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Boy Scouts of America

EIN 13-1624015 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GREATER NEW YORK COUNCILS, BSA HAS HELPED OVER FIVE MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE BECOME "PREPARED FOR LIFE." THE MISSION OF THE GREATER NEW YORK COUNCILS IS TO SERVE KIDS THROUGHOUT ALL COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK CITY AND TO HELP THEM TO PREPARE FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL, CAREER, AND LIFE. SCOUTING SERVES YOUTH ACROSS MANY ASPECTS OF THEIR LIFE -- AFTER SCHOOL, WEEKEND, AND SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMMING - PROVIDING THEM WITH A WELL-ROUNDED NETWORK OF SUPPORTIVE PEERS AND ADULTS. SCOUTING AIMS TO DEVELOP THE WHOLE PERSON THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS, FIELD TRIPS TO NEW YORK CITY CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS, CAMPOREES, S.T.E.M. PROGRAMS, FAMILY FUN WEEKENDS, AND MUCH MORE. SCOUTING BRINGS FAMILY AND COMMUNITY TOGETHER -- THUS CREATING AN ECOSYSTEM OF SUPPORT WHILE ALSO DEVELOPING LEADERS OF TOMORROW.

Income
$10.1 million
Spending
$9.4 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 45%
Employees
307
Volunteers
3,300
Highest pay
$335,230, scout executive/ceo/secretary

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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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 29% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    48 of 48 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 (3)
  1. $4.7 million spent. FIELD SERVICES: PROGRAMS PROVIDED CLOSE TO 9,000 YOUTH MEMBERS, COMPRISED OF BOYS, GIRLS, AND NONBINARY YOUTH AGES 6 THROUGH 20 IN CUB SCOUTS, SCOUTS BSA, SCOUTREACH PROGRAMS AND SEA SCOUNTS FOR LOW-INCOME YOUTH, VENTURING HIGH-ADVENTURE PROGRAMS, AND EXPLORING WORKFORCE PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMS. THESE POSITIVE AND PROVEN DEVELOPMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE INCLUDE LEADERSHIP TRAINING, CIVIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES, LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, AND PHYSICAL FITNESS TRAINING. OUR YOUTH AND ADULTS CONTRIBUTE OVER 119,000 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE ANNUALLY. OUR COMMUNITY IS COMPRISED OF OVER 3,100 ADULT VOLUNTEER LEADERS, APPROXIMATELY 30 SCOUTREACH STAFF AND OVER 500 EXPLORING VOLUNTEERS- 100% OF WHOM COMPLETED YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING.
  2. $2.4 million spent. CAMPING AND ACTIVITIES: THE COUNCIL PROVIDES OUTDOOR EDUCATION, RECREATION AND FIELD TRIPS TO GREATER NEW YORK COUNCILS' PROPERTIES INCLUDING TEN MILE RIVER SCOUT RESERVATION IN NARROWSBURG, NY; ALPINE SCOUT CAMP IN ALPINE, NJ; AND WILLIAM H. POUCH SCOUT CAMP IN STATEN ISLAND, NY, AS WELL AS AT OTHER LOCATIONS. YEAR-ROUND CAMPING OPPORTUNITIES ARE PROVIDED TO THOUSANDS OF YOUTHS. WE ALSO OFFER 5,200 LONG-TERM SESSIONS AT SUMMER CAMP ANNUALLY. A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF LEADERS SEE IMPROVEMENT IN SCOUTS' LIFE SKILLS AFTER SUMMER CAMP PARTICIPATION, INCLUDING LEADERSHIP, RESILIENCE, RESPONSIBILITY, AND COMMUNICATION. AND LEADERS AGREE THAT SCOUTS ARE BETTER PREPARED FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR AFTER SUMMER CAMP. WE PROVIDED ABOUT 350 CAMP TRIPS TO GNYC, YOUTH AND ABOUT 400 CAMP TRIPS TO OUT OF COUNCIL UNITS.
  3. $103,729 spent. CHARTER AND NATIONAL SERVICE FEE: PROVIDES THE COUNCIL WITH THE RESOURCES OF SCOUTING AMERICA NATIONAL ORGANIZATION INCLUDING ONLINE TRAINING, YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING MERIT BADGE CURRICULA, RANK ADVANCEMENT SUPPORT, MEMBERSHIP AND STAFFING SUPPORT, LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR OUR PROFESSIONALS, VOUNTEERS AND CHARTERED PARTNERS, AS WELL AS QUALITY ASSURANCE STANDARDS AND MEASUREMENT.

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.