Fundraising

[jake_WVFD17]

What all do you do for fundraising for your junior program, and what all do you spend the money on? I know that we can work concessions at the movie theater and get I think 10% (not exactly sure) of the profit which was about $90 dollars a weekend I made for another group I am involved in. Any other ideas you have would be appreciated because the assistant chief wants me to talk at the next meeting to the whole department.

[AndrewR]

What all do you do for fundraising for your junior program, and what all do you spend the money on? I know that we can work concessions at the movie theater and get I think 10% (not exactly sure) of the profit which was about $90 dollars a weekend I made for another group I am involved in. Any other ideas you have would be appreciated because the assistant chief wants me to talk at the next meeting to the whole department.

We used to do a coin drop out side of our local grocery store, the money would go to such things as well we did a yearly dinner for the families to go to and see a slideshow, some minimal awards for it, announcing that years officers just stuff like that. We would also make donations to charities I want to say and do not quote me on this but we donated some money to the red cross when Katrina hit. If you need any help or suggestions let me know.
Andrew

[jake_WVFD17]

We used to do a coin drop out side of our local grocery store, the money would go to such things as well we did a yearly dinner for the families to go to and see a slideshow, some minimal awards for it, announcing that years officers just stuff like that. We would also make donations to charities I want to say and do not quote me on this but we donated some money to the red cross when Katrina hit. If you need any help or suggestions let me know.
Andrew

I mean to raise money for our junior program not to charities. Not saying that is a bad thing, it is just that the city will not allow the FD to spend money on some of the things we want to do, so we are going to have to raise money ourselves for it.

[AndrewR]

I mean to raise money for our junior program not to charities. Not saying that is a bad thing, it is just that the city will not allow the FD to spend money on some of the things we want to do, so we are going to have to raise money ourselves for it.

Do a coin drop, car wash any of that stuff just be creative with it and make sure you tell people when they are donating exactly what an explorer post is and does. IF you do a coin drop or car wash you will have success with it we did it 2 years in a row that was our 2 fundraisers a year and we did them for 1 weekend a piece a few months apart change may not seem like a lot but it adds up quick we would take in anywhere from 500-1000 dollars a year off the coin drop and a couple hundred from the car wash. You guys as explorers need to be enthusiastic about it. As for what we did with it by donating our money we did that because we had extra everyone had what they needed so we gave some away to help out a worthy cause. You guys and girls just need to be creative with it as I said start small do a coin drop get that going then maybe try a car wash I think we asked for like a $5 donation for most cars and $10 for pick up trucks just to cover the expenses of the soap and sponges then after that everything was just money in the bank and it adds up quick if you have a town that is aware of the program and wants to support it and knows that you exist and what your training for. Thats where to start if you need more help figuring out what to do or how to arrange anything just ask.

Andrew

[jake_WVFD17]

The problem with the car wash for my program is that I am the only junior around for anything, and very few people are interested in joining. But I like the coin drop idea, and I might be able to convince the department to let the juniors get some money for helping out during the breakfast feed we have. Because we are there helping too, but that money goes to the association for equipment and stuff for FFs, not juniors. They make enough profit to maybe give us maybe 25%, and they still have $5000ish profit. But I can see where some of the FFs would argue that, but at this point I am fine with anything.

[kenyon]

The problem with the car wash for my program is that I am the only junior around for anything, and very few people are interested in joining. But I like the coin drop idea, and I might be able to convince the department to let the juniors get some money for helping out during the breakfast feed we have. Because we are there helping too, but that money goes to the association for equipment and stuff for FFs, not juniors. They make enough profit to maybe give us maybe 25%, and they still have $5000ish profit. But I can see where some of the FFs would argue that, but at this point I am fine with anything.

srroy your program dose not have many maembers my recomandition would be do not do a fundraser when we do are's we never make money we lose it. Also we do not have a funding issue in are program any more b.c. the chef of are dprt. is in full suport of use and we even have are own bugget so i wuld say just what till things get bettter and then talk to your addvisoers.

[AndrewR]

srroy your program dose not have many maembers my recomandition would be do not do a fundraser when we do are's we never make money we lose it. Also we do not have a funding issue in are program any more b.c. the chef of are dprt. is in full suport of use and we even have are own bugget so i wuld say just what till things get bettter and then talk to your addvisoers.

Okay for number 1 Grammar and Spelling. You need to understand that not everybody is as lucky as you and they do not have departments that are willing to give them money. As for your post not having active membership willing to do some fundraising then thats terrible and they need to evaluate there decision to be involved with your program.

[jake_WVFD17]

Well the problem is that they would use money from the budget the city gave them for our program if the city allowed them to use it. The only things they provide is our gear, pagers, and uniforms. The gear they really don't have a choice with because we have to have it if we go on calls. But it is the older gear because again the city will not buy juniors new gear, so the money either comes from the association budget, which would be too much money for new gear, or we do some fundraising to get the new gear. Which some other FFs and I are willing to do.

[AndrewR]

Well the problem is that they would use money from the budget the city gave them for our program if the city allowed them to use it. The only things they provide is our gear, pagers, and uniforms. The gear they really don't have a choice with because we have to have it if we go on calls. But it is the older gear because again the city will not buy juniors new gear, so the money either comes from the association budget, which would be too much money for new gear, or we do some fundraising to get the new gear. Which some other FFs and I are willing to do.

You seem like a pretty smart person, so I mean no offence by this. You need to tell your Juniors that if they expect new gear and expect to have a say in how you would spend the money your trying to raise that they will make time to show up. Or maybe they need to reconsider what there membership.

[jake_WVFD17]

THe only problem with talking to them is again, there are only two of us, and the other guy is always "busy" when the department has something going on. There is one other who is joining later, but even then, fundraising needs to be done.

[tree68]

A junior group I encountered in PA did controlled burns as a fundraiser. They were able to buy their own brush truck, as a matter of fact. They operated with adult supervision (which included actually driving the truck on public highways), but operated the truck and conducted the burns themselves.

That was 20+ years ago. No idea if they're still at it.

[GFDexplorer]

we simpily get involved in all the towns festivals and do things like water ball fights for the kids.

[Fireboundangel]

Alternatives

The post I was a member of didn't have allot of luck with fund raising. We sold boy scout popcorn and there were some opportunities to work for haunted houses to bring in funds. Ceder point has a great program using youth groups to staff their halloweekends for a donation to the group. On the other hand we didn't do too many extravagant things so we all paid "dues" of $1 a meeting. It was rarely a financial burden to the youth, and it added another level of leadership to the organization. Treasurer responsible for tracking, collecting, and reporting. Advisor audited regularly, oversaw deposits, and had to sign for withdrawals. It was never much money, but for us it was enough.