The World Scout Foundation, WSF, was inaugurated on 14th February 1969 but reorganized in the current form in 1977. WSF is an international non-profit institution, incorporated under Swiss law, and based in Geneva (Switzerland). The purpose of which is to develop World Scouting by the provision of financial and other support to help develop the World Scout Movement through the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM).

The WSF started its life with a capital of US$ 10,000 and this has now risen to over US$ 84 Million despite economic down turns, enabling annual grants to be made to the WSB to foster and develop young people through Scouting.

• First grant of US$ 180,000 made to WSB in 1980/81.
• The average yearly grant, over the past five years, made to the WSB has been US$ 2.6 Million.
• The WSF also encourages programmes such as “Gifts for Peace” (2007) and "Messengers of Peace" which started in 2012 and will unfold internationally to build a better world through education, understanding, tolerance and respect for others, given by Scouts in the form of community projects to other young people and their communities.