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Passes our checks

Great Falls Council Inc

EIN 16-0743929 · Buffalo, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROMOTING THE ABILITY OF BOYS AND YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO DO THINGS FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS, TRAINING THEM IN SCOUTCRAFT, AND TEACHING THEM PATRIOTISM, COURAGE, SELF-RELIANCE, AND KINDRED VIRTUES USING THE METHODS WHICH ARE NOW IN COMMON USE BY THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA. IN ACHIEVING THIS PURPOSE, EMPHASIS SHALL BE PLACED UPON THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND THE OATH, PROMISE, AND CODE OF THE SCOUTING PROGRAM FOR CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, CITIZENSHIP TRAINING, LEADERSHIP, AND MENTAL AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. MAKING SCOUTING TRAINING AVAILABLE TO ALL BOYS, YOUNG MEN, AND YOUNG WOMEN AND SERVING ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS USING THE SCOUTING PROGRAM WHILE MAINTAINING STANDARDS AND POLICIES, PROTECTING OFFICIAL BADGES AND INSIGNIA, AND REVIEWING AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING UNIT LEADERSHIP AND FINANCES.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
37.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 30%
Employees
96
Volunteers
750
Highest pay
$205,476, ceo & scout

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 37.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 45 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    44 of 44 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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, 2025, 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. $2.8 million spent. TO PROMOTE THE SCOUTING PROGRAM- THE ABILITY OF YOUTH, YOUNG MEN, AND YOUNG WOMEN TO DO THINGS FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS; TRAINING THEM IN SCOUTCRAFT, CITIZENSHIP, LEADERSHIP, SELF-ESTEEM, AND PERSONAL FITNESS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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.