad. Explore all options....onsite w/dining and offsite without

 

[clanmcculloch]

Yes this is correct. If need be the parents will fundraise and pay for their childs attendance. If enough parents attend this would be considered a family outing, so then we wouldnt have to even run it through the council. I know there is alot of red tape, I am just trying to reward my girls for working hard for others all year long. I am already thinking that enough parents will attend that we will be going as families.

If you don't run it through council then how will you use the cookie money that was raised? If this isn't a scout trip then that would basically be considered stealing from the troop. The money doesn't belong to the individual girls or the leaders; it belongs to the troop to be used for troop activities and supplies. I thought this came about because you as a troop were discussing what to do with the cookie money?

Check the rules for taking girls that young out of state, even with parents, as a GS trip.

I haven't looked into the GS 100 year party at WDW because my troop will definitely not be able to come up with that kind of money before then and we've told our girls in no uncertain terms that if they want to travel then THEY have to come up with ideas for fundraising and do the work to raise the money. What I'm wondering though is if you can even register for that event as individuals and not as a troop? If you're registering as a troop, will you need to go through your council? And of course that then brings you back to being restricted to GS rules for fundraisers and donations.

I suspect this is a much bigger task that you've taken on than you realized.

ETA: I just want to make it clear I'm not throwing ANY accusations your way. I'm just making sure you are actually aware of the ramifications of whatever decisions you make as it seems as though you're still in the early stages of researching this and may not have considered a lot of different issues. This is a HUGE undertaking.

 

[collins0616]

What you say makes sense in that I understand what you are trying to do...get these girls to WDW in May. I just think that by allowing and/or encouraging the parents to do their own fund raising it breaks the spirit of what a Girl Scout activity is all about. Expecting and/or encouraging their families to attend the trip (in my opinion) also negates it as a Girl Scout activity and makes it sound more like you are trying as a large group to raise money to fund a trip to Disney.

When I was a scout and a leader, we were of the mindset that the activities were for the girls...not their families. Going away independently allowed them to mature and learn independence, even at a young age. Families couldn't 'tag along' and participate.

I completely understand what you are saying. But because we have to have more than our 3 leaders attend as per our safety guidelines we will have to have more adults. There will be alot of the parents that will not be able to go anyways due to taking time off work. We do have 3 daisys that are only 5 years old, and I dont think that girls of those ages will be able to be away from their families for 7 days, A weekend maybe? but we are a days drive from Orlando so we have to have 2 extra travel days. These will probably account for some of the extra adults that are required by GSA to attend as chaperones.

Girl Scouts are currently planning a trip to DC for a Rock the Mall event and many were interested in going, but they had to have their money in starting in November and the trip is in June. We didnt have time to plan as we found out about 5 weeks before the 1st payment was due. It is only 3 days and will cost them $500. I feel like this is a better value and we have more time to plan. They will spend 3 of the 5 days at Disney participating in the celebration and doing YES programs and badge work. The other 2 days will be fun days and badge work.