Support Scouting
Major Gifts
Giving to the Hawkeye Area Council endowment fund is one of the best ways to ensure that the Council can continue to offer outstanding programs and grow to meet the needs of youth in the community.
To endow means to provide or to equip. An endowment is a fund that 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.
For the donor, an endowment gift says, "Scouting is important to me and my family." It says that Scouting truly is a movement with a mission for me. It’s more than an organization; it’s a way of life. It’s what we say and do in the spirit of the Scout Oath and Law.
To recognize such gifts, three national awards can be presented by the Council.
- James E. West Fellowship Award
- 1910 Heritage Society
- Founders Circle
James E West Fellowship
The James E. West Fellowship Award is a national recognition for individuals who contribute $1,000 or more in cash or securities to the Hawkeye Area 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.
Each donor is recognized with a personalized certificate, distinctive pin and an embroidered square knot which you may wear on your uniform.
There are several levels which are achieved with an accumulated level of giving to the James E. West Fellowship.
James E. West Fellowship Member:
- $1,000 + James E West
- $2,500 + James E West Bronze Level
- $5,000 + James E West Silver Level
- $10,000 + James E West Gold Level
- $15,000 + James E West Platinum Level
- $20,000 + James E West Diamond Level
James E West Endowment Painting Brochure
1910 Heritage Society
The 1910 Heritage Society was named in recognition of the year in which the visionary early leaders founded the Boy Scouts of America, which was patterned after the fledgling-but popular-Scouting program developed in England by Sir Baden-Powell.
Those who make a gift now of $25,000 or more, to further endow Scouting are themselves modern-day visionaries. It is appropriate, therefore, that these visionaries be recognized as they help ensure the Scouting legacy for future generations of young Americans by undergirding the financial stability of the BSA programs in the Hawkeye Area Council into the future.
- Seton level membership: $25,000 minimum gift
Ernest Thompson Seton was a nationally known artist and naturalist, author of the first official American Scout handbook and many other books important to Scouting. - Beard level membership: $100,000 minimum gift
Daniel Carter Beard was the first chairman of the National Court of Honor, National Scout Commissioner, and author of many well- known books and stories for youth. - Roosevelt level membership: $500,000 minimum gift
Theodore Roosevelt was the first Chief Scout Citizen, first vice president of the BSA, and President of the United States of America. - Phillips level membership: $1,000,000 and up
Waite Phillips was 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.
Founders Circle
The Founders Circle recognizes deferred gifts designated to the Hawkeye Area Councils Endowment Fund. Donors are recognized for gift commitments with a minimum value of $100,000 made through:
- Bequest in a will or codicil
- Charitable gifts, such as unitrusts, annuity trusts and lead trusts.
- BSA Gifts Annuities or BSA Pooled Income Fund gifts.
- Life insurance or retirement plan designation.
- Other deferred gifts approved by the local council.
There are four levels of membership in the Founders Circle.
- Bronze $100,000 minimum gift commitment
- Silver $250,000 minimum gift commitment
- Gold $500,000 minimum gift commitment
- Platinum $1,000,000 minimum gift commitment
The early founders of the BSA had the vision and commitment to make Scouting the premier youth organization in the world. In that spirit, we honor the modern-day visionaries who qualify for the Founders Circle in their commitment to perpetuate the visions and beliefs of those founders.
For More Information
For more information on supporting a legacy of Scouting and giving to the Hawkeye Area Council endowment fund, please contact Scout Executive Travis Christopher.