Dan Beard Council, Boy Scouts of America

What Dan Beard Council, Boy Scouts of America does

Dan Beard Council is a local nonprofit council of Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America), founded in 1910 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. It serves approximately 9,769 youth annually across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky through five geographic districts, delivering the full Scouting America program pipeline: Cub Scouts (grades K-5), Scouts BSA (ages 11-17), Venturing, Sea Scouts, and the career-focused Exploring program for ages 14-20. The council operates four camp properties — Camp Friedlander, Camp Michaels, Cub World Adventure Camp, and Camp Craig — supporting summer camp, outdoor education, and the 2025-launched Dever Family Foundation Skilled Trades Education Center, which adds vocational trades such as welding, plumbing, and automotive maintenance to the merit badge portfolio.

The council's revenue model is diversified across five streams: recurring membership fees (Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts), Scout Shop retail sales of uniforms and supplies at the Scout Achievement Center, special-event fundraising (Good Scout Award Luncheon with sponsorship tiers up to $50,000, Sporting Clays Tournament, Festival of Fireworks, district events), donations and planned giving through the Daniel Carter Beard Donor Society and James E. West Fellowship endowment program, and unit-level Camp Card fundraising in which units retain 50% of $10 card sales. Distribution is delivered through chartering organizations (schools, churches, community groups), a dedicated district membership executive network, the BeAScout.org national portal, the MyCouncil member portal (Blackbaud-backed), and active community programming.

Governance is led by CEO and Scout Executive Andy Zahn, with a senior team organized around four vice-presidential functions (Marketing, Development, Membership, Program) and director-level roles in Camping, Annual Fund, Creative, and Product Sales. The council maintains three alumni associations (Eagle Scout, Camp Staff, Silver Beaver) and offers multiple scholarship programs, including the Edward J. Basta Memorial Eagle Scout Scholarship funded by Luxottica. As part of the national Scouting America federation, Dan Beard Council depends on the parent organization for curriculum, brand, and national event infrastructure, while retaining local autonomy over fundraising, staffing, and property management.

Name

Dan Beard Council, Boy Scouts of America

Legal name

Dan Beard Council, Scouting America

Website

https://danbeard.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1910

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dan Beard Council is a Cincinnati-based nonprofit local council of Scouting America serving approximately 9,769 youth annually across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky through Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts, four camp properties, and vocational programs, funded by memberships, retail, donations, and special events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (72131)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Scouting programs
• Summer camp programs
• Adult leadership training
• Community youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual registration fees for youth and adult members of Scouting America programs including Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouts
2. Scout Shop Retail: Sale of Scouting merchandise, uniforms, handbooks, and supplies through the Dan Beard Scout Shop
3. Special Event Fundraising: Annual fundraising events including Good Scout Award Luncheon, Sporting Clays Tournament, Festival of Fireworks, and district events
4. Donations and Planned Giving: Annual fund donations, memorial gifts, endowment contributions, planned giving programs, and James E. West Fellowship recognition program
5. Camp Card Program: Scouts sell discount cards for $10 each, with units retaining 50% ($5) as fundraising

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dan Beard Council is a nonprofit youth development organization that delivers Scouting America programs — Cub Scouts (K-5), Scouts BSA (11-17), Venturing, Sea Scouts, and Exploring — to youth in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. It supplements these programs with multi-property summer camp operations, adult and youth leadership training, a Scout Shop retail outlet, alumni associations, and annual fundraising events such as the Good Scout Award Luncheon and Sporting Clays Tournament.

Product overview

Dan Beard Council offers a comprehensive youth development portfolio serving Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with multiple interconnected Scouting programs including Cub Scouts (grades K-5), Scouts BSA (ages 11-17), Exploring (ages 14-20), Venturing, and Sea Scouts. The council operates multiple camp properties (Camp Friedlander, Camp Michaels, Cub World Adventure Camp, Camp Craig) offering summer camp programs, the Dever Family Foundation Skilled Trades Education Center for vocational training, and specialized programs in STEM/Nova, Conservation, Outdoor Ethics, and Religious Emblems. Supporting services include adult leadership training (Wood Badge, BALOO, IOLS), Commissioner support, a Scout Shop, the MyCouncil member portal, and extensive alumni associations (Eagle Scout, Camp Staff, Silver Beaver). Annual fundraising events include the Good Scout Award Luncheon, Sporting Clays Tournament, and Festival of Fireworks, with donor recognition through the Daniel Carter Beard Donor Society. The council connects to Blackbaud for donation processing and uses MyCouncil for member management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cub Scouts Youth development program for grades K-5, offering age-appropriate activities, adventures, and character-building experiences for young children and their families.
• Scouts BSA Youth development program for ages 11-17 featuring single-gender troops with linked troop options, merit badges, rank advancement, and leadership development culminating in Eagle Scout rank.
• Venturing High-adventure youth development program for young people who have completed the Cub Scout or Scouts BSA program or are ages 14-20.
• Sea Scouts Maritime-focused youth development program for ages 10-20 emphasizing sailing, nautical skills, and waterway stewardship.
• Exploring Career exploration program for ages 14-20 that provides hands-on learning in career fields of interest.
• Summer Camp Programs Overnight and day camp experiences at Camp Friedlander, Camp Michaels, Cub World Adventure Camp, and Camp Craig offering outdoor activities, skill development, and adventure programming.
• Skilled Trades Initiative / Dever Family Foundation Skilled Trades Education Center Vocational education program at Camp Friedlander offering Automotive Maintenance, Farm Mechanics, Plumbing, Welding, and other skilled trade merit badges to prepare youth for trade careers.
• Scout Shop Retail store at the Scout Achievement Center offering scout uniforms, handbooks, merit badge pamphlets, outdoor equipment, and council merchandise.
• MyCouncil Member Portal Online member management system for involvement with the council, handling registrations, payments, and alumni association memberships.
• Eagle Scout Association Association of Eagle Scouts living in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, serving as the council's NESA committee and offering scholarships and awards.
• Camp Staff Alumni Association (DBCCSAA) Alumni association for staff of Camp Friedlander, Camp Michaels, Cub World Adventure Camp, and other council camps, offering membership, events, and scholarships.
• Daniel Carter Beard Donor Society Donor recognition society honoring supporters with membership levels (Frontier Guild, Voyager Fellowship, Pioneer Circle, Eagle Summit) based on annual giving.
• James E. West Fellowship Award Endowment recognition program for donors contributing $1,000+ to the council endowment, with cumulative gift levels from Bronze ($1,000) to Diamond ($15,000).
• Good Scout Award Luncheon Annual fundraising event honoring community leaders and businesses, attracting nearly 1,000 business leaders from Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with sponsorship tiers from $350 single ticket to $50,000 Speaker Sponsor.
• Sporting Clays Tournament Annual shooting fundraiser at Sycamore Pheasant Club supporting scouting programs throughout the council.
• Festival of Fireworks Riverfest fireworks viewing event at Mt. Adams with shuttle service, food, entertainment, and auctions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9,769 youth served in 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• LuxotticaminorOthersCorporate supporter providing funding for the Edward J. Basta Memorial Eagle Scout Scholarship, a $2,500 scholarship for STEM-focused Eagle Scouts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Girl Scouts of Western Ohio: Regional Girl Scout council covering the same Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky geography, operating parallel youth-development programming, summer camps, and fundraising events. The closest direct mission and territory peer following Scouting America's 2018 decision to admit girls.
• Crossroads of America Council, Scouting America: Large neighboring Scouting America local council serving central Indiana with comparable youth development programs, camp properties, and donor-driven fundraising structure. Closest direct peer council by operating model.
• Sagamore Council, Scouting America: Scouting America local council covering north-central Indiana with similar youth membership scale, multi-camp property footprint, and annual fundraising luncheon model.
• Great Rivers Council, Scouting America: Scouting America council serving west-central Illinois and northeast Missouri with comparable rural/suburban mix, camp properties, and annual sporting-clays/luncheon fundraising events.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati: Local youth development nonprofit serving the same Cincinnati market with after-school programming, character development, and donor-funded operations — overlapping mission and competition for parental time and donor dollars.
• YMCA of Greater Cincinnati: Regional YMCA affiliate operating youth programs, summer camps, and family services in the same Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky market. Comparable community-based, membership-supported youth services model.
• National 4-H Council: National youth development organization with similar age-tiered programming, county-extension delivery model, and emphasis on leadership, citizenship, and skilled trades — a thematic direct peer competing for the same youth cohort.

Broad incumbents

• Scouting America (National Organization): National umbrella organization to which Dan Beard belongs; sets curriculum, brand, safety standards, and liability framework. Functions as a broad incumbent rather than a direct competitor.
• Girl Scouts of the USA: National umbrella for Girl Scout councils; analogous in mission, council-based delivery, and camp property footprint to Scouting America. Functions as a broad incumbent against which Dan Beard competes for youth and donor share.

Emerging players

• Camp Kern (YMCA Camp Kern): Regional summer-camp operator in Ohio offering multi-activity programming comparable to Dan Beard's Camp Friedlander/Michaels/Craig. Competes for summer camp registrations within driving distance of Cincinnati.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/danbeardcouncil
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DanBeardCouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/DanBeardCouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dan-beard-council-boy-scouts-of-america
• Instagraminstagram.com/danbeardcouncil
• TikToktiktok.com/@danbeardcouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Dan Beard Council, Boy Scouts of America