Older Cadette, Senior and Ambassador troops who want to take a big trip can earn money with these easy Girl Scout fundraiser ideas.
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Updated February 2024
With cookie season winding down for some and just starting for others, leaders may be looking at their profits and wondering if there is some other way for their girls to earn troop money. For many older troops, funding for a big trip is a major goal. I am so impressed with troops that travel across America or to Europe…that is a lot of hard work! My former babysitter was a Girl Scout and she went to England with her troop back in the 1990’s. I was impressed then and I am impressed now.
Images from Pixabay and altered by the author on Canva
Best of all, in this microwave society we live in where everything is instantaneous, what incredible life lessons you are teaching your girls.
- Goal setting
- Saving for what you want to do and not putting it on a high interest credit card
- Teamwork
- Staying on course to achieve a goal that may be two years down the road
Besides the QSP Nut and Magazine fundraiser each fall and the cookie sale each winter, what can troops do to earn money for their big trips?
The first answer is to check with your Council. The answer is not meant to be trite, but every Council has different rules about how their troops can fundraise. Many have the rule that you have to participate in the two Girl Scout fundraisers to raise any additional funds. Another rule is that the girls need to either sell something that they have made or do something to earn the money. The bottom line is before you plan additional fundraisers, you will need to run it by the proper channels and fill out the proper paperwork.
Here are some easy ideas for troop leaders that does not require a lot of hours of prep work. These can be done at a community fair or booth.
Temporary Hair Color
Temporary hair spray color is popular with kids when school or camp has Color War. Kids love the feeling of being “cool” and parents know that it will wash out with the next shampoo. Troops have done this at events and charge $1.00 per head. If a girl has extra long hair, then you might want to charge a bit more.
Available in Assorted Colors on Amazon
Face Painting
Another fun and easy no-prep way for your troop to earn money at a community event is to do a face painting booth.
This face painting kit and others are available on Amazon
If you are going to do this fundraiser, it is important to clean the brushes between clients. Girls can use these brush wipes to sanitize the brushes, and one wipe can be used several times since the surface is large. It is a necessary investment for your booth and parents will like seeing that you are keeping things clean. Please think twice about using baby wipes, since children can have different reactions to the perfumes and dyes in them. You may be able to get someone to donate these to you.
Temporary Tattoos
Here is another low investment, high return no prep booth idea. The only thing I would do with the girls before putting tattoos on other people is to do it to each other at the troop meeting before the event. There is a technique to doing this properly, and better to try it out and see how it works before trying to put a tattoo on a squirmy young child. It would be fun for the girls to sport some of the tattoos on their arms and face for kids to see what they look like.
Make sure you have bowls and bottled water, as well as paper towels for this booth.
What kinds of tattoos should you buy?
Think about whatever is popular right now. It would be the latest Disney movie or a show on Disney Junior or Nick Junior. A quick look at what is on the backpacks in stores will give you a clue.
Disney Princesses are always popular.
This princess tattoo set and others like it are available on Amazon
Superhero tattoos are also a must have as well.
These superhero tattoo sets and others are available on Amazon
Emojis bring a smile to everyone’s face and both boys and girls would enjoy wearing them.
Zoo animal tattoos are cute and will appeal to children of all ages.
Bead a Bracelet
Another easy no-prep fundraiser craft is for girls to have a beading station where kids can make a beaded bracelet. All you need are pony beads, elastic or lanyard. To make life less complicated, precut the elastic and knot it so kids can sit down and get right to work.
Cold Water Booth
If you are at an outdoor event, chances are people will get hot. Why not sell water for $1.00 a bottle? You can buy these in advance when there are sales and make a huge profit with very little effort. You will need coolers and lots of ice, and these can be brought between shifts.
Has your troop ever done a community event fundraiser like these?
