Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Boy Scouts of America

EIN 31-0536651 · Cincinnati, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO DEVELOP YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE EXCEPTIONALLY PREPARED TO LEAD, IN THEIR OWN WAY, TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES, PROFESSIONS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIME.

Income
$6.5 million
Spending
$5.7 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
160
Volunteers
2,854
Highest pay
$237,562, ceo/council 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

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% 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

    59 of 59 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 (3)
  1. $2.3 million spent. CAMPINGTHE DAN BEARD COUNCIL PROVIDES CAMPING AND YEAR-ROUND OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING AT THE DAN BEARD SCOUT RESERVATION IN CINCINNATI, OH AND CAMP MICHAELS IN UNION, KY. THE COUNCIL OFFERS CAMPING PROGRAMS THAT RANGE FROM OVERNIGHT TO ONE WEEK IN LENGTH AND DAY CAMP PROGRAMS. THEIR PURPOSE IS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, PHYSICAL FITNESS, LIFE SKILLS INSTRUCTIONS AND INSTILLING THE VALUES OF THE SCOUT OATH AND LAW.
  2. $1.9 million spent. COUNCIL & DISTRICT ACTIVITIES THE COUNCIL HOLDS ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHICH INCLUDE LEADERSHIP & INSTRUCTOR TRAINING, VENTURING & EXPLORING EVENTS, HIGH ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES, RECOGNITION EVENTS AND ADVANCEMENT PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, EACH DISTRICT HAS EVENTS FOR THE MEMBERSHIP WITHIN ITS GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDRIES. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE BANQUETS, PINEWOOD DERBY COMPETITIONS AND CAMPOREES.
  3. $355,956 spent. SCOUTREACH IN ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL SCOUTING PROGRAMS, SCOUTREACH PROGRAMS ARE IMPLEMENTED THROUGHOUT LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES IN THE TRI-STATE AREA. THESE OUTREACH PROGRAMS BRING SCOUTING TO YOUTH THAT OTHERWISE MAY NOT HAVE THE OPTION TO PARTICIPATE. PROGRAM MANAGERS ARE SUBSIDIZED BY THE COUNCIL TO COORDINATE PROGRAMS FOR IN-SCHOOL AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON BASIC SCOUTING SKILLS AND RANK ADVANCEMENT AND ALSO INCLUDES A WEEK LONG DAY CAMP PROGRAM CALLED CHALLENGE CAMP.

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 October 13, 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 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.