Endowment

The Gulf Ridge Council Endowment Funds help to cover our ongoing operating costs at several levels throughout the council. A number of our camp buildings, some of our training expenses, even some day-to-day operations are partially funded through interested earned on Endowment gifts.

Members of the James E. West Fellowship and of the 1910 Society have made special contributions to the endowment funds. Others have made significant commitments to Scouting through one or another of the many deferred giving options.

James E. West Fellowship


The James E. West Fellowship Award is a national recognition for individuals who contribute $1,000 (which can be paid over a two year period) or more in cash or securities to their local council endowment trust fund. This contribution is in addition to, and does not diminish or replace, the donor’s annual gift to the council’s Friends of Scouting Campaign.
Organizations or individuals may contribute an award in honor of someone – an Eagle Scout, a Silver Beaver recipient, council president, or district chairman, or in memory of a departed loved one, business associate, or special Scouter.
Those who are recognized by the James E. West Fellowship Award will cast their own "lengthened shadow" as they help ensure the Scouting legacy for future generations of young people and create the financial stability of the program in the twenty-first century for their local council.

1910 Society


A special national recognition program known as the 1910 Society was created in 1995 to encourage significant gifts to the council endowment fund. This support is vital to the financial stability of the Capitol Area Council, and will ensure our Scouting legacy for future generations of young Americans.
To qualify as a member of the 1910 Society, an individual donor, company, or organization must contribute $25,000 or more to the local council endowment fund. Recognition will be given for gifts of cash, stock, bonds, lead trusts, or other assets that could be readily converted to cash. The gift to endowment may be in the form of a pledge, but the pledge must be paid within five years of the pledge date.
The 1910 Society was named for the year in which the early, visionary leaders of Scouting founded the Boy Scouts of America. There are four levels of recognition in the 1910 Society:
  • Ernest Thompson Seton, nationally known artist and naturalist, author of the first official American Scout handbook and many other books important to Scouting; Seton level membership: $25,000 minimum gift.
  • Daniel Carter Beard, first chairman of the National Court of Honor, National Scout Commissioner, and author of many well- known books and stories for youth; Beard level membership: $100,000 minimum gift.
  • Theodore Roosevelt, first Chief Scout Citizen, first vice president of the BSA, and President of the United States; Roosevelt level membership: $500,000 minimum gift.
  • Waite Phillips, one of the BSA's first benefactors, and donor to the BSA of almost 130,000 acres of land in New Mexico and what is now Philmont Scout Ranch; Phillips level membership: $1,000,000 and up.
Members receive a leather-bound edition of the Boy Scout Handbook with their name embossed in gold on the cover, an attractive personalized parchment certificate and a distinctive lapel pin or charm. They also receive invitations to special members-only events and receptions at National Meetings, Jamborees, and other major Scouting events.

Deferred Giving


There are many ways to support the Boy Scouts of America financially. Some will choose to make a commitment to Scouting through deferred giving which might include a gift through a will, life insurance, sale of stocks or property at a future date, etc. Click on the following link for some general information about the BSA Deferred Giving Program. For more specific information, or to set up an appointment for a personal interview, contact George McGovern, Scout Executive.

Will Sez