Finance Picture

INCOME

As you can see above, Friends of Scouting account for a significant portion of Scouting's income. Even though the United Way is still a major contributor, that funding only provides 12% of the council budget. Below, you will notice that fully 93% of the $509,000 operating budget is dedicated to program delivery for 2,500 plus youth.

EXPENSE

More than 100% of the dollars raised by Friends of Scouting or the United Way stay in the local community because they are supplemented by council-wide funding sources.

A "Council" (like the Santa Fe Trail Council) is a geographic area where volunteers conduct the business affairs and administer the Scouting program.

These administrative leaders work to build a budget to ensure the quality delivery of Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Exploring to your area. A council can be compared to a cooperative, or a "purchasing group."

The $7 annual registration fee families pay does not go to Santa Fe Trail Council. This fee goes directly to the Scout’s national organization to provide liability insurance coverage, program development, and Santa Fe Trail Council is only a "pass through" vehicle. While parents do pay part of the cost of the local program, (materials, field trips and outings, uniforms, etc.) support materials for your son’s leader, maintenance and operating costs of two council-owned camps and much more is provided by the Santa Fe Trail Council.

Scouts pay only a portion of the cost of operating camps. If they had to pay the year-round cost of maintaining and operating camps, few Scouts would be able to afford to attend camp. Camp fees only provide for such things as ‘food and program. Friends of Scouting contributions help to provide the overhead costs and upkeep of the facilities during the "rest of the year."

United Way supports only 12% of Santa Fe Trail Council’s operating costs.

United Way supports many local agencies, and most of these agencies must provide self-support in addition to the United Way income. We use the Friends of Scouting campaign to ask parents and community leaders to pay some of the operating costs the United Way in unable to meet, on an "as able" basis.

Santa Fe Trail Council expends $175 on average per Scout per year.

The council’s budget grows each year.

With over 12% membership growth in each of the past two years, it costs more just to provide the same level of support - and we aim to do better! In addition, inflation and the increased costs of many of the supplies for program support also means that the budget must grow accordingly.

Santa Fe Trail Council and the BSA’s national organization subsidize two-thirds of the actual cost of Cub and Scout Handbooks!

How can you help?
A: Just print out the online form and send it in today with your contribution.