Boy Scouts of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CORPORATION SHALL PROMOTE, WITHIN THE TERRITORY COVERED BY THE CHARTER FROM TIME GRANTED TO IT BY THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL CHARTER, BYLAWS, AND RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, THE SCOUTING PROGRAM OF PROMOTING THE ABILITY OF 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.
- Income
- $3.9 million
- Spending
- $4.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -1.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 59%
- Employees
- 210
- Volunteers
- 3,200
- Highest pay
- $256,592, scout executive - 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: 36 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 33 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 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2532 of 32 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 (3)
- $2.6 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 TO FIFTH GRADE OR 5 TO 11 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 LION CUBS, TIGER CUBS, WOLF CUBS, BEAR CUBS AND WEBELOS SCOUTS. SCOUTS BSA IS THE FLAGSHIP PROGRAM OF THE BSA FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 10 1/2 TO 17. IT USES OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CAMPING, AQUATICS AND HIKING TO ACHIEVE THE AIMS OF CHARACTER, CITIZENSHIP AND PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINING. THE EXPLORING PROGRAM IS AN INTERACTIVE, WORKSITE-BASED CAREER EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT SERVES YOUTH IN 6TH-8TH GRADES (EXPLORING CLUBS), AND YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE 14 THROUGH 20 YEARS OLD (EXPLORING POSTS). 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 9000 SERVED THROUGH CUB SCOUTS, BOY SCOUTS, VENTURING CREWS, AND EXPLORERS.
- $1.4 million spent. OUTDOOR PROGRAMS - PLANNED, ORGANIZED OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AT THE DEN, PACK, DISTRICT, AND COUNCIL LEVELS FULFILL THE PROMISE MADE TO OUR CUB SCOUTS. YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS HAVE A GREAT DESIRE FOR OUTDOOR FUN, EXCITEMENT, AND ADVENTURE. THESE EXPERIENCES ENCOURAGE THEM TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. QUALITY COUNCIL CAMPS AND FUN PACK OUTDOOR EVENTS DIRECTED BY QUALIFIED, TRAINED LEADERS PROVIDE AN IDEAL SETTING FOR THESE ACTIVITIES. SCOUTING IS DESIGNED TO TAKE PLACE OUTDOORS. IT IS IN THE OUTDOOR SETTING THAT SCOUTS SHARE RESPONSIBILITIES AND LEARN TO LIVE WITH ONE ANOTHER. IN THE OUTDOORS, THE SKILLS AND ACTIVITIES PRACTICED AT TROOP MEETINGS COME ALIVE WITH PURPOSE. BEING CLOSE TO NATURE HELPS SCOUTS GAIN AN APPRECIATION FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD AROUND US. THE OUTDOORS IS THE LABORATORY IN WHICH SCOUTS LEARN ECOLOGY AND PRACTICE CONSERVATION OF NATURE'S RESOURCES.OUTDOOR/HIGH ADVENTURE IS THE LARGEST AND FASTEST GROWING INTEREST IN THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, AS YOUTH GROW THEY SEEK GREATER AND GREATER CHALLENGES. THE EXCITEMENT OF THESE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY CHALLENGING ACTIVITIES IS BOTH PERSONALLY REWARDING AND AIDS IN THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE PARTICIPATING. HIGH ADVENTURE CREATES LIFETIME MEMORIES AND EXPERIENCES.CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES SUPPLEMENT THE PROGRAM OF SCOUT ADVANCEMENT, SUMMER CAMP AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR INTERDEPENDENCE WITH THE ENVIRONMENT.
- $80,735 spent. SCOUTREACH - OUR SCOUTREACH PROGRAM DEVELOPS PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPLEMENT AND DELIVER THE SCOUTING PROGRAM TO GIVE YOUTH IN URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS, WHO NEED OUR PROGRAMS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN AND HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN LIFE. OUR TEAM OF EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS OPERATE PROGRAM SITES IN LOW INCOME COMMUTIES TO SERVE YOUTH AND FAMILIES, WHO NEED A SCOUTING PROGRAM TAILORED TO FIT UNIQUE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH SCOUTING.
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.