Endowment Recognition

The Detroit Area Council Heritage Society

Every Scouter, and friend of Scouting, is invited to join the Detroit Area Council Heritage Society. 

The Heritage Society recognizes those individuals who clearly see the significant benefits of Scouting and who believe deeply enough in the Detroit Area Council to invest in its future. Anyone who chooses to, may qualify for membership in the Heritage Society by making an outright gift to the Detroit Area Council Trust Fund, or by a planned or deferred gift to the fund through their will or estate plan. 

Learn more about the Detroit Area Council Heritage Society

National Recognition Awards for Local Council Endowment Gifts

In its gratitude for such support, the BSA nationally offers three distinct endowment recognition awards. These awards are presented by the local council to donors who support Scouting's financial future with council endowment gifts.

Those programs are:

• The James E. West Fellowship Program
• The 1910 Society
• The Founder's Circle

The James E. West Fellowship Program

James E. West was the first Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America and he served in that position for more than three decades. The West Fellowship award is available to those who make gifts of $1,000 and up in cash or marketable securities to a council endowment fund. The gift must be in addition to -- and not replace or diminish -- the donor's annual Friends of Scouting support. Many individuals and corporations make these gifts on behalf of someone else -- such as in honor of an Eagle Scout, Silver Beaver recipient, a retirement, special accomplishment or anniversary -- or in memory of a special individual. If an institution is truly " the lengthened shadow of one man," it is more than fitting that the BSA honor James E. West's significant contributions to Scouting in such a significant way.

Each donor will be recognized with a personalized 8-by-10 inch certificate, distinctive lapel pin/charm and an embroidered square knot.

Information and applications are available from a District James E. West Chairman, or by contacting the Council's James E. West Chairman at the Scout Service Center (313) 361-1250.

Learn more about the Detroit Area Council James E. West Fellowship Program.

The 1910 Society

Founded in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has grown into something larger and more significant than anyone expected. We honor that special date by presenting The 1910 Society award 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 fund or easily converted to cash. There are four levels of recognition within The 1910 Society, in honor of four very special individuals who shaped modern-day Scouting:

1) Ernest Thompson Seton, nationally known artist and naturalist, author of the first official American Scout handbook, and many other books important to Scouting;

Seton level membership: $25,000 minimum gift

2) Daniel Carter Beard, first chairman of the National Court of Honor, National Scout Commissioner, and author of many well-known books and stories for youth;

Beard level membership: $100,000 minimum gift

3) Theodore Roosevelt, first Chief Scout Citizen, first Vice President of the BSA, and President of the United States;

Roosevelt level membership: $500,000 minimum gift

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 what is now Philmont Scout Ranch;

Phillips level membership: $1,000,000 and up

The Founders Circle

The newest level of endowment recognition, The Founders Circle is intended to recognize deferred gifts designated for council endowment funds. With deferred giving (also called planned giving) so widely and effectively used by so many donors, the BSA wants to recognize the importance of such major gifts. Donors are recognized for gift commitments with a minimum value of $100,000. Unlike the other endowment recognition awards, a donor may qualify for membership with gifts made through:

• Charitable bequests in a will or codicil;
• Charitable trusts, such as unitrusts, annuity trusts, and lead trusts;
• BSA Gift Annuities or BSA Pooled Income Fund gifts;
• Life insurance/Retirement Plan designations;
• BSA Pooled Income Fund gifts
• Other deferred gifts approved by the local council

As with the 1910 Society, there are four levels of membership within the Founders Circle. They are:

• 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 number one youth organization in the world. In that spirit, we honor the modern-day visionaries who qualify for the Founders Circle with their commitment to perpetuate the visions and beliefs of those founders.

For additional information, please contact Chuck Lang at the Detroit Area Council Development Office via e-mail or by phone at (313) 361-1250 or (313) 897-1965 ext 250 or by fax at (313) 897-9880.

Last Edited March 05, 2007