How Do We Fund Our Program?
Budget For a Year of Fun
Congratulations! You've planned a fun year of Scouting, but now
it's time for a crucial step: how do you fund it? Here are some
tips for budgeting and other key points to remember.
Membership Fees
All youth and adults pay $24 per year to register as members of the
Boy Scouts of America. Your pack, troop, or crew should remember
to budget for these, and pay one check to Northern Star Council to
cover all these fees at recharter time. This fee includes accident and
liability insurance for your "unit" (pack, troop, or crew.) By
budgeting and fundraising appropriately, you should be able to cover
this fee for everyone registered in your unit. (Please note that this annual fee is pro-rated by what time of year it is, on a January-December timeline).
Fundraising
We recommend having a goal of how much you need to raise based on your budget. Popcorn is the official fundraiser of Northern Star Council. Every
pack, troop, or crew should have at least one fundraiser but also be
careful not to spend too much of the year fundraising.
Camp Fees
Attending camp is the highlight of the year for most Scouts. Camp fees
range from $10 to $200, depending on the age level and the camp. It's
important to budget for this
great experience. Think about how much of the camp fee is covered by
the pack,
troop, or crew? How much is covered by the family? Additionally,
are all eligible families taking advantage of camperships (financial assistance for camp).
Special Activities and Events
Blue and Gold Dinners, Courts of Honor, Pinewood Derbies, and High
Adventure are just some of the special activities you might want to do. Scouts
and families anticipate these events so determine in the
budget whether they're covered entirely by the annual budget or if
special participatory fees are necessary.
Budget Appropriately
An entire year of Scouting should be funded by the fundraisers you
do. Do not plan on "charging extra" or imposing more fees if the budget
falls short. Determine, from the beginning, how fundraising will
deliver on the promise of Scouting.
Remember that Guidepost Two for Journey 2.0 is planning the finances
for a year of Scouting. See Related Content for more information and
help.
What About Friends of Scouting Donations?
Contributions to the annual Friends of Scouting Giving Campaign
support council-wide operations including camps, adult volunteer
training, youth programming, insurance, and general infrastructure.
Contributions help keep your pack, troop, or crew (unit) operating
costs lower by supporting Scouting across the community. Recognition items are
available annually to units that meet their Friends of Scouting
fundraising goal and should be considered in your annual planning
process.