Getting Started Overview
Your complete guide to setting up and launching your troop's financial management system
Scout focus
Scout focus: learn what you can do in your own account and how event signup works.
- Track your own balance and activity history from your member account.
- Follow event deadlines and ask a parent or leader when extra permissions are needed.
Welcome to TroopForge! This guide will help you get your scout troop's financial management system set up and running. Whether you're a treasurer setting up a new account or a leader getting familiar with the platform, follow these steps to ensure a smooth onboarding experience.
Who Should Use This Guide?
- Treasurers: Complete all steps to set up your troop account from scratch
- Leaders: Review sections 3-6 to understand member and event management
- Parents & Scouts: Skip to section 7 to learn about your dashboard and account features
Step 7: Understanding Scout Financial Accounts
Every member automatically has a scout account for tracking their financial activity. Understanding how these accounts work is key to using TroopForge effectively.
Account Balances
- Current Balance: Total funds available (can be negative if overdrawn)
- Available Balance: Funds currently usable after active holds
- Reserved Funds: Funds reserved for pending scout account payment requests or manual treasurer holds
Transaction Types
- Deposits: Money added to accounts (fundraiser earnings, family contributions)
- Withdrawals: Event fees, gear purchases, trip costs
- Transfers: Moving funds between family members
How Scout Accounts Work:
- Scouts earn money through fundraisers (credited to their accounts)
- Parents can contribute additional funds to family members' accounts
- When scouts sign up for events, their amount owed increases (no hold is created yet)
- When a scout account payment is requested, that amount is placed in pending hold for treasurer review
- When approved, the withdrawal posts and the pending hold is released
- All transactions maintain a complete audit trail