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Boy Scouts of America

EIN 23-1365194 · Dillsburg, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA HAS ONE MISSION, WHICH EXTENDS TO ALL LOCAL COUNCILS: THE COUNCIL IS A NON-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEVOTED TO PROMOTING, WITHIN THE TERRITORY COVERED BY THE CHARTER FROM TIME TO TIME GRANTED 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 BOYS AND GIRLS 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.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
7.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 59%
Employees
106
Volunteers
2,598
Highest pay
$200,471, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 110% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    46 of 46 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 (1)
  1. $2.6 million spent. THE NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, COORDINATES SCOUTING PROGRAMS IN ADAMS, CUMBERLAND, DAUPHIN, FRANKLIN, PERRY AND YORK COUNTIES. THE SCOUTING PROGRAM EMPHASIZES PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT IN SUCH AREAS AS CITIZENSHIP, INTEGRITY, SELF-RELIANCE, AND OTHER KINDRED VIRTUES. SCOUTING PROGRAMS INCLUDE: LION SCOUTS - A FUN INTRODUCTION TO SCOUTING FOR BOYS AND GIRLS IN KINDERGARTEN AND THEIR ADULT PARTNERS THAT INTRODUCES FAMILIES TO SCOUTING AND THE OUTDOORS AS IT BUILDS A FOUNDATION OF CHARACTER. A LION DEN IS PART OF THE CUB SCOUT PACK. TIGER SCOUTS - A ONE-YEAR,FAMILY ORIENTED PROGRAM FOR A GROUP OF TEAMS EACH CONSISTING OF A FIRST-GRADE (OR 7-YEAR OLD) BOY OR GIRL AND THEIR ADULT PARTNER (USUALLY A PARENT) THAT STRESSES SHARED LEADERSHIP, LEARNING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, AND FAMILY UNDERSTANDING. A TIGER DEN IS PART OF THE CUB SCOUT PACK. CUB SCOUTING - A FAMILY AND COMMUNITY-CENTERED APPROACH TO LEARNING CITIZENSHIP, COMPASSION, AND COURAGE THROUGH SERVICE PROJECTS, CEREMONIES, GAMES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES PROMOTING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. CUB SCOUTING IS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS IN THE SECOND THROUGH FIFTH GRADES (OR WHO ARE 8,9, AND 10 YEARS OLD). FOURTH AND FIFTH-GRADE (OR 10-YEAR OLD) BOYS AND GIRLS ARE CALLED WEBELOS SCOUTS (WE'LL BE LOYAL SCOUTS) AND PARTICIPATE IN MORE ADVANCED ACTIVITIES. SCOUTS BSA - A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM FOR YOUTH 11-17 YEARS OLD THAT PROVIDES FUN, ADVENTURE, LEARNING, CHALLENGE, AND RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP THEM BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES. VENTURING - A PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE 14-20 YEARS OLD THAT PROVIDES POSITIVE EXPERIENCES TO BECOME MATURE, RESPONSIBLE CARING ADULTS. YOUNG PEOPLE LEARN LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND PARTICIPATE IN CHALLENGING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING ACCESS TO BSA CAMPING PROPERTIES, A RECOGNITION PROGRAM AND YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING. DURING THE CURRENT YEAR, THE COUNCIL CONTINUED SCOUTING'S RICH TRADITIONS IN SERVING YOUTH IN COMMUNITIES, BOTH LARGE AND SMALL, THROUGHOUT OUR SIX-COUNTY SERVICE AREA. SPECIFICALLY, SEVERAL OF THE COUNCIL'S MOST NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: * THE COUNCIL WAS SERVING 5,347 REGISTERED YOUTH PARTICIPANTS IN 232 LOCAL SCOUTING AND LEARNING FOR LIFE GROUPS. * 1270 SCOUTS AND 704 ADULTS ATTENDED SUMMER CAMPS IN OUR COUNCIL DURING THE YEAR ENDING 12/31/2024. * THERE WERE 2598 REGISTERED ADULT LEADERS PROVIDING LEADERSHIP AND GUIDANCE TO SCOUTING PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNCIL AREA. * 163 BOY SCOUTS ACHIEVED THE RANK OF EAGLE SCOUT AND OVER 25800 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS WERE DONATED DURING THESE PROJECTS. *192 SCOUTS PARTICIPATED IN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AREAS OF YORK AND HARRISBURG. * OVER $795,900 IN POPCORN, NUTS, AND CAMP CARDS WERE SOLD BY SCOUTS IN OUR COUNCIL TO HELP FUND SCOUTING PROGRAMS AND THEIR CAMP EXPERIENCES.

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 November 6, 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 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.