Procedures and Limitations on Venturing Summit Award
Service Project Fundraising
The Summit Award Service Project Fundraising Application must be used in obtaining approval for service project
fundraising or for securing in-kind donations such as supplies or materials.* Send the completed form with any
attachments to your local council service center, where it will be routed to those responsible for approval. This may
be a district executive or another staff member, the council or district advancement committee, a finance committee,
etc., as determined by your council. Only one form is required per service project even if there will be multiple events,
participants, or donors.
*This application is not necessary for contributions from the Summit Award candidate, his or her parents or relatives,
the associated crew or its chartered organization, parents or members in that crew, or the beneficiary. All proceeds
left over from fundraising or donations, whether money, materials, supplies, etc., regardless of the source, go to the
beneficiary. If the beneficiary is not allowed, for whatever reason, to retain any excess funds or materials, etc., the
beneficiary should designate a suitable charity to receive them, or allow the crew to retain them. The unit must not
influence this decision.
If the standards below are met, your fundraising effort likely will be approved.
1. Summit Award service projects may not be fundraisers. In other words, the candidate may not stage an effort that
primarily collects money, even if it is for a worthy charity. Fundraising is permitted only for securing materials, etc.,
and otherwise facilitating a project. Unless the effort involves contributions only from the beneficiary, the Summit
Award candidate, his or her parents or relatives, the associated crew or its chartered organization, or from parents
or members in that unit, it must be approved by the local council. This is achieved by submitting the Summit Award
Service Project Fundraising Application.
2. It must be clear to all donors or event participants that the money, materials, or services are being collected on behalf
of the project beneficiary. Once collected, money raised must be turned over to the beneficiary or to the candidate’s
crew for deposit until needed for the project. If the unit receives the funds, it must release them to the beneficiary once
expenses have been paid.
3. Any contracts must be signed by a responsible adult, acting as an individual, without reference to the Boy Scouts of
America. The person who signs the contract is personally liable. Contracts must not and cannot bind the local council,
the Boy Scouts of America, or the crew’s chartered organization.
4. If something is to be sold, we want people to buy it because it is a quality product, not just because of an association
with Scouting or the Venturing program. Buyers or donors must be informed that the money will be used for a Summit
Award service project to benefit a school, religious institution, community, or other entity as chosen, and any funds left
over will go to that beneficiary.
5. Any products sold, or fundraising activities conducted, must be in keeping with the ideals and principles of the BSA.
For example, they must not include raffles or other games of chance.
6. Should any donors want documentation of a gift, this must be provided through the project beneficiary, not the
Boy Scouts of America. If a donor or fundraising participant wants a receipt, this too must be provided in the
name of the beneficiary.
7. Youth are not normally permitted to solicit funds on behalf of other organizations. However, a local council may allow
an exception for Summit Award service projects.
8. Local councils may determine that certain types of fundraisers such as bake sales and car washes do not require a
fundraising application. Councils may also establish dollar thresholds; for example, “Any effort expected to raise less
than $500 does not require an application.”
Fundraising aplication page B