Annual Membership fee information
Understanding the Palmetto Council Program Fee Increase
Beginning July 1, 2026, the Palmetto Council annual program fee for registered youth and adult members in our traditional Scouting programs will increase from by $25 annually, from $20 to $45 per year. This decision was approved by the Executive Board after several months of financial review, discussion, and analysis of the long-term sustainability of our Council and local Scouting programs.
We recognize that any fee increase affects our families and volunteers, and the Board did not make this decision lightly. The purpose of this article is to provide additional background on why the increase is necessary, how the Council uses these funds, and what steps are being taken to ensure the continued strength and independence of Scouting in our area.
Why Is the Council Increasing Fees?
The Palmetto Council has experienced the same challenges facing many Scouting councils across the country over the past decade:
Declining membership nationwide
Reduced participation in fundraising programs
Lower charitable giving and sponsorships
Increased operational and insurance-related costs
Lingering effects from COVID-19 and the national bankruptcy
Despite these challenges, Palmetto Council has worked hard to maintain one of the lowest council fees in the nation while continuing to deliver exceptional value to our families and units. The Council has consistently ranked among the most cost-effective councils in America based on the average cost to serve a scout.
Over the last several years, however, fundraising participation and charitable giving have steadily declined:
Direct Support (donations) has fallen from more than $615,000 in 2017 to approximately $461,000 in 2025.
Popcorn sales have declined for three consecutive years, with only about 24% of Scouts participating.
Camp card sales have also declined significantly in recent years.
United Way support has dropped dramatically over time, from approximately $250,000 annually in 2000 to about $20,000 expected in 2026.
As a result, the Council has annually struggled to balance its budget despite reducing expenses and consolidating services wherever possible. Since 2021, the Council has balanced its budget three years and not balanced the other three, with a cumulative surplus of just $87,094, significantly restraining growth.
The Board determined that additional recurring revenue is now necessary to maintain essential services and preserve the long-term health of the Council.
What Does the Council Program Fee Support?
The Council fee helps fund the local services and infrastructure that support Scouting across our six-county area. The value provided through the Council program fee includes:
Recruitment and membership growth efforts
Unit service and volunteer support
Youth protection and risk management
Leader training programs
Council camps and property maintenance
Advancement administration
Program planning and event coordination
Fundraising support for units
Support for new and underserved units
Insurance and operational administration
Today, Palmetto Council serves approximately 3,000 youth and 1,000 adult volunteers.
Although much of Scouting is volunteer-led, maintaining a safe and effective council operation requires professional staff, insurance coverage, technology systems, camp maintenance, and administrative support.
How Does Palmetto Council Compare to Other Councils?
Even after the increase, Palmetto Council will remain one of the most affordable councils in the region and below the national average for council fees.
Examples of neighboring council fees include:
Mecklenburg County (Charlotte): $65
Indian Waters (Columbia): $65
Blue Ridge (Greenville): $25
Occoneechee (Raleigh): $80
Palmetto Council also continues to provide many activities and training opportunities at significantly lower costs than surrounding councils. For example:
NYLT remains approximately $50 locally compared to $300+ in many nearby councils
BALOO/IOLS and Day Camp fees also remain below or equal to surrounding councils
Nationally, Palmetto Council ranks among the most cost-effective councils in America based on dollars spent per Scout served and continues to provide premium value relative to many youth-serving organizations.
Why Not Simply Cut Expenses Further?
Over the past several years, the Council has already made substantial efforts to reduce expenses and improve efficiency.
Examples include:
Consolidating professional services
Operating with a lean staff structure
Managing one of the highest youth-per-staff ratios nationally
Delaying or limiting additional program costs whenever possible
At this point, further reductions would likely begin impacting direct services to units, training availability, camp operations, and program quality.
The Board concluded that modestly increasing the annual fee was preferable to significantly reducing services or dramatically increasing event and training costs.
Why Is Council Independence Important?
Scouting America is moving towards the implementation of minimum financial and membership performance standards that councils must meet to ensure continued operations. These standards include:
Serving at least 2,000 youth
Maintaining a $1 million operating budget
Maintaining a $3 million endowment
Palmetto Council currently far exceeds the membership requirement but falls short of the endowment benchmark ($1.3 million currently) and maintains an operating budget that has ranged from $975,000 to $1,050,000 annually.
Councils unable to maintain financial stability may ultimately be consolidated into larger neighboring councils.
A merger could potentially result in:
Higher fees
Increased event costs
Reduced local representation
More restrictive unit fundraising requirements
Less local decision-making
Reduced focus on the specific needs of our communities
The Board believes maintaining a strong, locally governed council is important for the future of Scouting in our area.
Why Include Adult Volunteers in the Increase?
The Board chose to apply the increase equally to both youth and adult members to emphasize shared responsibility for the future of the Council.
The Board also felt that spreading the increase broadly across the membership helped minimize the financial impact on any one group while reducing pressure to substantially raise activity fees or fundraising expectations.
The Council also remains committed to helping families manage Scouting costs through fundraising opportunities. Many Scouts are able to fully offset annual registration and activity costs through popcorn and camp card participation. This annual increase can be covered by selling just five Camp Cards, and Palmetto Council continues to provide one of the highest average popcorn commission structures in the nation.
Are There Other Plans Being Considered?
The Board recognizes that a fee increase alone is not a complete long-term solution.
The Council will continue evaluating additional strategies over the coming years, including:
Expanding recruitment and retention efforts
Strengthening Friends of Scouting participation
Improving fundraising engagement
Increasing corporate and community partnerships
Reviewing future event and chartering structures
Developing the next five-year strategic plan
The goal is to create a balanced and sustainable financial model that keeps Scouting accessible while preserving high-quality local programs. The Council will continue to annually evaluate fees, fundraising participation, donor support, and operational performance to ensure we can maintain balanced budgets while investing in recruitment initiatives, camp development, camperships, volunteer support, and long-term program growth.
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenges facing Scouting nationally, Palmetto Council has many reasons for optimism.
The Council has recovered strongly from the COVID-era membership decline, ranking among the top councils nationally in recovery performance, and continues to recruit and retain Scouts at rates above the national average.
The Board remains committed to:
Keeping Scouting affordable
Delivering exceptional local programs and value
Supporting volunteers and units
Maintaining strong camps and facilities
Preserving the independence of the Palmetto Council
We are deeply grateful for the dedication of our volunteers, families, chartered organizations, donors, and community partners. Your support continues to make Scouting possible for thousands of young people across our communities.
