Girl Scouts of Western Ohio
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 72 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
GIRL SCOUTING BUILDS GIRLS OF COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND CHARACTER, WHO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
- Income
- $12.4 million
- Spending
- $15.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 13.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 72%
- Employees
- 264
- Volunteers
- 11,988
- Highest pay
- $252,942, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 72 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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 September 30, 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)
- $12.3 million spent. GIRL SCOUTS OF WESTERN OHIO, IN AN INCLUSIVE, GIRL-DRIVEN ENVIRONMENT, HELPS PREPARE APPROXIMATELY 25,000 GIRL MEMBERS FOR LIVING TODAY, AS WELL AS FOR LIVING RESPONSIBLE ADULT LIVES THROUGH THE GIRL SCOUT PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES TROOP ACTIVITIES, PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES, SUMMER CAMP, AND GIRL SCOUTS IN THE SCHOOL DAY. THE GIRL SCOUT COOKIE PROGRAM IS MUCH MORE THAN SELLING COOKIES. GIRLS LEARN FIVE VALUABLE SKILLS: 1) GOAL SETTING, 2) DECISION MAKING, 3) MONEY MANAGEMENT, 4) PEOPLE SKILLS, AND 5) BUSINESS ETHICS-ASPECTS ESSENTIAL TO LEADERSHIP, SUCCESS, AND LIFE. WHEN A GIRL SCOUT SELLS COOKIES, SHE'S BUILDING A LIFETIME OF SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE. EIGHTY PERCENT OF ALL FEMALE BUSINESS OWNERS PARTICIPATED IN THE GIRL SCOUT COOKIE PROGRAM. GIRL SCOUTS SELLING GIRL SCOUT COOKIES SET THEIR OWN MONEY-EARNING GOALS FOR THE SEASON, WHETHER IT'S GOING ON A DESTINATION, GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, OR PARTICIPATING IN ANOTHER EXCITING ADVENTURE. THE GIRL SCOUT COOKIE PROGRAM IS A GIRL-LED ACTIVITY, WITH PARENTAL SUPERVISION AND VOLUNTEER SUPPORT. GIRL SCOUTS OF WESTERN OHIO WILL HELP PREPARE ONE OUT OF SIX GIRLS IN THE OHIO REGION FOR LIVING IN TODAY'S WORLD THROUGH RECRUITMENT, SCREENING, TRAINING AND SUPPORT OF A DIVERSE CORE OF APPROXIMATELY 12,000 VOLUNTEERS, WHO WILL SUPPORT GIRLS THROUGH THE DELIVERY OF THE GIRL SCOUT PROGRAM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, 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 September 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 July 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.