Oct 25 2016

Scouter Friends of Troop 451

Note: This page is hosted as a courtesy for the Scouter Friends of Troop 451 and is not a solicitation for donations by the Troop. We are providing this information to answer common questions that the Troop receives about tax-exempt donations. The Troop, as indicated below, may not solicit funds.

Troop 451 has awarded the rank of Eagle Scout to 125 Scouts as of 2023. Boy Scouts of America reports that only ~6% of all Scouts will reach the rank of Eagle Scout. Since the inception of the Eagle Scout award in 1912, 2.01 percent of eligible Scouts have earned Scouting’s highest honor. So even though the percentage has been trending upward over the years, the award is still incredibly rare.

At Troop 451, our leadership team works hard to prepare every Scout for all kinds of life events. We are preparing them to do great things for their community and fellow man. Having the resources to fulfill that quest comes from donations.

 

Donating is easy

Many adults have asked how they can contribute to Troop 451 to help these boys succeed. The leadership team of Troop 451 created a 501(c)(3) organization called “Scouter Friends of Troop 451”. We encourage anyone that wants to donate to take advantage of this avenue for Tax Exempt donations. This can be done through corporate web sites or checks given directly to the Scouter Friends of Troop 451 committee. We also encourage everyone to check with your company to see if they have a contribution foundation for 501(c)(3) organizations. Companies like Verizon will donate $750 for every 50 hours of your volunteer service. They will also match your cash donations 100% up to $2,500.

Fiscal Policies and Procedures for BSA Units

Frequently Asked Questions

A Troop can’t solicit gifts?

No. Simply put, units are not permitted to solicit any gifts. Both the Charter and Bylaws and the Rules and Regulations of the BSA make this very clear; only local councils may solicit individuals, corporations, United Ways, or foundations for gifts in support of Scouting. Units, unit leaders, and youth members may not solicit gifts in the name of Scouting or in support of unit needs and activities (except in unusual circumstances where the unit has received permission to do so from the local council). Units are also prohibited from soliciting gifts on their websites.

Does that mean people can’t make gifts to a Troop?

Units are not supposed to solicit gifts, but they can receive gifts. Anyone can contribute to a Scout pack, troop, or unit—and many donors don’t need or care about charitable deductions. Obviously, defining a “solicited gift” is not always easy. But we rely on our unit leaders to set good examples and honor the intent and spirit of these important guidelines. We know it’s hard to stop people from being generous, especially toward Scouting.

Can gifts go to the local council to benefit our unit, then “pass through” the council to us?

No. A unit 'belongs' to it''s chartered organization, not to it's local council. IRS guidelines prohibit any charity from accepting gifts that are ''passed through'' to a person or unrelated entity. A council could accept a gift in the name of your unit and hold it in a unit account. The unit could then “draw down” on the account for camp fees, uniform and supply needs, etc. (This is how colleges handle student scholarships.) But be sure to first ask your local council if it has the staff and time to do this. This is entirely the council’s decision. A council accepting a gift in the name of the unit does not necessarily extend tax benefits to the donor.

Can these gifts go to a Troop?

Employee incentive awards and volunteerism grants usually cannot go to a pack, troop, or unit due to the company’s giving restrictions. Corporate donations often can go only to charities that are “501(c) (3) charities,” and many units are not chartered by tax-exempt charities. Also, many companies won’t make gifts to religious organizations. If a unit is “tax-exempt,” it’s often because it’s chartered to a church, synagogue, etc., so it couldn’t receive corporate funds either. Of course, corporate awards and grants may go to any local council for use at the discretion of the council.

Can my unit credit amounts from fundraising to an individual toward their expenses?

No. The IRS has stated that crediting fundraising amounts constitutes private benefit. However, the unit could use the funds (all or a percentage) raised to reduce or eliminate dues and various registration fees, purchase uniforms and Scouting books, and purchase camping equipment. The unit could also use its funds to provide assistance to individual Scouts in cases of financial hardship.