When The Leatherstocking Council of the Boy Scouts of America reached out to UpMobility Foundation in Fall 2022, they let us know that technology was the key to continuing to grow their impact. As the Council stated in their grant application: “Many of our Scouts come to us from underrepresented populations… their parents often do not have smartphones to download BSA's app and register immediately online.” This, in turn, contributed to a slow down at recruitment events: “Our recruiters were seeing long lines of parents or guardians waiting to learn more about Scouting,” they told us. “Many would give up before they reached our table because they did not want to continue waiting and then have to spend more time filling out a paper membership application.”

UpMobility Foundation’s approval of The Leatherstocking Council’s grant request proved to be a game-changer for the organization, which serves eight Upstate New York counties. According to The Leatherstocking Council in a follow-up survey, the impact of the grant: “…can best be summarized by the elevation of our national rank for new member recruitment, year-to-year comparison, from one of the worst performing councils nationwide, to the second-best performing council so far this year - out of 250 councils!” As of June 22, 2023, The Leatherstocking Council is already 60% of the way to reaching its goal of recruiting 1,000 new Scouts by December 31, 2023. 

UpMobility Foundation is proud to be a supporter of the Boy Scouts, an organization that truly encapsulates our Advancing Education grant making theme. The Boy Scouts have made a difference in the lives of countless men—including our founder, Martin Babinec. Martin achieved the rank of Eagle Scout as a high school student and feels that he continues to benefit from the experience. “Going up through the ranks of the Boy Scouts was my first opportunity to develop leadership skills that proved to be crucial building blocks for everything I did after,” Martin told us, also noting that the bonds he formed with his fellow Boy Scouts remain important to him to this day.