Success Story4-H Fundraising Builds Leadership Skills and Increases Community Involvement in 4-H



4-H Fundraising Builds Leadership Skills and Increases Community Involvement in 4-H

Author: Catherine Webster

Planning Unit: Simpson County CES

Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum

Plan of Work: Empowering Community Leaders

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

By supporting and engaging young leaders, adults and communities experience direct benefits through stronger connections to youth.  Young people re-energize adults and counteract negative stereotypes of youth when they are successfully engaged in leadership within their communities.  Simpson County saw a 20% increase in voluntary giving to the 2018 Ag Tag Promotion Campaign though the County Clerk's Office.  This was the largest percentage increase of any county in KY.  

The Simpson County 4-H Council operates on a $6,000 annual budget with 80% these funds coming from four annual fundraisers.   Council funds are budgeted to give members the opportunity to participate in programs on the county, district, and state levels, with 70% of the council’s budget allocated for teen summit & conference fees, camper fees, communications contest & fashion revue participation, and leadership development opportunities.  The 4-H Council identified the need for 4-H members to have fundraising opportunities to offset 4-H program fees as their number one priority.  In 2018 the 4-H Council established member accounts where proceeds from fundraisers members work, are set aside for the member to use toward participation in future 4-H programs.  

In 2018, 76% of the parents sending their children to camp wanted their children to have the opportunity to earn their way to camp.  There were twenty-one 4-H members who had been active in 4-H for at least one year that went to camp in 2018, sixteen of them worked fundraisers to earn their fee.  Over the course of one programming year, 4-H members earned over $12,000 through concessions, auctions, bake sales, and selling fundraising items.  Another $7,250 was raised through grants, scholarships, and sponsorships, to support camper fees, the county 4-H banquet (that recognizes members for their outstanding leadership, and participation in the KY 4-H achievement program), and the John Swack 4-H Scholarship program.  In addition, five 4-H clubs: Exchange, Art, Sewing, Outdoor Adventures, and Horse, received grant funding to enhance club educational programs.   

4-H fundraising opportunities have allowed Simpson County 4-H members to use their leadership and communication skills to be successful and engage in community based projects that have left a lasting impression on the community, evident by the $25,000 in financial support for the Simpson County 4-H program.  






Stories by Catherine Webster


Measuring Labs

about 4 years ago by Catherine Webster

Families need assistance in gaining access to food, stretching food dollars, and preparing healthy f... Read More


4-H Fundraising Builds Leadership Skills and Increases Community Involvement in 4-H

about 4 years ago by Catherine Webster

By supporting and engaging young leaders, adults and communities experience direct benefits through ... Read More


Stories by Simpson County CES


What's in the Doctor's Bag?

about 4 years ago by Christy Ramey

Whats in the Doctors Bag was a training I attended which was offered by the University of Kentucky C... Read More


Get Active Simpson Challenge

about 4 years ago by Christy Ramey

In order to promote increased physical activity and its importance in our overall health and wellnes... Read More


Stories by Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum


4-H Teen Summit 2019

4-H Teen Summit 2019

about 4 years ago by Anna Meador

Allen County had five youth to participate in the 2019 Teen Summit Conference, joined by a Simpson C... Read More


Leadership - Kentucky 4-H Summit

Leadership - Kentucky 4-H Summit

about 4 years ago by Elijah Wilson

According to research, middle school is a time where young people find their place in this world, th... Read More