This is the fourth in a five-part series.

FINANCIAL PILLAR

The Circle Ten Council fundraising strategy will be taking a fundamental shift from relying primarily on Friends of Scouting (FOS) and annual giving to a blend of FOS, annual giving, activity fees, additional special events, new grant revenue, product sales and camping revenue. Through the creation of a menu of Scouting and family activities that are professionally run by council program staff, the council will generate program-based revenue not currently received. The increased engagement of foundations and the use of special events will be an additional key in future revenue growth. 

We will grow by expanding and maintaining the financial health of the organization through fiscal stewardship and fund development. 

Strategic Objective: Identify and secure new funding sources through grants, fees, special events and fundraising campaigns. Establish an endowment to fund camp maintenance and staff positions. 

Goal: Increase new foundation and grant revenue. 

2021= $600,000 

2022= $675,000 

2023= $850,000 

Tactics 

• The fund development committee and staff will engage in donor research, specifically targeted at current foundations supporting Circle Ten Council and potential foundations that have supportive mission criteria and scope. 
• The council will create a grant and foundation development staff position. 
• Staff and volunteers will seek to build and maintain relationships with all current and potential foundations that could support Circle Ten Council. 
• Track relationships with foundations through CRM software 
• Invite foundations (current and potential) to events and activities and provide council communication(s) as appropriate. 

Goal: Develop and hold new special events. 

2021= $785k net 

2022= $900k net 

2023= $1.1m net 

Tactics 

• The council will continue to develop committees for existing special events (fundraising events). These committees provide the volunteer support to run each event as well as donor relations and cultivation. 
• The council plans to add a special events staff position to develop new special events in 2021, 2022 and 2023. 

Goal: Develop and implement a fee structure for services, rentals, events and activities. 

2021= $150k 

2022= $220k 

2023= $300k 

Tactics 

• Circle Ten Council will research neighboring councils and organizations for potential fee schedules and pricing models. 
• The program department will determine (with the help of program volunteers and staff) the various services, facilities, and events that should be considered for the fee schedule. 
• The program team will engage an event and calendaring software company to develop an application that can be used to create an online scheduling and fee payment platform for customers. 
• Circle Ten Council will add new program executive position(s) in order to support the additional events and activities. 

Strategic Objective: Increase the number of volunteers in fundraising roles to expand the donor base and quality fundraising and fee generating events, include virtual options. 

Goal: Develop virtual events that are self-sustaining. 

2021= $15k 

2022= $50k 

2023= $100k 

Tactics 

• As a result of changing customer expectations (especially demonstrated during COVID) for an online presence and time constraints, Circle Ten Council will continue initial practices of online merit badge programs and add additional events and activities. 
• Circle Ten Council will look to add new trainings and events, such as University of Scouting, to an online catalog of options for families and volunteers. 
• The council will look to add new “added value” programs online as well (How to do Dutch oven cooking, or how to pack a Scout trailer, etc.). 

Goal: Increase volunteers in fundraising roles. This annually measures council level (C) volunteers (events and FOS) and district (D) FOS volunteers in roles. 

2021= 60-C / 425-D 

2022= 75-C / 475-D 

2023= 100-C / 500-D 

Tactics 

• Circle Ten Council has an established fundraising plan that it will continue to invest in. The council will look to become more efficient at the use of volunteer time and the execution of all fundraising timelines. 
• Council-level fundraising efforts will focus on adding new volunteers to special events and to the “board-level” Friends of Scouting (FOS) campaigns in the coming years. We will engage more volunteers, but with a limited scope of expectation in the number of donors a volunteer is responsible for. Experience has taught us that volunteers are willing to assist when the task is clear with a short timeline and limited amount of effort needed. 
• District-level volunteer recruitment efforts will focus on recruiting leaders within the local communities to raise community funds. Additional focus within a district will include unit-level volunteer recruitment to support each unit (pack, troop, crew) working in the “family campaign.”
• The council will need to engage more volunteers at the district level and unit level to reach donors. Unit-level volunteers generally are responsible for coordinating a presentation or other method to make an “ask” of families in the Scouting program. 
• The council will consider options as it relates to district accreditation and unit accreditation recognition levels and any potential discounts as a way to incentivize units and district-level volunteers to engage in FOS. 

Strategic Objective: Evaluate the use of funds to match strategic direction. 

Goal: Maintain an operating budget that supports the council strategic goals. 

2021= $12.9m 

2022= $13.36m 

2023= $14.15m 

Tactics 

• Council leadership and staff will work to maintain an operating budget that supports the mission and vision of the council strategic plan. 
• Council leadership will continue to assess staffing needs, program features, facility recommendations, trainings, tools and other resources to balance expenditures against income and strategic expectations. 
• The council will utilize relevant and timely reconciliation practices to ensure proper use and accounting of council resources. 
• Circle Ten Council will engage a volunteer led budget committee to oversee the development of an approved council budget annually. 
• Council leadership will review financials on at least a monthly basis measuring actual performance against the budget plan.