Why am I asked to give to so many different campaigns. Doesn’t it all go for the same thing? What is this all for?
Are you confused about “all” the money requests made by your unit and the Boy Scout Council? We realize that the economic times are still uncertain. Contrary to what some believe, our local Council receives no funds from the United Way, local prominent businesses or the National office of the Boy Scouts. In fact, the Council sends the annual Scout and adult membership registration dues to the National Scout office. These funds are used for resources including access to specialized professional staff, marketing support and related literature and administrative services including background checks and processing Eagle Scout applications.
How your dollars are used by the unit and council
Pack, Troop, Team, Crew and Ship Dues
These funds go to pay for:
- Equipment and supplies, such as pinewood derby tracks, stoves, fuel, water filters, camping equipment, etc.
- Camping and activity fees at parks and backpacking permits.
- For adult leaders’ training.
- Rank advancement badges, merit badges, and other recognition given to the Scouts at Pack meetings, Courts of Honor and Crew Meetings.
- Some units pay for their youth and adult membership fees with dues. Other units may pay for Boy’s Life magazine.
Investment in Character (Operating Fund)
We spend approximately $250 per Scout per year to provide the necessary resources and service to support local Scouting units. This money goes to pay for the operations of the Council including:
- Recruitment flyers and marketing resources
- Phone and utilities at the Council’s two service centers and three camps
- Mortgage on the Foster City service center
- Postage and printing
- Administrative staff who provide services including maintaining advancement, training, and membership records, making camp and facility reservations, administering the web site and managing accounting functions
- Professional staff who provide services including supporting, managing and advising recruitment efforts, camporees, Cub Scout day camps, Cub Scout family camps, District Pinewood Derby races, adult and youth trainings, Scouting for Food, Merit Badge Midways and outreach programs
- Ranger staff who provide services including camp maintenance, customer service, management and oversight for capital projects
- Liability and property insurance
Investment in Character is the part of the Council’s operating costs that fall to each Scout and his family. A contribution of $250 (or more), is much appreciated. Participation at any level is important.
In addition to individual families, the council asks local businesses, civic clubs and individual donors for their financial support. The question often asked is “How many of the Scouting families have contributed?” These groups often base their decision to support Scouting on how many of Scouting’s families help bear the costs of operating the council.
Contributions to Investment in Character are tax deductible. You will receive a “Thank You” letter from the Council substantiating your tax-deductible contribution.
Endowment Fund
In past years, raising money for the Council Endowment Fund has not been a yearly campaign. Like most large charitable organizations (universities, churches, civic groups, etc.), an endowment fund provides an annual income for either operating expenses or small capital improvements and reassures the organization of a certain level of financial support in perpetuity. The donor can restrict the earnings on the funds for a special purpose (e.g., camperships to Camp Oljato, endowing a ranger for the Council camps or a Scout District Executive, etc.) or allow the earnings on the funds to be used in perpetuity fulfilling Council needs.
On the Centennial Anniversary of the Boy Scouts (February 8, 2010), the Council embarked on an ambitious goal to increase the Council’s endowment fund by $1,000,000 by asking 10,000 Scouting friends to contribute $100 (or more). “Endowing Scouting’s Next 100 Years” is a local campaign and all dollars raised will remain in this council to support our three scout camps’ operations and maintenance, camperships and leadership programs.
Contributions to the Endowment Campaign are tax deductible. You will receive a “Thank-You” letter from the Council substantiating your tax deductible contribution.
Capital Fund
The Council operates three camping facilities including Boulder Creek Scout Reservation and Cutter Scout Reservation in the prime coastal redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains. In the High Sierra, the Council operates Camp Oljato each summer on the shores of Huntington Lake, east of Fresno at an elevation of 6,000 feet. Atthe three camps, a record number of Scouts are camping, hiking, cooking andlearning life-long leadership skills. The Council is committed to providing “top notch” safe and dynamic camp facilities.
Within the past 10 years, over $4 million has been invested in capital and infrastructure projects at the camps including:
- Rebuilding both Archery and Rifle Ranges, and improving the Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience Course or C.O.P.E. at Cutter Scout Reservation
- Constructing a new Handicraft Lodge, dedicating a new Water Front Area, and completing phase 1 of the remodel of the Medic’s Lodge at Camp Oljato.
And soon at Oljato, we will finish the completion of a new Nature Lodge and Scoutcraft Lodge. Plans are also being developed to build much needed new latrines and shower facilities at the camp. With consistent and heavy usage of the camps and facilities, there is an ongoing need for major capital improvements. The Capital Fund allows individuals to donate money for specific capital improvement projects.
Contributions to the Capital Fund are tax deductible. You will receive a “Thank-You” letter from the Council substantiating your tax deductible contribution.
No Scout will be turned away from Scouting due to financial inability. Partial scholarships and fundraisers are available to help Scouts pay their own way.
However, there are significant costs to maintaining a quality program and financial participation from all participants is requested. We hope this explanation is helpful. Thank you for your continued generous gifts of time, talent and resources. Please consider the Pacific Skyline Council in your annual charitable giving plans. Does your company match contributions or your volunteer “time” – “Time for Dollars”? If so please contact the Council Service Center for assistance in completing your company’s paperwork.
