Who Pays for Scouting
Financial support for Scouting comes from a variety of sources:
Individual Members pay
weekly or monthly dues and are responsible for buying their own
uniforms, handbooks and personal equipment, like backpacks, camping
gear, etc..
Units (Pack, Troop, Team or Crew)
collect the dues and raise funds through various money-earning projects
to cover expenses and pay for supplies like camping equipment,
registration fees, uniform insignia and program materials.
Chartered Organizations
provide a meeting place and adult volunteer leadership for their BSA
units, and approve unit money-earning projects before launch of the
project.
Local Councils—local
nonprofit corporations chartered by the National Council—receive funds
from an annual Friends of Scouting campaign, the United Way, foundation
grants, trust funds, bequests, individual gifts and investment income.
These funds provide for professional staff, training, organization of
new Scouting units, maintenance of council camps and operation of the
local council service center.
The National Organization
generates income from registration fees, local council service fees,
Scouting and Boys’ Life magazine subscriptions, sale of uniforms and
equipment, and contributions from individuals. These monies help to
deliver the program of the BSA (through four regional service centers
and more than 300 local councils) to chartered organizations that use
the Scouting program to meet the needs of their youth.