Plan, Develop, and Give Leadership

[TCC7]

My nephew is in another Council from ours and just had his Court of Honor. We were all proud and still are, but I asked his Mother how he raised the money for the project and she replied it was from family donations. In other words the parents funded the project. In my District, this is not allowed. I know that while a Life Scout, he must plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project. I define plan to include raising the funds for the project by fundraiser, work, soliciting donations from others and businesses. Not Mom or Dad. How does your District or Council treat this issue?

[ASM-142]

there is nothing wrong with raising money through donations - even donations that come from family and friends. Sure it may be better if the scout raised money outside his family but that is not required.

[Rick Tyler]

I define plan to include raising the funds for the project by fundraiser, work, soliciting donations from others and businesses. Not Mom or Dad. How does your District or Council treat this issue?

The Eagle requirements do not include fundraising.

[OldGreyBear]

TCC7, your district is in error. Look at the Eagle Leadership Project requirements, the only thing about fundraising mentioned is that the project cant just be a fundraiser. I agree its a better experience for the scout to mange a budget regarding his project, but its not a requirement and cant be made one

[ASM-142]

Another thing to consider is that an Eagle project does not have to cost anything or be totally paid for from the benefitting organization - and therefore would not need a fundraiser of any kind

[evmori]

There is no fundraising requirements for Eagle projects. In my area, most Life Scouts get the materials donated for their Eagle projects.

[TCC7]

Most of you are misunderstanding when I say fundraiser. The project itself cannot be a fundraiser, but you are able to have a fundraiser to raise money for the project.

[wagionvigil]

But There is nothing in the requirements covering this except to say a scout cannot have a fundraiser for their project. SO for a council to say you cannot get money for your project from your family is wrong. Here we go again"Troop Rules"

[TCC7]

wagionvigil stated:

But There is nothing in the requirements covering this except to say a scout cannot have a fundraiser for their project.

The Advancement Policies and Procedures states as a note.

Fundraising is permitted only for securing materials or supplies needed to carry out the project.

They want to make that they cannot have a fundraiser as their project.

[wagionvigil]

That is correct

[ASM-142]

Materials that are needed can be donated for the project. Family members can not be excluded from making donations.

[EagleBoy62204]

Materials that are needed can be donated for the project. Family members can not be excluded from making donations.

But wouldnt you agree that it kind of looks tacky if the whole project was funded by one swift effort by the family of the Eagle Scout Canidate. Knowing that if he cant raise the funds quickly enough that he may not get the project done? I dont have a problem with that, but a lot of troops in my District, along with my council frown apon that. They want the boy to go out and earn the money through drives, or soliciating companies.

[cballman]

but if you ask people or companies for money or materials then you cannot rule out families for money or materials donations. because these same people might not have been asked to help out with other projects and then their son did ask them. so lets not be so hard on any one person who has the resourses to do this. just my own little humble opinion

[Rick Tyler]

Materials that are needed can be donated for the project. Family members can not be excluded from making donations.

But wouldnt you agree that it kind of looks tacky if the whole project was funded by one swift effort by the family of the Eagle Scout Canidate. Knowing that if he cant raise the funds quickly enough that he may not get the project done? I dont have a problem with that, but a lot of troops in my District, along with my council frown apon that. They want the boy to go out and earn the money through drives, or soliciting companies.

Here's a question to ask some adult leaders at those troops: Why not make him swim naked and blind-folded through a lagoon filled with sharks with lasers on their heads while Marines lob grenades at him? That would be a real Eagle Scout! If they are going to add requirements they might as well go all the way.

[TCC7]

I emailed my District Eagle Board Chair if it was OK for family to underwrite an Eagle project. His answer. NO!

[Rick Tyler]

I emailed my District Eagle Board Chair if it was OK for family to underwrite an Eagle project. His answer. NO!

I mean this seriously and not as an attack: ask him to show you in the Advancement policies book or the Boy Scout Handbook where it says that. I've been down this road -- there is NOTHING in Scouting literature to support his position. District Scouters make stuff up just like unit-level Scouters sometimes do.

[TCC7]

Thanks Rick. He is my next program for Roundtable and will present to the leaders the ins and outs of Eagle projects in our district. I probably will ask him in private to save having a big dispute in front of everyone. And for right now he is the boss.

[JazerNorth]

I am assuming that the initial question was asked because a project idea needs funding. I am also assuming that the poster is not sure if he (or a scout) should submit the project, because it does require fund raising to complete the project. Here is a suggestion:
1 - Submit the project, including the process for fund raising.
2 - Wait for it to be passed or denied.
3 - If it passes, then go to number 7.
4 - If it is denied, there should be a reason included with the denial.
5 - If the denial is the fund raising, remove the fund raising from the project.
6 - Resubmit the project.
7 - Have a the Troop, family, etc to a fund raising for the project.
8 - If you get enough to do the project, go to number 10.
9 - If you did not get enough to do the project, submit another project idea and give the raised funds to the organization you were going to do the project for.
10 - Do the project as you planned.
11 - If the fund raising was approved with the project, then you can include it in your project analysis. If it was not approved, DO NOT include it with your analysis.

Some of you may think this is "breaking" the rules. If fund raising is not part of the project, then there are two projects. One to raise funds, second is the Eagle project. This is all a matter of what to include and what not to include. This is life. Money has to come from somewhere for some of these organizations.

Just my opinion.

JazerNorth[/list]

[ASM-142]

Thanks Rick. He is my next program for Roundtable and will present to the leaders the ins and outs of Eagle projects in our district. I probably will ask him in private to save having a big dispute in front of everyone. And for right now he is the boss.

I think that it would be better to bring this out in anb open forum so everyone knows what the real requirements are and not what was added by district. This may of prevented other scouts from earning their Eagle in the past.

[ASM-142]

I emailed my District Eagle Board Chair if it was OK for family to underwrite an Eagle project. His answer. NO!

If he has nothing in writing on this I would let him know that I was going to raise this question to National and then let them respond.

A Council, District, or Troop can not add their own requirements.