Camp Kingsley turned 100 years old in the fall of 2021 and has been providing a lifetime of memories and friendships for Scouts for over a century! To celebrate this milestone, the Barnes family challenged our community to raise $200,000 worth of gifts or pledges (payable over five years) by March 1, 2021. If we could meet their challenge, they would donate $100,000 in memory of longtime Camp Kingsley volunteer Robert “Bob” Barnes Sr. The proposed Robert “Bob” Barnes, Sr. Welcome Center is a 2,000 square foot building that will honor Bob’s legacy by providing guests with a warm and welcoming space to check into camp, visit the trading post, find a restroom, or meet up with their friends to begin another great outdoor adventure! On March 1, 2021, we met their challenge!! To date, $326,000 has been raised from 391 individuals, foundations, and corporations. Any additional funds we raise will go toward a maintenance fund for this building. If you would like to set up a tour, or you would like to discuss some of the naming opportunities made possible by this very special centennial campaign, please call (315)735-4437, ext. 223. Pinko’s Landscaping will be putting together a donor recognition walkway for those who donate or pledge $250 or more (payable over five years). Donors will have a personalized brick paver placed in front of the Robert Barnes, Sr. Welcome Center in their name, to honor a friend, or in memory of a loved one. Just be sure to enter how you would like the name to appear in the notes below and please feel free to call the same number if you need help completing this form. We will also have a donor wall of honor located in the building. Thank you for supporting Scouting families and Scout programs in your local community!

As with any charitable organization, Scouting survives and grows because of gifts from its friends and supporters. In its early years, Scouting got the materials it needed to administer the Scouting program and build camp facilities from the generosity of merchants, manufacturers, and suppliers in that community. Lumber, paint, hardware, and medical supplies were contributed in support of Scouting. New and used office equipment, computer paper, and other supplies always found their way into new and renovated council service centers. It seemed that almost everyone in town tried to help ensure the success of Scouting in that community.

As councils grew, their needs also grew. Councils did a better job identifying their needs, figuring out their costs, and finding donors to help the council purchase the product or service. Sometimes, they received these gifts every year; other times, the gifts were just one-time contributions. But it worked well for capital and operating needs. This is termed project sales. It continues to grow in size and importance for capital and operating support. In fact, many councils find it as practical and effective to conduct a project sales campaign as to conduct a Friends of Scouting campaign, a special event or activity, or use other council fundraising strategies. Project sales continue to take two forms: gifts-in-kind and specific project support.

Gifts-in-Kind: With a Gift-in-kind a council accepts a gift of goods and services, rather than cash. The best gifts are gifts of goods and services that the council would have needed to purchase in any event; these types of gifts provide “budget relief” for the council. But even gifts that are not immediately needed for council purposes can be sold, traded, or kept for future needs (assuming that storage costs, insurance, liability, etc. don’t become issues)

Specific Project Support: Specific project support is where the council identifies and attempts to “sell” specific, line-item costs for a particular program or activity. The costs are separated and written up as a “project” for potential donors (or underwriters, in some cases). This helps donors understand exactly what they’re asked to support, and how much it will cost. This, too, is an excellent way to match donor interests with specific needs and expenses that are already a part of a council’s operating budget. 

Leave a Legacy

To establish your Scouting legacy you can make a charitable bequest in your will, make a gift of an IRA or a life insurance policy. Estate planning with these vehicles reduces the tax liability for your heirs.  In addition, your final gift to Scouting also cements your  Scouting legacy within your family ensuring your descendants know the important role Scouting should still continue to play in their lives. Additional information can be found at this link.

If you would like to learn about honoring a loved one with a permanently restricted gift to our endowment, or if your financial advisor has any questions about supporting local Scouts with planned gifts through your last will and testament, please call our office at (315)735-4437, ext. 223.