Hey everyone,

Our troop's popcorn sales have been dropping for the last three years. The competition is fierce, and frankly, people are just burnt out on buying expensive snacks. We needed to raise funds for some upcoming Venturing field trips and new camping gear, but as you all know, BSA rules restrict direct solicitation, which makes finding alternative fundraisers a massive headache.

I recently went down a rabbit hole of research (including a really helpful breakdown from the Donorbox blog) and tested a few alternative ideas.

If your troop needs to raise money without breaking BSA compliance, here are 5 high-yield ideas that we found actually work right now, broken down by effort vs. reward:

1. The "Flag Subscription" Route (High Yield, Low Ongoing Effort)

• How it works: Instead of selling a product, sell a service. Community members pay a flat fee (e.g., $30–$50/year) and your scouts put up and take down a U.S. flag in their yard for 6 or 7 major patriotic holidays.
• Why it works: It perfectly aligns with Scout values. We set up a simple subscription page using Donorbox, which automatically charged their cards annually so we didn't have to chase people for cash. The only overhead is buying the initial flags.

2. First Aid Kit Sales (Moderate Yield, High Relevancy)

• How it works: Scouts sell standard first-aid kits door-to-door or at community events. You can buy them wholesale for around $5 and sell them for $10 to $15.
• Why it works: Every family and car needs one. It naturally ties into the First Aid merit badge and Scout preparedness.

3. Troop "Skills Show" & Dinner (High Yield, Heavy Effort)

• How it works: Host a community dinner (pancake breakfast, pork roast, etc.) combined with a skills exhibition. Scouts demonstrate knot tying, first aid, and outdoor cooking.
• Why it works: People are much more willing to give when they see the direct impact of scouting on the youth. You can sell event tickets online beforehand and have a donation jar at the door. It doubles as a great recruitment event for new scouts.

4. Recyclables Collection Drive (Low Yield, Zero Risk)

• How it works: Leave flyers around the neighborhood asking for bottles and cans, stating a specific pickup time. Scouts go around, collect the items, and take them to a recycling center for cash.
• Why it works: It promotes environmental stewardship and costs absolutely nothing to start. It’s a great way to teach younger scouts the value of hard work.

5. "Acts of Kindness" Campaign (Moderate Yield, High Community Impact)

• How it works: Instead of a walk-a-thon, host a "serve-a-thon." Scouts pledge to do specific acts of kindness or community service (cleaning up a park, helping at a local library) and community members sponsor them based on the hours worked or projects completed.
• Why it works: It leans heavily into the Scout Oath to help other people at all times.

What is working for your troops?

Before we lock in our Fall fundraising schedule, I want to know what is actually working for you all right now.

thanks