Fundraising Leadership Samples

Stewardship Highlights

  • Consistently guided fiscal operations to budget surpluses within the four Councils I have served as Scout Executive including the following highlights:

    • Surpluses - Since 2018, have led the Mount Baker Council to six consecutive years of operating surpluses with a low of $81k and high of $192k with budgets between 1.7 million to 2.1 million.

    • Net Asset Growth -As Scout Executive in Mount Baker Council in Everett, managed and guided unrestricted new assets growth in the Operating Fund by increase of 71% from $463k at 2017 year-end to $793K at 2021 year-end. 

    • ​​Cash Balances - Provided the leadership to increase the on-hand cash balance of the Mount Baker Council from $592k in December 2019 to $1,131K by December 2021, improving cash flow management.

    • ​​Surpluses - Guided Grand Rapids Council operating budgets back to surpluses after three years of operating deficits, including a $700,000 turn-around from 2013 to 2014.
    • Surpluses - Managed Duluth's budget to a surplus as Scout Executive including exceeding budgeted surpluses with achievements of $189,000, $67,000, $38,000, and $31,000.
  • Debit Elimination - Working side-by-side with council leadership, developed skills in guiding a fiscal health plan for council fiscals including erasing a $450,000 net asset debt in four years in Duluth, Minnesota four years ahead of planned timetable.
  • Cash Flow - Experience and success in managing a council's cash flow including improving the Duluth Council's cash deficit of -$127,000 to cash on hand of $299,783 in four years, an improvement of $427,383.  
  • Volunteer Engagement - Guiding and strengthening volunteer involvement in fiscal procedures and internal controls through creations of Council Budget Committees, Council Audit Committees and creation of a Vice-President of Fiscal Stewardship position to oversee fiscal health plan achievement.

Development Highlights

EVERETT, WASHINGTON
  • Popcorn - Led Mount Baker Council team to achieve #1 seller among Class 400 Councils in 2022 ($853,000) and in 2023 (956,000).  The Council was # 26 in total sales among all councils and #5 in Per Scout $ sold.  Unit Sales average has grown from $7,496 in 2021 to $12,266 in 2023.
  • Endowment/Major Gifts- Working with the Mount Baker Scout Foundation leadership, provided management for endowment funds that resulted in a 39% increase in assets from $4.8 million in 2018 to $6.6 million in 2023, which included securing gifts totaling $580,000 in the past 2 years.
    ​Capital Funding -     Secured a $1 million dollar gift in June 2023 for a new capital campaign of $1.55 million for projects at Fire Mountain Scout Camp over next 3 years. Conducted a mini-capital campaign of $140,000 in 2022 for a new Anniversary Plaza at camp. Also, managed the completion of a camp capital fundraising and construction campaign of $1.5 million that produced seventeen significant new facilities and three important infrastructure projects.
  • Auction - Provided guidance and management to raise the revenue from the Council Auction from $179,843 ($131k after expenses) in 2018 to $438,179 ($363k after expenses) in 2021 through increased sponsorships, matching funds, increased online participation, and VIP in-person event.
  • Recurring giving - Developed and launched a recurring donor campaign, the FMSC Club, which raised $130k in its first year (2021) of recurring donations (monthly or annual gifts).
  • Special Program Funding -To grow units, led a campaign to raise $175k in new funds in 2021 for a New Unit Sales team (1 full-time manager and up to 3 part-time staff) toward a goal of 15-20 new units each year with 250-300 youth.​
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

  • Capital Funding - In 2016-2017, led team that raised $6.2 million in capital and endowment dollars for the Build Character Today, Lead Tomorrow campaign and the DeVos Family Center for Scouting - Adventure Point program facility. Included a $1 million lead gift.

  • Direct Support -After a few years of declining revenue, in 2014, President Ford grew direct support income by 15.3% to $920K and also gained in 2015.

  • Special Events -In three years at President Ford, Special Event income rose over 80% to nearly $271,000 with a focus on improving efficiency and increasing number of sponsors.

​​HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS

  • FOS - Consistent Friends of Scouting results including a 36.5% increase to $85,089 in the 2013 FOS Campaign in Haverhill, Massachusetts 

  • Special Events - Added innovative ScoutStrong Hike-a-thon in Haverhill that raised $20,000 in new funds in the first year.

  • ​Endowment/Major Gifts - Securing large donor contributions including a $100,000 Endowment gift in 2013 

  • Capital Funding -Securing capital dollars by guiding the creation of two conservation easements of 254 acres of wetlands and unused land that raised over $920,000 in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

DULUTH, MINNESOTA

  • Special Events -Managing successful special event fundraisers with improved results such as the golf fundraiser in Duluth that improved from $27,500 to over $40,000 in one year.

  • FOS -Added an exciting Good Scout FOS Ask Event in Duluth, Minnesota that raised $38,000 in its first year.

  • ​​Popcorn Sales - Guiding product sales increases of 20% to $233,000 as Scout Executive in Duluth, Minnesota.

Fiscal Health Strategies


  • Strong Fiscal Capacity insures that the Council has sufficient, well-trained staff and volunteers, good internal and external communications, as well as adequate and efficient use of resources for proper administration of the Council Operations. 
  • Sufficient Revenue Generation describes the critical need for developing, providing for, and executing the necessary fundraising strategies for the Council to implement its mission as outlined in its strategic plan. 
  • Good Governance is necessary to insure the Council’s resources are being properly managed and utilized as various regulatory agencies require. 
  • Utilizing the five financial indicators of a fiscally sound Council; governance, cash flow, operating balance, accumulated debt and revenue generation.

Fiscal Stewardship

A Scout Executive must be able to help the Council Executive Board manage its council's assets to achieve a strong fiscal health foundation that will enable the council to have the cash flow necessary to achieve a premier program. I have had the opportunity to consistently assist councils in achieving these goals. Below, I have listed key stewardship strategies I believe in.

Development

A Scout Executive must be able to help and guide a Council Development Committee to manage a sound fundraising strategy that will be instrumental to the success of all types of fundraising efforts including Friends of Scouting, Capital Campaigns and Endowment development.  The Scout Executive must take a direct interest in the recruiting and cultivating of the highest quality people to achieve the strategy’s objectives.  Below, I have listed key fundraising strategies I believe in.

Fundraising Strategies

  • People give to people. Relationships are the key.
  • The money raised is directly proportional to the quality of people recruited.
  • The higher the level in the campaign structure that we fail to fill a position, the greater the loss of contributions.
  • Few people make a gift without being asked and …no one makes an increase without being encouraged.
  • Keep it simple. Don’t make it complicated.
  • Without thanks and recognition, the good feeling of giving decreases at an accelerated pace.
  • Paper only informs, people inspire…only people raise money.
  • Sponsorships are the key to a successful Special Event fundraiser.

Development and Fiscal stewardship

I believe that fundraising and fiscal stewardship are about following a sound strategy, volunteer-led and professional supported, and the ability to recruit ‘top-notch” people.  If you have good people, strong networking skills, and are disciplined, your fundraising objectives can be accomplished.  If you follow set internal fiscal controls, be proactive in budget projections and follow key fiscal strategies, you can also achieve financial health.  Since my career began with the Boy Scouts, I have consistently achieved the fundraising and stewardship objectives set for my service area, either as a District Executive, a Finance Director, as part of the council management staff and as four-time Scout Executive.


Scout Executive