Bucktail Council, BSA | Fundraising

ENDOWMENT

Endowment is a means through which an individual or a group can financially invest in the ongoing work of the Boy Scouts of America within the Bucktail Council. Unlike the annual operating support fund drive through the council's Friends of Scouting campaign, endowment allows individuals and groups to make a financial commitment with a long term view to the work of the council in the form of either current or deferred gifts.

The money in the Endowment Fund is carefully invested by a corporate trustee, under guidelines given to it by Bucktail Council's Executive Board. The purpose of an endowment fund is to never spend the principal of the fund. The interest earned each year is transferred into the operating fund to help finance the council's programs. Investments in the Bucktail Council Endowment Fund are designed to be in addition to, and not replace or diminish, the donor's annual support of Friends of Scouting.

The endowment fund needs to grow each year. The national council believes that ultimately 25% of a council's operating budget will need to come from this source of income. Every Scouter in the Bucktail Council can help build our endowment fund.

In its gratitude for such support, the BSA nationally offers three distinct endowment recognition awards. These awards are presented by the local council to donors who support Scouting's financial future with council endowment gifts.

	The James E. West Fellowship Program James E. West was the first Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America and he served in that position for more than three decades. The West Fellowship award is available to those who make gifts of $1,000 and up in cash or marketable securities to a council endowment fund. The gift must be in addition to -- and not replace or diminish -- the donor's annual Friends of Scouting support. Many individuals and corporations make these gifts on behalf of someone else -- such as in honor of an Eagle Scout, Silver Beaver recipient, a retirement, special accomplishment or anniversary -- or in memory of a special individual. If an institution is truly " the lengthened shadow of one man," it is more than fitting that the BSA honor James E. West's significant contributions to Scouting in such a significant way.

	The 1910 Society Founded in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has grown into something larger and more significant than anyone expected. We honor that special date by presenting The 1910 Society award to donors who make gifts of $25,000 or more to their council endowments. These gifts can be in the form of cash, securities, land, five-year pledges, or other property suitable for a council endowment fund or easily converted to cash. There are four levels of recognition within The 1910 Society, in honor of four very special individuals who shaped modern-day Scouting:

1) Ernest Thompson Seton, nationally known artist and naturalist, author of the first official American Scout handbook, and many other books important to Scouting; Seton level membership: $25,000 minimum gift 2) Daniel Carter Beard, first chairman of the National Court of Honor, National Scout Commissioner, and author of many well-known books and stories for youth; Beard level membership: $100,000 minimum gift 3) Theodore Roosevelt, first Chief Scout Citizen, first Vice President of the BSA, and President of the United States; Roosevelt level membership: $500,000 minimum gift 4) Waite Phillips, one of the BSA's first benefactors, and donor to the BSA of almost 130,000 acres of land in New Mexico and what is now Philmont Scout Ranch; Phillips level membership: $1,000,000 and up

	The Founders Circle The newest level of endowment recognition, The Founders Circle is intended to recognize deferred gifts designated for council endowment funds. With deferred giving (also called planned giving) so widely and effectively used by so many donors, the BSA wants to recognize the importance of such major gifts. Donors are recognized for gift commitments with a minimum value of $100,000. Unlike the other endomwent recognition awards, a donor may qualify for membership with gifts made through: Charitable bequests in a will or codicil; Charitable trusts, such as unitrusts, annuity trusts, and lead trusts; BSA Gift Annuities or BSA Pooled Income Fund gifts; Life insurance/Retirement Plan designations; BSA Pooled Income Fund gifts; Other deferred gifts approved by the local council.

As with the 1910 Society, there are four levels of membership within the Founders Circle. They are: Bronze: $100,000 minimum gift commitment Silver: $250,000 minimum gift commitment Gold: $500,000 minimum gift commitment Platinum: $1,000,000 minimum gift commitment The early founders of the BSA had the vision and commitment to make Scouting the number one youth organization in the world. In that spirit, we honor the modern-day visionaries who qualify for the Founders Circle with their commitment to perpetuate the visions and beliefs of those founders.