Leverage - Beter Known as "A Scout is Thrifty"

Everyone who knows me understands that I get a little emotional about the miracle of Friends of Scouting (FOS), our annual campaign. FOS is very near and dear to my heart, for a variety of reasons. Of course, the most important reason is I weep with joy after a successful campaign is that it means we can, for one more year, continue to provide the best possible character development program for kids. FOS enables the Council to fulfill Baden-Powell’s dream…to form a world-wide movement where all people will live by the tenets of the Scout Oath and Law. And change the world for the better.

FOS also has several other endearing characteristics:

1. Our Family FOS campaign enables us to present the Scouting story to our own members, allowing them the opportunity to see firsthand how important it is for them to invest in Scouting. And they do! We have one of the highest per capita family donor amounts in the Central Region.


2. Because of our Community FOS campaign, community leaders are on the street telling the Scouting story to their peers. This gives a wide variety of influential people the opportunity to hear about our mission, and invest in the future of America.


3. Our Executive Board continues to offer great support for FOS. We anticipate being at 100% of Director support this year. Who will support us if our leadership doesn’t support us?


4. This FOS support from our families, our Board and the community at large enables us to successfully leverage donations from corporations, foundations, and United Way.
   

While we are talking money, let’s look at some hard leverage numbers.

• Did you know that for every $1 received in the FOS campaign, that we receive $42 in time value donated by volunteer leaders?


• Did you know that for every FOS dollar received, we receive an additional $2 from the entrepreneurial efforts of our Scouts through the Product Sales Campaign?


• Did you know that we have five professional staff, and nine support staff who leverage the volunteer efforts of almost 3,000 registered volunteers? This doesn’t include the thousands of parents who give outstanding support to Scouting, but who are not currently registered members.

In this incredibly scary time of economic chaos and roller coaster rides on Wall Street, I can offer you some sound, rock solid investment advice: Put your money into one of the safest, and productive investment packages available today…Friends of Scouting. Your investment will be protected by outstanding stewardship and governance by an engaged Board of Directors and Council staff. And it will be used to invest in our future, one youth at a time.

And no bonuses will be paid to any executives.