Fundraising ideas for Scouts and Guides
Groups raising for jamborees, camps and gear do best with jobs that show off what members can do: job weeks, sizzles, car washes and service days.
Your national organisation may have its own fundraising rules and insurance, so check with it before anything big.
Best return for your time
- Community trust grants (Foundation North, Trust Waikato, Toi Foundation, BayTrust, Rātā and others)$750/hrtypically $15,000 per grantRegional trusts (mostly from the old trustee savings banks) fund community groups in their region.Weeks of part-time work, No permit, 1–2 people
- Class 4 gaming trust grants (NZCT, Lion Foundation, Pub Charity, Aotearoa Gaming Trust, Four Winds and others)$526/hrtypically $5,000 per grantGrants from pokie-machine proceeds for equipment, uniforms, travel and running costs of community groups.A few evenings’ work, No permit, 1–2 people
- Sport NZ Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa (via regional sports trusts)$357/hrtypically $5,000 per grantFunding for play, active recreation and sport for 5-18 year olds, especially those who are less active.A few evenings’ work, No permit, 1–2 people
- Council community and local-board grants$300/hrtypically $3,000 per grantDistrict and city councils (and Auckland local boards) give small community grants, often in fixed rounds.A few evenings’ work, No permit, 1–2 people
- Pie fundraiser$160/hrtypically $1,440 per campaignTake orders for frozen family or single pies from a bakery that delivers on one day.A few evenings’ work, No permit, 3–6 helpers
- Event parking, gate or marshalling crew$143/hrtypically $2,000 per eventYour group supplies a team to run car parking, gates, marshalling or litter at an A&P show, festival, race or marathon, and the organiser pays the group an hourly rate or a share of takings.A few evenings’ work, Road closure needed, 16–40 helpers
- Raffle on the night (quiz night, gala, prizegiving)$100/hrtypically $700 per eventTickets sold through an event and drawn at the end, with the prizes on display.A few evenings’ work, Raffle rules apply, 3–6 helpers
- In-kind sponsorship and donated goods or services$100/hrtypically $1,000 per sponsorAsk businesses for goods, services or spare capacity instead of cash.A few evenings’ work, No permit, 1–2 people
Something different
Less common ideas that stand out because people haven’t seen them ten times already.
- Cadet unit service fundraising (catering, marshalling, quiz nights) · typically $2,000 · specific to cadet units, little known outside
- Sponsored tree-planting day · typically $2,000 · sponsoring trees is a newer, eye-catching idea
- Halloween haunted house or trail · typically $1,600 · still a novelty in NZ, so it draws a crowd
- Christmas tree sale and delivery · typically $1,500 · a seasonal service few groups offer
- Matariki kite day (manu tukutuku) · typically $600 · a growing Matariki event that still stands out
- Butter fundraiser (Westgold) · typically $500 · unexpected but practical, so it gets noticed
* General fundraising information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Money figures are examples and estimates, not promises. Check current official requirements before you commit. About this guide