Order of the Arrow members who have already earned or received the James E. West Fellowship can further show their financial support of Scouting and the Order by earning the Order of the Arrow Legacy Fellowship Award. The Legacy Fellowship is the first opportunity for Order of the Arrow members to make a direct contribution to the National OA Endowment Fund, furthering their support of Scouting. The National OA Endowment, reestablished in 2022 with definitive agreements placing all funds into segregated funds for the Order of the Arrow inside the National Foundation of the Boy Scouts of America, has been groundbreaking and sets the funds being given by donors inside a donor-directed protected fund. As the balances grow inside the newly established endowment, the leadership of the Order expects to provide direct funding for programs (like High Adventure programs), events, youth travel and lodging, national OA training, OA museum initiatives, meetings, scholarships, and lodge grants.
In 2023, the National OA Committee approved new giving levels for the Legacy Fellowship. Specifically, donors will be recognized as Bronze Legacy Fellow with a $1,000 Donation to the Restricted OA Endowment, as a Silver Legacy Fellow with a $5,000 Donation to the Restricted OA Endowment either with a One-time $5,000 gift OR Five $1,000 gifts spread over 5 five consecutive years, as a Gold Legacy Fellow with a $15,000 Donation to the Restricted OA Endowment with a One-time $15,000 gift OR Five $3,000 gifts spread over 5 five consecutive years and as a Platinum Legacy Fellow with a $25,000 Donation to the Restricted OA Endowment with a One-time $25,000 gift OR Five $5,000 gifts spread over 5 five consecutive years. Donors previously to the Legacy Fellowship will be credited with their prior gift should they decide to give at another level.
Arrowmen who become Legacy Fellows are recognized in a public setting with a certificate and a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum Arrowhead to be worn on the James E West square knot.
Giving Levels:
- Bronze Level: $1,000 Donation
- Silver Level: $5,000 Donation or 5 (five) $1,000 gifts over 5 years
- Gold Level: $15,000 Donation or 5 (five) $3,000 gifts over 5 years
- Platinum Level: $25,000+ Donation or 5 (five) $5,000 gifts over 5 years
