Sponsoring a Scout vs Troop Fundraiser.

[RememberSchiff]

In the past, I have seen Giving Tree ornaments with various Scout items requested for a child. Now I see some units are seeking sponsors for individual scouts ahead of donations for the unit ....or maybe at the end of the day the money all goes in one pot.

Saw this today about dual troops in Brookings, Oregon units

....

Fundraising events are critical for sustaining the program. Funds raised, such as those from their current wreath selling effort, are directed toward maintaining their meeting hall, covering essential costs like building maintenance, new gutters, a new drain and the ever-increasing insurance fees as well as helping children join who cannot afford the fees.

A core philosophy of the leadership is ensuring that financial hardship never bars a prospective Scout from joining.

“We try and cover the cost, if we have any low-income scouts. We try to help them out,” Wilson emphasized. “We don't want any scout to be turned away just because they can't afford a uniform or anything.”

To help potential sponsors understand the financial need, (Rachel) Wilson (Committee Chair) broke down the costs for a new Scout:

• Uniform Shirt: Approximately $60.00

• Neckerchief: About $15.00

• Patches (starting numbers/badges): Between $15 and $20

• Annual Registration Fee: About $90

• Monthly Dues: $10 for the first Scout per family and $5 for each additional sibling.

While the group is currently discussing implementing a formal program for sponsoring individual children, general donations are vital for their maintenance, operational costs and to help fund Scouts who may not otherwise have an opportunity to join. "

Source:

https://www.currypilot.com/news/dual-troops-single-mission-local-scouts-serve-community/article_df0fc6e0-ecf0-422b-8e90-6ec383732881.html

[qwazse]

I’m having a similar challenge with a family member who would rather raise funds to sponsor a scout to attend World Jamboree while I know that, for the hassle, lowering the cost to every youth (and maybe young adult) in entire contingent would be preferred. I gave our head of contingent a call, and he had just talked to a parent of a former WSJ scout who also wanted to sponsor a single scout of the contingent’s choosing.

I guess you have to work with donors as they come to you. But targeted contributions call for a lot of oversight.

On a troop level, I tell donors that we have a scoutmaster discretionary fund to allow the SM, the CC, and the treasurer to confidentially assist scouts who need it.

[Tron]

The unit level sponsorship is really easy to handle if you align your unit fundraising with the IRS rules. To be blunt the VAST majority of units are sitting ducks waiting for an IRS smackdown. National was really clear in 2015 when national comptroller stated that all units need to take a cut from every single scouts fundraising haul of a non-predetermined amount and that the cut needed to include an amount going into the general purpose fund of the unit and the campership fund of the unit. 

Seriously, any IRS agent that hates scouting and wants to get top marks for catching non-profit fraud just needs to "decide to audit" a random number of scouting units that are not near any free lawyers in town.

[RememberSchiff]

On 11/22/2025 at 3:09 PM, qwazse said:

I’m having a similar challenge with a family member who would rather raise funds to sponsor a scout to attend World Jamboree while I know that, for the hassle, lowering the cost to every youth (and maybe young adult) in entire contingent would be preferred. I gave our head of contingent a call, and he had just talked to a parent of a former WSJ scout who also wanted to sponsor a single scout of the contingent’s choosing.

I guess you have to work with donors as they come to you. But targeted contributions call for a lot of oversight.

On a troop level, I tell donors that we have a scoutmaster discretionary fund to allow the SM, the CC, and the treasurer to confidentially assist scouts who need it.

Yes, we have seen the need to balance the sponsor's desire for accountability (Who am I sponsoring? Where is my money going?)  and a scout's privacy (I would rather no one knows.). 

[Eagle94-A1]

Just don't let the council know who the unit's sponsor is. They will go after them for FOS.