How to Earn Money
Many posts decide to pur- Then, develop a specific community or participating
chase equipment, take a trip, or budget based on your needs organization might need. Ask
plan a special project that and goals. questions—you might be sur-
requires additional funds. prised. Some organizations in
Explorers who pay their own • Be realistic. your community may be
way will appreciate the equip- delighted to pay your post to
Consider carefully what
ment or trip more than those do a special project or service
your participants will actually
who don’t. The decision to plan as long as the project doesn’t
do. Explorers have not been
a money-earning project should put someone out of work.
very successful with selling
be made by the entire post.
products door-to-door. Posts
Once a money-earning project • Get parents involved.
are more successful with one-
has been approved, all the par-
time projects, such as a Parents are excellent
ticipants should participate in
dinner or car wash. resources for ideas. They
the project.
might also be willing to
Posts should not seek con-
• Decide how funds will be provide leadership or
tributions because this violates
accounted for. assistance.
the policy of paying your own
way and is against Learning for Decide in advance
• Review your money-earning
Life policy. whether all funds raised will
project with Learning for
go into the post general funds,
Life policy and your partici-
Planning a Money-Earning into individual Explorer
pating organization.
Project accounts (within the post
account) based upon hours Check the Learning for
In planning a money-earning worked and profits made, or a Life policy, and check with
project, your post should follow percentage into the post gen- your participating organization
these guidelines: eral funds and the balance to be sure the money-earning
into individual Explorer project is appropriate. The
• Determine whether you accounts. Explorer accounts Learning for Life money-earn-
really need the money. belong to the post and can be ing policy is:
First, review your cur- used by an Explorer only to
— The plans and the dates
rent budget to be sure that defray his or her share of
for your project will not
participants’ dues will not be costs of post activities.
conflict with any programs
sufficient for your needs. If of your participating
they aren’t, determine how • Look for a need.
organization, Learning for
much money you need to Find out whether there Life, or United Way.
raise for which specific needs. is a service or project your
HOW TO EARN MONEY 1
— Your plan should be in parents, your participating sports events, including
harmony with local ordi- organization, and Learning cleanup when activities are
nances, free from any for Life understand and over.
stigma of gambling, and approve your project. This is
• Stage a pancake breakfast,
consistent with the ideals for your protection.
spaghetti dinner, or similar
and purposes of Learning
event. Aim for the unusual
for Life. • Obtain all necessary
such as wild game dinners,
approvals before beginning
— If a commercial product is chili cook-offs, barbecues, and
your project.
to be sold, it should be so on.
sold on its own merits and Be sure to obtain any
• Offer a birthday party service.
not merely on the basis of necessary licenses,
Plan games, dress as clowns,
“helping Exploring.” approvals, health regulations,
provide refreshments, super-
and other permissions in
— Those selling need to act vise activities, and so on.
advance.
as individuals without
• Organize a color guard, drill
attempting to capitalize on
• Complete a project team, band, dance group, or
the goodwill of Exploring
appropriately. other entertainment for con-
to promote sales.
ventions or community affairs.
After the project is com-
— The buyers, even if they Be sure the chamber of com-
pleted, thank those involved,
are family and friends, merce and convention bureau
return any unsold products
should be able to receive know you are available.
or borrowed equipment, and
their money’s worth from
provide for proper accounting • Produce a play, carnival,
the product, function, or
of funds. fashion show, or booth show,
service.
selling tickets or space to
— The project should be car- Ideas for Money-Earning other organizations.
ried out in a manner that Projects • Conduct or be part of a garage
does not infringe on the
The following ideas are post sale, rummage sale, auction,
rights of other Explorer
projects, not individual employ- flea market, swap meet, or
posts in the same area or
ment efforts. All funds for goods other similar activity. Operate
on the right to a livelihood
and services should be paid to garage sales for neighbor-
of local business people
the post to avoid conflict with hoods or community organi-
and their employees.
tax and employment laws. The zations on a commission
— If any contracts should be post is a nonprofit organization; basis.
signed, they should be individual participants are not. • Operate a Christmas tree lot,
signed by an individual Be sure the financial arrange- including making and selling
without binding or com- ments of your project do not wreaths, door decorations, or
mitting Learning for Life in violate child labor laws, income- other holiday items. Wrapping
any way. or sales-tax regulations, or gifts at a booth, a retail store,
employment regulations. or a mall is another service
• Beware of promotional
• Wash cars (perhaps at an that a post can do to raise
schemes or questionable
employee parking lot), wash funds.
product sales gimmicks.
private airplanes (at a small • Check with owners of vacant
Carefully check out the airport), or wash boats (at a property for cleanup or beau-
product and the reputation of marina). Employees could pay tification projects.
its supplier before you as they come to work so that
become involved. the post would have all day to • Perform services for busi-
wash and/or wax these vehi- nesses or organizations, such
• Develop a plan for your cles. as stuffing envelopes, assem-
money-earning project. bling kits, and so on.
• Control traffic; park cars;
Once you decide on a operate a checkroom, nurs- • Collect aluminum, paper,
project, write a specific plan ery, or concession stand; sell glass, or other recyclable
of who does what and of how programs, take tickets, serve materials. Be sure you have a
the money is handled. Be as ushers, and perform other
sure that post participants, services at community or
HOW TO EARN MONEY 2
source who will buy your col- • Take photos at dances or • Organize a high school fashion
lections, and find out how the conventions. show for a department store.
recyclable must be prepared.
• Organize ski swaps, part • Plant a garden on vacant land
• Mow, rake, weed, trim, and sales, or similar functions for and sell produce at a roadside
clean up yards of homeowners a commission or booth rental. stand (with permission).
or businesses.
• Recycle the parts from defec- • Help people planning to move
• Operate a nursery or day care tive products for a business or with packing, loading, garage
center during community industry. sales, and cleanup.
events.
• Clean irrigation ditches, gates, • Maintain yards of vacant
• Clean stadiums, fairgrounds, or drains. homes that are for sale.
or other facilities after public (Check with real estate
• Provide a crew for harvests or
events. agencies.)
other events requiring tempo-
• Distribute newsletters or pro- rary workers. • Check with political parties
motional fliers (don’t neces- about providing meals,
• Sign up with temporary
sarily endorse their product or cleanup, or other services at
service bureaus.
cause). rallies or picnics.
• Check vacationers’ homes.
• Operate a weekend kennel, • Clean private beaches for
Take care of yards, pets, mail,
walk dogs, or provide other resorts or homeowners.
and so on, while they are
pet-related services.
away. • Sell programs or souvenirs at
• Sell or collect plant specimens. parades or celebrations.
• Wash and maintain boats in
• Pick fruits or vegetables. marinas while owners are • Offer to decorate floats for
away. parades.
• Catch or raise fish bait to sell.
• In resort areas, check and • Offer to run day care centers,
• Shovel snow and treat icy
provide outside maintenance staff day camps, help at sum-
walkways or parking lots.
of vacation homes. mer camps, or help with simi-
• Sell magazine subscriptions. lar events for churches and
• Construct and maintain fences
community organizations.
• Design and sell T-shirts and for farmers or ranchers.
similar promotional items. • Put on plays or run activities
• Operate a coffee/food service
for youth groups.
• Perform household repairs, at construction sites, free-
cleaning, painting, and similar way rest areas, or harvest
services. locations.
HOW TO EARN MONEY 3
MONEY-EARNING APPLICATION 1
MONEY-EARNING APPLICATION 2