Don’t want to make your gift online? Do you want to make your gift in payments? Please scroll to the bottom of this page for a special form.
James E. West Fellowship gifts are made at the following levels:
- $1,000-$4,999 Bronze Level
- $5,000-$9,999 Silver Level
- $10,000-$14,999 Gold Level
- $15,000+ Diamond Level
Donors may make cumulative gifts to reach Silver, Gold, and Diamond Levels.
Who was James E. West?
James E. West was the first Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America. His more than 30 years of energy and leadership played a key role in developing the momentum that resulted in Scouting’s success as one of the most enduring and impactful youth-serving programs in our nation’s history.
What is the James E. West Fellowship?
The James E. West Fellowship Award is a recognition authorized by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America and presented by the Capitol Area Council to those who give $1,000 or more to our council’s endowment fund through a James E. West Fellowship. Such contributions are in addition to, not instead of, the donor’s annual gift to the Friends of Scouting or similar fundraising campaign.
Your James E. West Fellowship gift should not replace or reduce your annual Friends of Scouting support. Our council relies on your Friends of Scouting gift for expenses that are necessary to provide the Scouting program day-in, day-out over the course of a year. Instead, James E. West gifts are a great way to honor an Eagle Scout, Silver Beaver recipient, Scout volunteer or loved ones including non-Scouters, youth or adults.
How does your gift serve Scouting?
Your gift will be invested in our council’s endowment fund, with every penny benefiting local Scouting programs in Central Texas. Our endowment assets are invested in a disciplined manner by a knowledgeable committee of our council’s Executive Board members and investment/finance professionals from the community.
The endowment is a crucial part of how our council funds the Scouting program each year. The endowment has provided a stable, permanent source of income since its inception in 1973. Our council never spends the corpus, or “seed money”, of the endowment – only a percentage of its earnings. In this way, gifts to our council’s endowment truly become an everlasting legacy in support of local Scouting.
Over the past five years, endowment earnings have provided a total of $2.7 million in funding to our council’s operating and capital budgets. This helped build the new aquatics complex at Lost Pines, launched new STEM programs, make improvements to Cub World at Camp Tom Wooten and Smilin V Scout Ranch, and more.
Just so we’re clear: the principal from monies contributed to the Endowment Fund through the James E. West Fellowship is never spent; only the interest is used to further our council’s programs and outreach.
Who may become a West Fellow?
Individuals may make a qualifying contribution on their own or in honor of or in memorial to another person or organization. Past honorees include Eagle Scouts, departed loved ones, or anyone who has demonstrated West’s passion for youth development.
Click here to find a list of our James E. West Fellows
How is a West Fellow recognized?
The James E. West Fellowship is recognized with a personalized 8”x10” certificate, a distinctive lapel pin, and an embroidered square knot award that may be worn on a BSA field uniform. The recognition is immediate and is presented after a donor pledges his or her Fellowship gift. While we prefer gifts paid in full immediately, donors may choose to pay over a three year period.
