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Boy Scouts of America

EIN 04-2349692 · Rutland, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE ETHICAL AND MORAL CHOICES OVER THEIR LIFETIMES BY INSTILLING IN THEM THE VALUES OF THE SCOUT OATH AND LAW.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 43%
Employees
165
Volunteers
2,000
Highest pay
$140,611, scout executive

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    33 of 34 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $2.4 million spent. IN 2024, THE HEART OF NEW ENGLAND COUNCIL MADE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT BY SERVING OVER 4,600 BOYS AND GIRLS ACROSS CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS THROUGH ITS CUB SCOUTS, SCOUTS BSA, VENTURING, AND EXPLORING PROGRAMS. THESE CO-EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES ARE DESIGNED TO OFFER HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES, FOSTERING LEADERSHIP, RESPONSIBILITY, AND RESILIENCE IN YOUNG PEOPLE.THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE COUNCIL PRIORITIZED YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, WITH MORE THAN 200 SCOUTS TAKING PART IN STRUCTURED LEADERSHIP TRAINING, INCLUDING NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING (NYLT). THESE PROGRAMS EMPHASIZED BUILDING CONFIDENCE, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, STRONG TEAM DYNAMICS, AND ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING.IN SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, SCOUTS CONTRIBUTED OVER 20,000 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER WORK, PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS FOOD DRIVES, ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUPS, VETERANS' SUPPORT PROJECTS, AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EDUCATION. THESE EFFORTS REFLECT THE COUNCIL'S DEEP COMMITMENT TO NURTURING CIVIC-MINDED YOUTH.OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND CHARACTER BUILDING REMAINED AT THE HEART OF THE COUNCIL'S MISSION, AS MORE THAN 2,500 YOUTH ATTENDED COUNCIL-SPONSORED CAMPING AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PROGRAMS. SUMMER RESIDENT CAMPS AT CAMP WANOCKSETT IN DUBLIN, NH, AND TREASURE VALLEY SCOUT RESERVATION IN RUTLAND, MA, PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-RELIANCE, PHYSICAL FITNESS, AND THE CULTIVATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.THE EXPLORING PROGRAM INTRODUCED OVER 35 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH TO HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES WITH LOCAL PROFESSIONALS IN FIELDS LIKE AVIATION AND FIRE/EMS. THIS APPROACH TO CAREER-BASED LEARNING NOT ONLY SUPPORTS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BUT ALSO HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE ACQUIRE PRACTICAL, REAL-WORLD SKILLS.IN ITS COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION AND ACCESS, THE COUNCIL AWARDED OVER $75,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, ENSURING THAT ALL YOUTHREGARDLESS OF ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCECOULD FULLY PARTICIPATE IN SCOUTING. OUTREACH INITIATIVES EXTENDED THE BENEFITS OF SCOUTING TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN BOTH URBAN AND RURAL AREAS ACROSS WORCESTER COUNTY AND BEYOND.IN SUMMARY, SCOUTING IN CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS CONTINUES TO EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BECOME FUTURE LEADERS OF CHARACTER. BY EMPHASIZING LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, OUTDOOR LEARNING, AND INCLUSION, THE HEART OF NEW ENGLAND COUNCIL REMAINS STEADFAST IN ITS MISSION TO HELP YOUTH GROW INTO RESPONSIBLE, PREPARED, AND ACTIVE CITIZENS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1965.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.