Fundraisers

Fundraising Builds Character

Self-Confidence

This is the number one reason a Scout should participate in fundraising. Parents consistently comment as to how fundraising has helped their child overcome their shyness. They see the growth in a Scout from the time they were a Lion being cute and just asking if someone wants to buy popcorn to the Webelos Scout that knows everything about the product and is not afraid to talk.

Teamwork

Pack 198 offers prizes and Scoutbucks for the top sellers. For example, any Scout who participates in the popcorn fundraiser earns their Pinewood Derby car. On Culver's nights, Scouts work in teams to deliver food to tables. All of individual incentives center on all the Scouts participating in fundraising and doing their part for the team.

Goal Setting

Longs Peak Council and Pack 198 have prizes associated with the popcorn fundraiser, and Pack 198 extends Scoutbuck earning opportunities to the camp card fundraiser as well. If a Scout wants a certain item or dollar amount they have to reach a certain sales goal. By working backwards, Scouts can determine that total amount of items they need to sell to reach their goal.

Time Management

With Goal Setting also comes time management. Once a Scout knows how much they need to sell to reach their goal, they should determine the average sales per hour. This will help them figure out how long it will take to sell the number of containers to reach their goal.

Salesmanship

Whether people want to admit it or not, everybody has to sell. They either have to sell a product or service to a customer or sell themselves when trying to get a job. Knowing how to approach a person they do not know and explain with confidence their product is one part of salesmanship. The other part involves understanding how to overcome an objection from a customer and cross sale additional items. As with everything else in Scouting, fundraisers provide an opportunity for Scouts to make mistakes in a safe environment and learn from them.

Promotes Scouting

Seeing Scouts in uniform throughout a community lets people know that Scouting is still relevant in their area. While we still want people to know about the service projects and other activities Scouts do throughout the year, for many, fundraising is the only time a person will see a Scout face-to-face.

Counting Money

Counting money is a skill. Fundraising is a time that allows Scouts to count currency they may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience. It teaches basic math and identification skills. In addition, it teaches Scouts that they can be trusted with money.

Proper Manners

Fundraising is a perfect opportunity to teach Scouts how to introduce themselves. Saying “Excuse me ma’am/sir”, “Please” and “Thank you” are attributes associated the Scout Law.

Public Speaking

Being able to look a person in the eye with a prepared, memorized script is vital to being successful in many areas of life. However, it is more than that. Public Speaking is about presenting yourself to others. Having a clean, maintained uniform is important as well as proper hygiene. Taking pride in your appearance is part of Public Speaking.

Self-Reliance

It is one thing to have the money to pay for whatever you need. It is another to know that you have earned the money yourself. Scouts take pride in knowing they can ‘fend for themselves’. Scouts also value items more if they have to pay for it themselves.