Boy Scouts of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE COUNCIL SHALL PROMOTE, 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, 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 OATHS, PROMISES, AND CODES OF THE SCOUTING PROGRAM FOR CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, CITIZENSHIP TRAINING, AND MENTAL AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. THE COUNCIL SHALL FULFILL THE BASIC PURPOSE OF THE SCOUTING MOVEMENT WITHIN ITS TERRITORY, MAKING SCOUTING TRAINING AVAILABLE TO ALL BOYS, YOUNG MEN, AND WOMEN AND SERVING ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 25.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 36%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 1,429
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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 25.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2548 of 48 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.
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, 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)
- $906,582 spent. THE COUNCIL FULFILLS THE BASIC PURPOSE OF THE SCOUTING MOVEMENT WITHIN ITS TERRITORY, MAKING SCOUTING TRAINING AVAILABLE TO ALL BOYS, YOUNG MEN, AND WOMEN AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS USING THE SCOUTING PROGRAM WHILE MAINTAINING STANDARDS AND POLICIES, PROTECTING OFFICIAL BADGES AND INSIGNIA, AND PROVIDING ADEQUATE LEADERSHIP AND FINANCES.
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
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 2025.
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.