Boy Scouts of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IT IS THE MISSION OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA (BSA) TO SERVE OTHERS BY HELPING TO INSTILL VALUES IN YOUNG PEOPLE AND IN OTHER WAYS PREPARE THEM TO MAKE ETHICAL CHOICES OVER THEIR LIFETIME IN ACHIEVING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. THE VALUES BSA STRIVES TO INSTILL ARE BASED ON THOSE FOUND IN THE BOY SCOUT OATH AND LAW.
- Income
- $8.5 million
- Spending
- $8.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 6.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 43%
- Employees
- 323
- Volunteers
- 2,879
- Highest pay
- $356,792, secretary, scout executive & ceo
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
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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.
Independent board
25 of 2568 of 68 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $7.2 million spent. THE SCOUTING PROGRAM INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: LION SCOUTS - A FUN INTRODUCTION TO THE SCOUTING PROGRAM FOR KINDERGARTEN-AGE YOUTH EAGER TO GET GOING! LIONS DO ADVENTURES WITH THEIR ADULT PARTNERS AND OTHER LIONS EVERY MONTH. THIS PROGRAM INTRODUCES YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES TO SCOUTING AND THE OUTDOORS AS IT BUILDS A FOUNDATION OF CHARACTER. A LION DEN IS PART OF THE CUB SCOUT PACK. TIGER SCOUTS - ONE-YEAR, FAMILY-ORIENTED PROGRAM FOR A GROUP OF TEAMS, EACH CONSISTING OF A FIRST-GRADE (OR 7-YEAR-OLD) CHILD AN ADULT PARTNER (USUALLY A PARENT). A TIGER DEN IS PART OF THE CUB SCOUT PACK. CUB SCOUTING - FAMILY- AND COMMUNITY-CENTERED APPROACH TO LEARNING CITIZENSHIP, COMPASSION, AND COURAGE THROUGH SERVICE PROJECTS, CEREMONIES, GAMES, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES PROMOTING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. SCOUTS BSA - SCOUTS BSA IS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM FOR YOUTH 11-17 YEARS OLD THAT PROVIDES FUN, ADVENTURE, LEARNING, CHALLENGE AND RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP THEM BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES.VENTURING - PROVIDES EXPERIENCES TO HELP YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, AGES 14 (OR 13 WITH COMPLETION OF THE EIGHTH GRADE) THROUGH 20, BECOME MATURE, RESPONSIBLE, CARING ADULTS. YOUNG PEOPLE LEARN LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND PARTICIPATE IN CHALLENGING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING HAVING ACCESS TO BOY SCOUT CAMPING PROPERTIES, A RECOGNITION PROGRAM, AND YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING.EXPLORING - A PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AGES 14 TO 20. EXPLORING PARTNERS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO MENTOR STUDENTS IN THEIR CHOSEN CAREER FIELDS; GIVING THEM UNIQUE, HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY MIGHT OTHERWISE NEVER EXPERIENCE.
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
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.