[throwback]

Wonder where the funding goes? When I was in Scouts, our troop was pretty self sufficient; bought our own uniforms, equipment, and transport was done by volunteers. We were completely oblivious to some big corporate donor. The only thing we used in the community was meeting in a local public school. I'm sure we could have avoided that by switching to a church. I think BSA is too grass roots to crush. Intel on the hand is dependent on customers.

[Martin Tell]

National funding does support some things that make it down to local level, like training for adult leaders. The individual troops are, however, almost completely financially independent, and could easily become fully independent if necessary.

In fact, the troops give a lot to the national organization through dividing the money collected through popcorn sales. I have been with my son's troop the past two weekends while they sold popcorn outside a large grocery store - I won't cause the store problems like a boycott by revealing their name.

The sale have gone really well, and that's good because National dramatically increased our quota this year. Almost everyone reacted well to being asked to buy. While not everyone bought the expensive popcorn (with today's economy? Are you kidding?), most responded with statements of support, and many gave a dollar or two as a donation.

There were two negative incidents: one guy gave a dirty look and spit on the ground; other dude stuttered that he would buy "when they stopped discriminating." I'm guessing these guys are not morally straight.

[fremont_steve]

Well - unfortunately this isn’t true. While troops might be self-sufficient (some aren’t..) the level up troops run ONLY on donations from the community. I’m talking about the council level offices. That place where you bought your uniform or the Scout Master ordered the merit badges costs money to keep open. They have staff there that oversees record keeping of the Scout’s advancement, coordinate operations of the Summer camps owned by the councils, etc. Money for these operations comes primarily from donations.