100 Years of Scouting Banner Yankee Clipper Council - Boy Scouts of America
Northeastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire		 Waving American Flag
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National Recognition

for Council Endowment Gifts

Scouting helps young men and women build character, citizenship and fitness. Developing youth who are physically strong, mentally awake, morally straight, has been the work of the Boy Scouts of America since 1910. Our efforts will be even more important in coming years.

Learning from exemplary leaders, engaging programs, and timeless values, Scouts work to improve themselves and their communities. For many, positive attitudes and attributes learned as a youth will continue throughout life. Today’s Scouts will become tomorrow’s leaders in the trades and professions, business, education, government, and all walks of life.

Scouting can benefit every youth, family and community in our nation, but expanding the scope and vigor of Scouting’s programs will require more financial resources.

Encouraging gifts to BSA local council endowment funds is one of our highest priorities. It ensures that a council can continue to offer the outstanding programs they now have and also grow to meet the needs of its youth and community. To recognize such gifts, the BSA offers three national awards for donors. Recognition items are presented by the local council to those donors who qualify for these awards:

James E WestThe James E. West Fellowship Program

Membership in the West Fellowship is available for gifts of $1,000 or more in cash, stocks or bonds to the Yankee Clipper Council . The gift must be in addition to, and not replace or diminish, the donor's annual Friends of Scouting support.

Who was James E. West?

James E. West was the first Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America and he served for more than three decades. Many individuals and corporations make these gifts on behalf of someone else, such as to honor an Eagle Scout, a Scouter retirement, special accomplishment or anniversary, or in memory of another. If an institution is truly "the lengthened shadow of one man," it is fitting that the BSA honor James E. West's significant contributions to Scouting through this fellowship and legacy.

James E. West was appointed to the position of Chief Scout Executive in 1910 by the founding leadership of Scouting in America. West worked with Sir Robert Baden-Powell, Daniel Carter Beard, Ernest T. Seton, and many interested community leaders to give direction to the infant program of Boy Scouts of America. On January 2, 1911, West and others formed the National Council, B.S.A. Under his leadership over the next 33 years, Scouting grew and matured into the program we recognize and enjoy today.

James E West Fellowship Application

Who can Become a James E. West Fellow?

Organizations or individuals may contribute an award in honor of someone -- an Eagle Scout, a Silver Beaver recipient, Council, District or unit Scouter, or in memory of a departed loved one. There can be no finer honor paid to a Scouter than to be named a James E. West Fellow, indicating that the nominee is in the same spirit and dedication to Scouting as was James E. West.

James E West Award KnotHow is the James E. West Fellowship Recognized?

The James E. West Fellowship Award is an attractive 8 X 10 inch certificate, personalized with the honorees name, date of gift and presented in a bound leather presentation folder. In addition, there will be a distinctive lapel pin and an embroidered square knot.

The 1910 Society

1910 Society membership is available to donors who make gifts of $25,000 or more to their council endowments. These gifts can be in the form of cash, securities, land, five-year pledges, or other property suitable for a council endowment (or easily converted to cash). There are four levels of recognition, in honor of four very special individuals who shaped modern-day Scouting:

  1. Ernest Thompson Seton: nationally known artist, naturalist, and author of the first official American Scout handbook, and other important Scouting books; Seton level membership: $25,000 minimum gift.
     

  2. Daniel Carter Beard: first National Court of Honor Chairman, first National Scout Commissioner, and author of many well-known books and stories for youth; Beard level membership: $100,000 and up.
     

  3. Theodore Roosevelt: first Chief Scout Citizen, first Vice President of the BSA, and President of  the United States; Roosevelt level membership: $500,000 and up.
     

  4. 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 the heart of Philmont Scout Ranch; Phillips level membership: $1,000,000 and up.
     
    Founded in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America is proud to honor this special date with this special recognition.

The Founders Circle

The Founders Circle recognizes deferred gifts designated to council endowments. Donors are recognized for gift commitments with a minimum value of $100,000. Donors may qualify with gifts of charitable bequests in a will or codicil; charitable trusts (such as unitrusts, annuity trusts, and lead trusts); gift annuities or pooled income fund gifts; life insurance or IRA/retirement plan designations; other deferred gifts approved by the local council. There are four levels of membership within the Founders Circle:

  1. Bronze: $100,000 and up

  2. Silver: $250,000 and up

  3. Gold: $500,000 and up

  4. Platinum: $1,000,000 and up.

In the spirit of the BSA's early founders, and their vision and commitment to make Scouting the top youth organization in the world, the Founders Circle honors our modern-day visionaries who share their commitment to these visions and beliefs.