Endowment

Thank you for supporting the thousands of youth and families the Cradle of Liberty Council serves throughout Philadelphia, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. Your investment in youth helps build tomorrow’s leaders and participating citizens right here in our area.

Endownment Gifts

Encouraging gifts to the endowment fund is one of Scouting’s highest priorities. It is one of the best ways to ensure that the Cradle of Liberty Council can continue to offer the outstanding programs it now has long into the future and also grow to meet the needs of the youth and communities it serves.
Most of us have heard of the term endowment, but what does it really mean? An endowment is a fund is held in perpetuity to provide interest and dividend earnings for the benefit of a charitable cause. That is the textbook definition, but in reality, an endowment is the life preserver of a charitable organization. To be healthy and stable, Cradle of Liberty Council needs to meet its current operating budget, without exerting 100% of its energy on fundraising. 5% of the operating budget is provided from investment income. After all, our mission is not to raise funds, but rather to continue our strong movement and build a foundation that provides our youth with a quality, values-based program.
Endowment gifts come in many forms beyond an outright cash or stock gift. Many donors name the Cradle of Liberty Council as a beneficiary owner in the following:

  • Wills or codicils
  • Charitable trusts, such as Unitrust, annuity trusts, and lead trusts
  • BSA Gift Annuities or BSA Pooled Income Fund gifts
  • Life Insurance/retirement plan designations
  • Other deferred gifts approved by the council

 

For more information or to make a gift to the endowment fund, please contact development@colbsa.org

 

In its gratitude for such support, the Boy Scouts of America nationally offers two distinct endowment recognition awards which are all a part of the Heritage Society. The Cradle of Liberty Council presents these awards to donors who support Scouting’s financial future through gifts to the endowment.

James E. West Fellowship

This award is named after James E. West who was the first Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America. Dr. West exemplified Ralph Waldo Emerson’s observation that “an institution is the lengthened shadow of one man.” Scouting today is the “lengthened shadow” of more than three decades of the farseeing and dedicated leadership of Dr. James E. West. 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 for the Cradle of Liberty Council.

Recognition

There are now four levels of the James E. West Fellowship Award, which is the national recognition for individuals who contribute $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 or more in cash or marketable securities to the Council’s Endowment Trust Fund. This gift must be in addition to – and not replace or diminish – the donor’s annual Friends of Scouting support. Many individuals and organizations make these gifts on behalf of someone else – such as in honor of an Eagle Scout, Silver Beaver recipient, Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, a retirement, a special accomplishment, or anniversary – or in memory of a special individual.

The James E. West Fellowship Award is recognized with a personalized certificate. In addition, a distinctive lapel pin ($1,000 -bronze pin, $5,000- silver pin, $10,000-gold pin, $15,000-diamond pin) and an exclusive knot for the uniform are presented at a special recognition program. The recipient will also be included in special Cradle of Liberty Council events and mailings in the future.

Click here for the James E. West Application

Click here for the James E. West Giving Circle Application

For online giving to the James E. West, click here

Annual Giving Society

At the beginning of 2023, the Cradle of Liberty introduced five new giving societies to recognize donors who give directly to support the Annual Giving Campaign. As a member of one of the Giving Societies, members receive a patch specific to their society, as well as special invitations to special events throughout the year.

$1,000 to $2,499: Golden Eagle Society

Members will receive a special “Golden Eagle Society” patch, quarterly updates on program successes and special “Golden Eagle Society” invitations to events throughout the year.

$2,500 to $4,999: Dan Beard Society

Members will receive a special “Dan Beard Society” patch, quarterly updates on program successes and special “Dan Beard Society” invitations to events throughout the year.

$5,000 to $9,999: W. D. Boyce Society

Members will receive a special “W. D. Boyce Society” patch, quarterly updates on program successes and special “W. D. Boyce Society” invitations to events throughout the year.

$10,000 to $19,999: Ernest Thompson Seton Society

Members will receive a special “Ernest Thompson Seton Society” lapel pin, quarterly updates on program successes and special “Ernest Thompson Seton Society” invitations to events throughout the year.

$20,000 and above: Baden Powell Society

Members will receive a special “Baden Powell Society” lapel pin, quarterly updates on program successes and special “Baden Powell Society” invitations to events throughout the year.

Good Turn Society

All donors with new gifts of at least $25,000 are eligible for induction into the Good Turn Society at their lifetime cumulative giving level. Good Turn Society members exemplify all that is most admirable about Scouting, including a commitment to service above self, a drive to go above and beyond to achieve an important goal, a willingness to be a model for others, and the courage to demonstrate leadership through their investment in Scouting. Good Turn Society members are truly Scouting’s heroes. Honoring their commitment to train the future leaders of America with formal induction into the appropriate Good Turn Society level. Based on membership level, benefits can include a personalized proclamation, lapel pin, challenge coin, medallion, and exclusive event access.

Trailhead Member
$25,000 to $99,999

Scout Oath Member
$100,000 to $499,999

Scout Law Member
$500,000 to $999,999

Good Turn Member
$1 million to $4.99 million

On My Honor Member
$5 million to $9.99 million

Duty to Others Member
$10 million to $14.99 million

 

 

Good Citizen Member
$15 million to $24.99 million

WP Society
$25 million to $49.99 million

Heritage Society
$50 million to $74.99 million

Fleur-de-lis Society
$75 million to $99.99 million

True North Society
$100 million and above

Visionary Leader Distinction
Reserved for all Good Turn Society members
whose gifts are made through a last will or other bequest.

 
 

The council staff will be working remotely and, as always, you can reach out the to helpdesk@colbsa.org.

Please stay safe!

Due to inclement weather, the Firestone Scouting Resource Center and Valley Forge Scout Shop will be closed on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
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