Boy Scouts of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE ETHICAL AND MORAL CHOICES OVER THEIR LIFETIMES BY INSTILLING IN THEM THE VALUES OF THE SCOUT OATH AND LAW
- Income
- $3.8 million
- Spending
- $2.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 4.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 71%
- Employees
- 77
- Volunteers
- 2,457
- Highest pay
- $137,100, scout executive & ceo as of march
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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 55% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 2551 of 51 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 (1)
- $2.5 million spent. COMPREHENSIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - PRINCIPAL GROUP ACTIVITY INCLUDES VARIOUS CAMPING PROGRAMSOUR SUCCESS AS A YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATION IS BEST MEASURED BY THE SUCCESS OF OUR SCOUTS. DURING 2024, WE HAD 149 SCOUTS ACHIEVE THEIR EAGLE SCOUT RANK WHO CONTRIBUTED 27,797 HOURS ON SERVICE PROJECTS IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. OVERALL, MINSI TRAILS COUNCIL SCOUTS ACHIEVED 47,644 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS IN 2024. THAT'S SERVICE; THAT'S ACHIEVEMENT; AND THAT'S SUCCESS.SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SCHEDULE OMINSI TRAILS COUNCIL SERVES 4,214 YOUTH IN SIX COUNTIES CARBON, LEHIGH, LUZERNE, MONROE AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA AND WARREN COUNTY IN NEW JERSEY. OTHER KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: - 6,979 MERIT BADGES EARNED DURING THE YEAR - NEARLY 1,250 SCOUTS CAMPED AT THE NATIONALLY ACCREDITED CAMP MINISI - SCOUTS COLLECTED OVER 84,000 POUNDS OF FOOD DURING OUR ANNUAL SCOUTING FOR FOOD CAMPAIGN TO HELP FILL LOCAL FOOD BANKSSCOUTING IS ABOUT BUILDING CHARACTER, INSTILLING LEADERSHIP SKILLS, CREATING ENGAGED CITIZENSHIP, AND ACHIEVING SUCCESS FOR YOUTH WHILE HAVING FUN IN A GREAT OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE. PROGRAMS WILL EITHER REMAIN SINGLE-GENDER WITH SEPARATE PACKS, DENS, OR TROOPS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS OR COMBINED BASED ON THE INTEREST OF PARENTS AND THE CHARTERING ORGANIZATION. WHILE GIRLS HAVE BEEN PART OF THE BSA'S COED VENTURING AND EXPLORING PROGRAMS FOR DECADES, EXPANDING ITS CUB SCOUT AND SCOUTS BSA PROGRAMS TO GIRLS WILL ALLOW SCOUTING TO BETTER SERVE TODAY'S FAMILIES. WITH A SOLID MISSION AND VISION, MINSI TRAILS COUNCIL IS MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE FOR ALL OUR YOUTH.THE NUMBER OF YOUTH SERVED : CUBS: 2,031SCOUTS BSA: 2,058VENTURERS: 57EXPLORING: 110 TOTAL: 4,256
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.