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Passes our checks

Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey Inc

EIN 22-1638950 · Westfield, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GIRL SCOUTING BUILDS GIRLS OF COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND CHARACTER WHO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. GSHNJ PREPARES GIRLS FOR A LIFETIME OF LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE AND ITS FOCUS ON FOUR KEY PILLARS: STEM, OUTDOORS, LIFE SKILLS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

Income
$8.7 million
Spending
$8.6 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 66%
Employees
202
Volunteers
5,790
Highest pay
$342,725, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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

    16 of 16 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 September 30, 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 (3)
  1. $626,994 spent. PRODUCT PROGRAM - THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE PRODUCT PROGRAM, GIRLS LEARN TO THINK LIKE ENTREPRENEURS, GAINING THE CONFIDENCE AND KNOW-HOW TO DREAM BIG AND DO BIGGER. PROCEEDS FROM THE PRODUCT PROGRAM REMAIN LOCAL, HELPING TO FUND TROOP ACTIVITIES THAT ALLOW GIRLS TO EXPLORE THE OTHER PILLARS OF THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE, AND SUPPORT COUNCIL OPERATIONS NECESSARY TO DELIVER PROGRAMING AND MAINTAIN COUNCIL INFRASTRUCTURE. DURING THE 2024-2025 YEAR, 2,660 GIRLS PARTICIPATED IN THE FALL PRODUCT PROGRAM, AND 10,253 GIRLS PARTICIPATED IN THE COOKIE PROGRAM.
  2. $2.2 million spent. CAMP - GSHNJ OFFERS SUMMER CAMP THROUGH ITS DAY CAMP (THE OVAL IN MAPLEWOOD, NJ) AND ITS RESIDENCE CAMP (CAMP HOOVER IN MIDDLEVILLE, NJ). PARTICIPATING IN GIRL SCOUT CAMP IS A BELOVED TRADITION, AND A GREAT WAY FOR GIRLS TO EXPLORE LEADERSHIP, BUILD SKILLS, AND DEVELOP A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR NATURE. DURING THE 2024-2025 YEAR, GSHNJ DELIVERED 10,460 OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING 1,490 SUMMER CAMP SESSIONS, TROOP CAMPING TRIPS, AND OTHER OUTDOOR-BASED PROGRAMS.
  3. $4.8 million spent. GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE - INCLUDES PARTICIPATION IN INDIVIDUAL AND TROOP ACTIVITIES, ATTENDING COUNCIL DEVELOPED AND DELIVERED PROGRAMS, EARNING BADGES, ENGAGING IN COMMUNITY SERVICE, TRAVELLING, AND PURSUING HIGH AWARDS. THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE PREPARES GIRLS FOR A LIFETIME OF LEADERSHIP, SUCCESS, AND ADVENTURE IN A SAFE, NO-LIMITS PLACE DESIGNED FOR AND BY GIRLS. DURING THE 2024-2025 YEAR, GSHNJ DELIVERED THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE TO 14,030 GIRLS. THE COUNCIL DELIVERED 354 PROGRAM SESSIONS, INCLUDING STEM, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND LIFE EXPERIENCES. ADDITIONALLY, 491 GIRLS EARNED HIGH AWARDS, INCLUDING: 33 GOLD AWARDS, 128 SILVER AWARDS, AND 330 BRONZE AWARDS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, 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 September 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 December 1960.

    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.