Financing Scouting

The Buffalo Trail Council, Boy Scouts of America, is a non-profit corporation registered in the state of Texas and meeting the guidelines of Federal 501(c)(3) Corporations.

Council funds for operations come primarily from the following sources:

Friends of Scouting	15.0%	United Way	9.0%
Camping & Activity Fees	36.8%	Other	16.7%
Foundations & Special Events	22.5%

Friends of Scouting
[Updated 2/23/10]

Each year, beginning in January, the Buffalo Trail Council begins its annual Friends of Scouting (FOS) campaign. Friends of Scouting are individuals who include Scouting in their charitable giving on an annual basis. Friends of Scouting are the major source of income for the Buffalo Trail Council.

One of the ways you can help is supporting the Family Friends of Scouting campaign. Beginning in the first of the year, Packs, Troops, and Crews will be asked to participate in a Family FOS presentation. A representative of your district will come to one of your meetings to talk with parents about the Family FOS campaign. The best time is when you have a majority of your parents in attendance, like a Court of Honor, Blue & Gold Banquet, or a Pack meeting. Each parent should have the opportunity to learn about our operations, and why they should consider making a contribution to support Scouting.

• For more information about Family FOS, or to schedule a Family FOS presentation in your unit, please contact your District Executive or Family FOS Chair.
  
  
• To learn more about the “Gold Star” recognition program for units, please click here.
  
  
• To make an ONLINE donation to the Friends of Scouting campaign, please click here.
  
  
• To learn more about this year's Family FOS Patch, click here.
  
  
• To learn more about how the funds benefit the programs of the Buffalo Trail Council, download this year’s Friends of Scouting brochure and the 2010 Contribution Form.
  
  
• To learn more about the entire series of Family FOS patches from the Buffalo Trail Council, including all future patches, and how to order an entire set, click here.

Merit Badge Sponsorhsip

The Merit Badge Sponsorship Program is a NEW program that allows local businesses and individuals to select their favorite merit badge and make a personal donation to become a sponsor for that badge. There are three levels of sponsorship (Bronze, Gold, and Silver)
and over 120 Merit Badges to choose from! Signs showing this sponsorship will be displayed prominently at Buffalo Trail Scout Ranch during summer camp, during Merit Badge workshops, special events such as the Golf Tournament and Spring Fling Sporting Clay shoot.

Most important of all, the funds raised by this new program provides opportunities for youth in low-income and culturally diverse areas to grow physically, mentally, and morally in an after-school and weekend activities. By attending Scouting's structured, safe activities, Texas's young people do not have as much idle time to explore drugs, alcohol, or find themselves in as many per-pressure activities. The scouting program is a year-found effort because the pressures on our young people increase every day. There is no better time than now to help guide youth in positive directions.

We want to invite you to become a Merit Badge Sponsor. The Boy Scouts of America offer over 120 Merit Badges that allow boys to explore subjects from Astronomy to Woodwork. Become a Sponsor and help preserve our community's BEST natural resource and be recognized throughout the year through Newsletters (7 issues), the Annual Report, and many other publications.

To learn more about the program and to download a sponsorship application, please click here.

Congratulations to the 2009 Gold Star Units

The following units have completed their Friends of Scouting family level campaign having successfully reached their “fair share” amount goal. (As of April 1, 2009)

• Crew 231 LDS Midland First Ward
  
  
• Pack 29 Elbow PAT Group
  
  
• Pack 58 St Lukes Methodist Church
  
  
• Pack 131 LDS Midland Second Ward
  
  
• Pack 177 Stanfield Parent Council
  
  
• Pack 331 LDS Midland Third Ward
  
  
• Team 131 LDS Midland
  
  
• Troop 46 Andrews Rotary Club 1642
  
  
• Troop 51 Holy Trinity Episcopal Ch
  
  
• Troop 64 Jordan Wire Rope
  
  
• Troop 121 LDS Andrews Branch
  
  
• Troop 131 LDS Midland Second Ward
  
  
• Troop 158 Parents of Troop 158
  
  
• Troop 160 St Lukes Methodist Church
  
  
• Troop 187 LDS Big Spring Ward
  
  
• Troop 198 LDS Odessa 2nd Ward
  
  
• Troop 231 LDS Midland First Ward
  
  
• Troop 320 First Baptist Church
  
  
• Troop 372 Veterans of Foreign Wars

United Ways

The Buffalo Trail Council receives allocations from the following United Ways (United Funds/United Appeals, etc.):

United Way of Midland	United Way of Big Spring and Howard County
Scurry County United Way	United Way of Odessa
Andrews County United Way

Activity and Camp Fees

Most activity and camp programs require a fee be paid by participants. These fees are kept as low as possible and are designed to defray the cost of the activity.

Popcorn

Each fall the council coordinates a unit fundraiser where the scouts sell popcorn to friends, family and neighbors. The unit and the scouts receive approximately 45% of sales in the form of profit, commission and prizes. The council retains approximately 25% of the gross sales AFTER paying for prizes, commissions and the actual product. Approximately 30% goes to the popcorn company for the product, supplies and support.

Popcorn Sales 2008 – It is never too early to start thinking about popcorn sales and all of the great opportunities that open up for a unit from a successful sale! Check out the Popcorn Page and learn about the 2008 sale, and also about the special prize that Scouts can earn from getting an online sale during the spring!

Spring Product Sales
[Updated 2/24/10]

• Check out the new product sales available for all units in the Buffalo Trail Council!  The Spring Nut Sale and Cookie Sale are two new lines of products that will give your unit the opportunity to raise the funds you need for a fun and active summer program!  The Unit Guide outlines both product sales, including commission, deadlines, etc and the Prize form shows all of the new great prizes available for the boys to earn during the sale.  If you need more information, feel free to contact the council office.
  
  
• Spring Cookie Dough Sale – This is a BRAND NEW fundraising opportunity for the units of the Buffalo Trail Council!  Units that sign up for the sale are issued a supply of cookie dough cards that are sold to consumers, who then log on to order their choice of cookie flavor, and then the company ships it directly to the consumer!  That’s right, no product delivery by the Scouts!  The coupon is sold and that is it!  What an easy way to raise funds for summer programs, unit activities, and unit financial needs!  For more information, download the cookie sale flyer or call the council office at 432-570-7601.

Special Events
[Updated 2/23/10]

The Council will conduct special events principally for the purpose of raising funds but also to create goodwill and generate public relations. Included in special events budget is the Council golf tournament, Sporting Clays Shoot and the Distinguished Citizen’s Award Dinner. To participate in one, or more, of the council’s special events, please call the Abell Scout Service Center.

• 12th Annual Spring Fling Sporting Clays – April 17th, Windwalker Farms – The Buffalo Trail Council welcomes your support by participating in the annual sporting clay tournament!  More information including sponsorships, team registration, prize information and more will be available soon.  Click here to download a reminder notice  and here to download the brochure with registration and sponsorship information.
  
  
• 34th Annual Buffalo Trail Council, BSA Pro-Am Golf Tournament – Mark your calendars now for August 31, 2009! Slots for teams fill up very quickly, so be ready to sign up soon! Click here to download a registration booklet with details on sponsorship opportunities.

Endowment Fund

The council has approximately $2,400,000 in long-term investments in its trust fund. Proceeds from this account are used in the operation of the annual budget of the council. Ther are several ways to contribute to the council’s endowment fund:

Memorials

A memorial gift to honor a special person.

Boy Scouts of America GiftLegacy

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