History

The Friends of Alexandria Catholic Scouting, Inc. (FACS) was incorporated as nonstock, nonprofit corporation in the Commonwealth of Virginia on May 19, 2022, exclusively for charitable, religious, and educational purposes. It received an IRS determination letter granting it tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code on June 28, 2022 (retroactive to the May 19, 2022, incorporation date).

On August 8, 2022, Father Keith O’Hare, Pastor of St. Louis Catholic Church signed a release letter transferring the Troop 680 and Pack 680 unit numerals, equipment, and treasury to FACS. For its part, FACS donated the Troop and Pack sheds to St. Louis and removed all equipment by the end of the Labor Day weekend.

The Pack 680 and Troop 680 charter officially transferred from St. Louis Catholic Church to FACS on September 1, 2022.

On October 7, 2022, FACS received a letter from the Division of Consumer Protection of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services granting FACS exemption as a civic organization from the annual registration requirement to solicit funds in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This exemption allows FACS, Troop 680, and Cub Scout Pack 680 to engage in fundraising activities in Virginia.

On October 24, 2022, FACS received a letter from the Virginia Department of Taxation granting FACS a five-year renewable exemption from the Virginia Sales and Use Tax, allowing FACS, Troop 680, and Pack 680, to purchase goods and services for the units without paying Virginia Retail Sales tax.

Purpose

FACS was primarily created to ensure the continuation of BSA Troop 680 and Cub Scout Pack 680, which had been chartered to St. Louis Catholic Church in Alexandria, VA, for approximately 60 years. FACS assumed the charters of both units on September 1, 2022.

Although BSA Troop 680 and Cub Scout Pack 680 are presently the only Scouts BSA units FACS is chartering, FACS is not precluded from chartering other Scouts BSA units. As its Articles of Incorporation state, the purpose of the Corporation is to to obtain a Charter from the Boy Scouts of America for a Scouts BSA Troop, Cub Scout Pack, and/or Venture Crew to promote the training, development, leadership methods, values, and citizenship training of youth (under age 21) primarily from parishes in the Alexandria area of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, VA, using the methods now in common use by the Boy Scouts of America and in accordance with the religious principles of the Roman Catholic Church.

Although FACS and the Scouts BSA Troop, Cub Scout Pack, and/or Venture Crew (whose Charters FACS will hold) will primarily serve youth from parishes in the Alexandria area of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, VA, the corporation is not affiliated with or an entity of any church or parish or the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, VA.