Finance
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.