So this is a very negative rant and I apologize for it.
So my company awards its employees grants based on volunteer hours, every 25 hours you earn $500. Back in September I entered my hours for 2016 to date and was first awarded a grant for $5000. I contacted my council to let them know funds were coming and to pass on the grant to my troop. Council freaked! How could I think I was entitled to these funds? They were awarded to my council's 501c3 and the funds should go to Council and not my troop! I had to go to council and explain the grant program and ask the company to confirm that the grant is awarded based on the purpose the volunteer/employee states in the grant request and NOT to the Council. After much discussion Council agreed to grandfather me the grants only for 2016 since they didn't have a grant policy in place but they would make necessary changes for 2017.
By that time I had already been awarded $7500 in grants. I had entered grant purposes as educational trips, programs, camping, (I also lead a GS camping competition team) so camp supplies for the camping competition. Once we knew we would get the funds I asked my troop what they wanted to do with the funds. The four scouts I have said a trip to Disney so we put down the budget and realized for my volunteer hours for 2016 we could afford it. Flights, hotel and such were booked.
Tonight after I asked where Octobers funds were I get a call from the CFO of my council. Does your company know what you're using these funds for, that you have four scouts, that you're planning a trip with these funds? You didn't say you were going on a trip with the original grant? (well I didn't think I was going to get the original grant and hello I did say an educational program and the YES program would be that) Are you personally benefiting from the grants? Nope. I planned the funds to go my troop, the camping troop and my service unit. I even booked a council overnight program, something we usually can't afford cuz we would have these funds. So the CFO wants to send email to foundation to ask these questions. She wants to be transparent. Make sure I'm not benefiting from these grants in any way.
I'm sorry but this is so sad. I'm actually ashamed of my council and embarrassed with my company. I'm being awarded for the volunteer hours I give to Girl Scouts and Council is trying to get the money, deny the troop the money and make the foundation question what my troop is using the funds for. Not once have they said what an amazing benefit and that's great that the 500+ hours of volunteer time away from your family (leader of two troops, trainer for council, camp coordinator and I help organize programs for service unit) is awarded back to your troop and service unit like this!
Again I'm sorry for the rant and you might think I'm wrong to be so upset but these are funds being given directly back to the scouts I volunteer for and they are deciding what the troop funds will be used for, how can council act like this. not following the promise and the law.