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Organisation of the Foundation

The Foundation is, in effect, a global network of people of influence, who are dedicated to Scouting. Their passion leads them to support Scouting by lending their name and reputation to the cause of helping young people “to create a better world”. Inspired by the cause, these people also invest their time and resources to help build Scouting. They are deeply interested in the impact Scouting has in communities round the world and greatly appreciate when they are kept up to date with progress being made as a result of their investment.

To support this global network of inspired investors, the Foundation is organised as follows:

A Board of the Foundation: comprising of around 25 appointed Board Members and as ex-office Members: the WSC Chairperson, a WSC Vice Chairperson and the WOSM Secretary General
An Executive Committee: has the general duty to ensure the proper functioning of the Foundation between the meetings of the Board
A number of Sub-Committees of the Board: such as Audit Committee, Investment Committee, Nominations Committee, Grant Making Oversight Committee, etc.
A Director: appointed by the Executive Committee to manage the current business of the Foundation. In addition, the Foundation employs four other staff members on a full-time or part-time basis.

History

The World Scout Foundation (WSF) was inaugurated on 14th February 1969 but reorganized in the current form in 1977. WSF is an international non-profit institution, incorporated under Swiss law, and based in Geneva (Switzerland). The purpose of which is to develop World Scouting by the provision of financial and other support to help develop the World Scout Movement through the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM).

The WSF started its life with a capital of US$ 10,000 and this has now grown to over US$ 60 Million despite economic down turns, enabling annual operational grants to be made to the WSB to foster and develop young people through Scouting.

First grant of US$ 180,000 made to WSB in 1980/81.
The average yearly operational grant, over the past five years, made to the WSB has been US$ 2.9 Million.
The WSF also encourages programmes such as “Gifts for Peace” (2007) and "Messengers of Peace" which started in 2012 and will unfold internationally to build a better world through education, understanding, tolerance and respect for others, given by Scouts in the form of community projects to other young people and their communities.