CEO Update: Q2, 2026

Operational highlights for Q2 

Your quarterly inside track on the work of the World Scout Foundation

In this quarterly update, we are pleased to share several significant developments for the World Scout Foundation and our global Scout family. From the announcement of our next Baden-Powell Fellowship Event to important governance announcements, new partnership opportunities, and ways to see your impact firsthand, this edition highlights how your support continues to strengthen Scouting around the world. We also invite you to join us in honouring a remarkable figure in the Foundation's history. 

Before going into the details, we would like to acknowledge the devastating earthquake that has affected communities across Venezuela. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this tragedy, especially those who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods. Amid this crisis, Scouts are once again demonstrating extraordinary courage and commitment, stepping forward to support relief and recovery efforts in their communities.

 Across the country, Scouts are helping organise and distribute humanitarian aid, supporting the day-to-day operations of shelters, providing psychosocial activities for children and families, and assisting local authorities and partners with response efforts. They are also using Scout pioneering skills to improve camp infrastructure. 

If you would like to support this Scout-led response and help communities recover, we invite you to contribute to the appeal below.

The King’s Appeal 

While the challenges facing communities around the world remind us why Scouting matters, this quarter also brought powerful proof of what can be achieved when our global Scout family comes together. 

As announced during our 78th Baden-Powell Fellowship Event in Stockholm last May, the World Scout Foundation and the Swedish foundation for the King’s 80th birthday collectively raised USD 9.6 million which will support Scouting projects for peace and inclusion worldwide. 

We are delighted to confirm that the first projects supported through the WSF's King's Fund will begin in October 2026. Thanks to your generosity, Scouts worldwide will be able to strengthen peace-building and foster inclusion. We look forward to sharing the stories of impact that will emerge from these initiatives in the months and years ahead.

Governance  

The fundraising milestone was not the only significant announcement made in Stockholm. During the event, we had the honour of welcoming His Royal Highness Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg as our new Honorary Chair. His longstanding commitment to youth development, sustainability and international cooperation makes him a natural champion for Scouting's mission. 

The announcement was paired with a recognition of the extraordinary service of His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who served as Honorary Chairman of the World Scout Foundation for nearly five decades and will continue in His new role as our Honorary Founder. Few individuals have done more to champion Scouting on the global stage, and we remain deeply grateful for His unwavering support. 

One of His Majesty’s inspiring speeches from the event served as the narration to our highlight video. If you have not yet seen it, we encourage you to watch it on our YouTube: 

Alongside these significant changes, we have also updated our Donor Acceptance Policy. The policy strengthens our commitment to transparency, consistency, and good stewardship, while ensuring that the Honours Programme continues to recognise and celebrate meaningful support for Scouting around the world. Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to us. You can find the updated version here: 

The 79th Baden-Powell Fellowship Event 

Following a delightful celebration in Stockholm, which saw our largest-ever gathering, many of our Baden-Powell Fellows have asked us where the next event will be.

We are pleased to announce that the 79th Baden-Powell Fellowship Event will take place in Monaco from 22–25 April 2027, bringing together supporters, partners, and Scout leaders from around the world. Please save the date. More information will follow, so keep an eye out for further details in the coming months. 

Institutional partnerships 

Over the past few months, we have renewed several multi-year commitments with corporate and foundation partners, strengthening our funding base and providing greater certainty for future Scouting initiatives. These renewals reflect growing confidence in Scouting as a trusted and effective partner capable of delivering meaningful and sustainable impact for young people and communities worldwide.

If you know, or work for, a company or foundation with interests in education, youth development, sustainability or inclusion, we warmly encourage you to connect with Mischa Rychener, Director of Philanthropy, to learn more about Scouting's funding priorities and partnership opportunities.  

Our 2025 Annual Report   

When you give to the World Scout Foundation, you might ask yourself, what am I really supporting? What do my gifts make possible for millions of young people worldwide?

Through easy-to-understand descriptions, data, and inspirational stories, we sought to answer those questions in our 2025 Annual Report. If you have not yet had the opportunity to explore it, we encourage you to take a look. We redesigned the report to be easy for someone unfamiliar with the impact of Scouting to understand and be inspired to support, so we encourage you to share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. We also provided greater detail about the individual projects that were funded, made our financial reporting clearer, and shared about key moments such as the renewal of a landmark partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, securing an additional USD 50 million in funding over the next ten years. And for the first time, all of our report’s content is easily navigable on a single page.

The Honours Programme Field Trip: The Philippines! 

Have you ever wondered what Scouting’s impact on young people looks like in other countries? This September, our Honours Programme Members are invited to discover the answer in The Philippines.  

Registration is now open for our Honours Programme Field Visit to Manila, Philippines, from 18–21 September 2026. 

Over four days, you will experience Scouting in the Philippines first-hand. You will meet national Scout leaders in Manila, spend time with young people participating in Ticket to Life in Malate, and see how Scouting creates opportunities for those facing challenging circumstances. You will also visit the Makiling National Scout Reservation to witness Scouts in action as they learn, lead, and serve. 

Alongside these inspiring experiences, you will enjoy the warmth, culture, and hospitality of the Philippines while connecting with fellow Honours Programme Members who share your commitment to creating a better world through Scouting. 

We have also secured excellent rates at one of Manila's leading hotels. 

This is a visit not to be missed: meet incredible Scouts, hear powerful stories, and see tangible impact made possible through your support. 

 For registration assistance or any questions, please contact [email protected]. 

Acknowledgements 

To conclude this quarterly update, it is with deep sadness that I share that Dr Fritz Vollmar, Director General of the World Scout Foundation from 1978 to 1992 and long-standing Baden-Powell Fellow, has gone home at the age of 99. We will always be profoundly grateful for his service and dedicated leadership of the World Scout Foundation, and for the enduring contribution he made to strengthening support for World Scouting. 

Throughout his tenure, Fritz championed sustainable funding and long-term partnerships that strengthened the Foundation’s ability to support Scouting around the world. His exceptional contribution to World Scouting was recognised in 1988 with the Bronze Wolf Award, the highest distinction granted by the World Scout Committee for extraordinary service to the Scout Movement. 

Beyond his many professional accomplishments, Fritz will be remembered as a thoughtful, dedicated and deeply respected member of the World Scouting family. His legacy lives on in the strength of the Foundation he helped build and in the countless young people whose lives have been enriched through Scouting. 

With deepest condolences from the Honorary Founder, HM King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, the Honorary Chair, HRH Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg, the Board and Staff of the World Scout Foundation. 

Photo credits:   Asociación de Scouts de Venezuela, Scouterna, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, WSF, World Scouting, Damiano Mariotti at Pixabay.