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 SCOUTING AMERICA, GREATER HUDSON VALLEY COUNCIL, INC. TO DELIVER THE HIGHEST-QUALITY, VALUES-BASED YOUTH PROGRAM OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING, BASED UPON THE PRECEPTS EMBODIED IN THE SCOUT OATH AND LAW, AND TO PREPARE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE ETHICAL DECISIONS IN ORDER TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND TO BETTER SERVE THEIR FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND COUNTRY.
- Income
- $3.3 million
- Spending
- $4.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- -4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 53%
- Employees
- 136
- Volunteers
- 2,979
- Highest pay
- $243,721, 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
Weak: 30 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 90 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2531 of 31 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
0 of 10Did not give 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)
- $3.7 million spent. TRADITIONAL SCOUTING - IN THE BSA, SCOUTING IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE MOVEMENT WITH THREE MAIN PROGRAMS: CUB SCOUTING IS THE LARGEST OF THE THREE PROGRAMS, AVAILABLE TO BOYS AND GIRLS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH-GRADE OR 5 TO 11 1/2 YEARS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PURSUE THE AIMS OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, CITIZENSHIP TRAINING, AND PERSONAL FITNESS. CUB SCOUTING IS DIVIDED INTO AGE-BASED LEVELS OF LIONS, TIGER CUBS, WOLF CUBS, BEAR CUBS, AND WEBELOS SCOUTS. SCOUTS BSA IS THE FLAGSHIP PROGRAM OF THE BSA FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 10 TO 18. IT USES OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CAMPING, AQUATICS AND HIKING TO ACHIEVE THE AIMS OF CHARACTER, CITIZENSHIP, AND PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINING. THE ORDER OF THE ARROW IS THE SCOUTING'S NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY FOR EXPERIENCED CAMPERS AND IS DEDICATED TO THE IDEAL OF CHEERFUL SERVICE AND BROTHERHOOD.VENTURING IS A PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN 14 (AND WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE EIGHTH GRADE) THROUGH 20 YEARS OF AGE. VENTURING'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE POSITIVE EXPERIENCES TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE MATURE AND TO PREPARE THEM TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE AND CARING ADULTS.OVER 9,159 YOUTH ARE SERVED THROUGH 286 CUB SCOUT PACKS, SCOUT TROOPS, AND VENTURING CREWS.EXPLORING IS A WORKSITE-BASED PROGRAM. IT IS PART OF LEARNING FOR LIFE'S CAREER EDUCATION PROGRAM ALSO FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE 14 (AND HAVE COMPLETED THE EIGHTH GRADE) THROUGH 20 YEARS OLD. EXPLORING'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCES THAT HELP YOUNG PEOPLE MATURE AND TO PREPARE THEM TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE AND CARING ADULTS. EXPLORERS ARE READY TO INVESTIGATE THE MEANING OF INTERDEPENDENCE IN THEIR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITIES. EXPLORING IS BASED ON A UNIQUE AND DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUTH AND THE ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS INITIATE A SPECIFIC EXPLORER POST BY MATCHING THEIR PEOPLE AND PROGRAM RESOURCES TO THE INTERESTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE RESULT IS A PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES THAT HELPS YOUTH PURSUE THEIR SPECIAL INTERESTS, GROW, AND DEVELOP. EXPLORING PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON FIVE AREAS OF EMPHASIS: CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, LIFE SKILLS, CITIZENSHIP, CHARACTER EDUCATION, AND LEADERSHIP 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 November 4, 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.