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 & MORAL CHOICES OVER THEIR LIFETIMES BY INSTILLING IN THEM THE VALUES OF THE SCOUT OATH & LAW.
- Income
- $9.3 million
- Spending
- $4.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 19.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 70%
- Employees
- 99
- Volunteers
- 4,500
- Highest pay
- $107,505, ceo/scout executive (begin 6/16/24)
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: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 19.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 54% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 154% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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 2538 of 38 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)
- $3.7 million spent. THE COUNCIL'S PROGRAM USE OUTDOOR SKILLS, HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS AS MECHANISMS FOR BUILDING CONFIDENCE AS SCOUTS GROW AND DEVELOP INTO ADULTS. THE COUNCIL IS COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING THEIR MISSION WITHIN ITS GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES, WHICH ENCOMPASS 19 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN OHIO AND GREENUP COUNTY IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY. THE COUNCIL SERVES APPROXIMATELY 8,500 YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH THE WORK OF MORE THAN 4,000 VOLUNTEERS. THE COUNCIL CONDUCTS TRADITIONAL SCOUTING PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS LEARNING FOR LIFE PROGRAMS AIMED AT PROVIDING CHARACTER EDUCATION, PERSONAL FITNESS, PARTICIPATING CITIZENSHIP AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O.BOYS AND GIRLS IN GRADES K THROUGH 5 ARE SERVED THROUGH THE CUB SCOUT PROGRAM, ENCOMPASSING LIONS (GRADE K), TIGER CUBS (GRADE 1), CUB SCOUTS (GRADES 2-3) WEBELOS AND ARROW OF LIGHT (GRADES 4-5). THE SCOUT'S BSA PROGRAM SERVES BOYS AND GIRLS IN GRADES 6-12, AND VENTURING SERVES BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 14-20. LEARNING FOR LIFE PROGRAMS INCLUDES COED CHARACTER EDUCATION FOR ALL SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, AND CAREER EXPLORATION POSTS IN A VARIETY OF FIELDS FOR HIGH SCHOOL-AGED YOUTH AGES 14 THROUGH 20. THE COUNCIL OPERATES A COUNCIL SERVICE CENTER IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, AND ONE SATELLITE SERVICE CENTER IN CHILLICOTHE, OHIO. IT OWNS AND OPERATES FOUR CAMPING FACILITIES: CAMP LAZARUS IN DELAWARE COUNTY; CAMP FALLING ROCK IN LICKING COUNTY; CAMP OYO IN SCIOTO COUNTY; AND CAMP LOWMAN IN ATHENS COUNTY. IT ALSO OPERATES CAMP OTTER RUN IN EAST LIBERTY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HONDA OF AMERICA COMPANY.
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 October 13, 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 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.