Scouting is all about growth, adventure, and learning by doing—but for many troops and families, the costs of participating can add up incredibly quickly. Whether it’s covering summer camp, badge materials, uniforms, or travel, scout leaders are often left figuring out how to fund it all.

The good news? There are simple, scout-approved fundraising ideas that can bring your troop together and get the community involved. Here are a few to try this season:

1. Host a Gear Drive + Fundraiser

Ask your community to donate gently used camping gear, uniforms, or scout books. Pair this with an online fundraiser explaining what new gear or experiences the money will support—like helping a scout afford summer camp.

2. Merit Badge Workshop Fundraiser

Offer a community badge workshop for a suggested donation. Older scouts can help teach newer ones—or even kids outside your troop—how to earn beginner badges like First Aid or Nature. This builds leadership while raising funds.

3. Scout Snack Stand

Set up a simple snack and drink table at community events, parks, or even your own troop meetings. Sell water, granola bars, and other camp-friendly snacks. Display a QR code linking to your FreeFunder campaign for additional support from passersby.

4. Troop Challenge Fundraiser

Create a fun challenge where scouts earn donations by completing creative or skill-based tasks—like hiking a certain number of miles, doing acts of service, or earning a new badge. Each scout sets up their own FreeFunder page (or contributes to one team page), and donors can give based on the scout or troop’s progress.

This adds purpose to your fundraising and engages scouts in the challenge while raising funds.

5. Launch a FreeFunder Campaign

The easiest way to get started is by creating a FreeFunder campaign. It’s free to use, takes just minutes to launch, and gives your troop access to helpful tools like text-to-donate and social sharing. Plus, FreeFunder donates up to $70 to your campaign based on how many Facebook shares it receives.

Whether you’re raising money for one scout or the whole troop, FreeFunder helps you progress quickly—without selling cookies or coupon books.

Success Story

“I am so happy that I found FreeFunder! It has truly been a god send.I think this is the best fundraiser website that I have ever found.For someone who has never done crowdfunding before, I found that the process was very straightforward and easy to set up. FreeFunder also has excellent customer service. I found their customer service representatives were very professional, kind, helpful, and quick in responding to all my questions and concerns when I needed assistance. Unlike other fundraiser websites, FreeFunder doesn't charge any platform fees to use their site which I think is wonderful. I also love that FreeFunder allows you to make bank transfers easily and quickly while crowdfunding. I think this is extremely helpful. Especially when you’re in a life situation where you need the funds you’re raising immediately. I would highly recommend FreeFunder to anyone!”
— Joy

FAQs About Fundraising with FreeFunder

How much does it cost to use FreeFunder?

FreeFunder has no platform fees—only the standard payment processing fee through Stripe or PayPal.

How quickly can we start fundraising?

You can create and launch a campaign in less than 15 minutes. Just write your story, upload a photo, and start sharing the link.

Can parents fundraise individually too?

Yes. Troops can run one shared campaign, or families can run individual fundraisers if needed. FreeFunder supports both.

Does FreeFunder help promote the fundraiser?

Not directly—but it gives you built-in tools to promote it yourself, including a text-to-donate option and incentives for Facebook sharing.

Is this only for large campaigns?

Not at all. Whether you’re trying to raise $200 for a uniform or $2,000 for a full troop adventure, FreeFunder is a great fit.

Ready to Raise?

Give your scouts the experience they deserve this year. Start your free fundraiser today withFreeFunder and make this season one they’ll never forget.
? Start Your FreeFunder Campaign