Boy Scouts of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CORPORATION 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 AND 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.
- Income
- $874,554
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 55%
- Employees
- 26
- Volunteers
- 968
- Highest pay
- $173,251, scout executive/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
Fair: 60 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 51% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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
Good: 81 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2534 of 35 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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)
- $1.1 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A PROGRAM FOR ALL YOUTH BASED ON CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, CITIZENSHIP TRAINING, AND PERSONAL HEALTH AND FITNESS. THE COUNCIL ACHIEVES THESE THREE OBJECTIVES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS. BUFFALO TRACE COUNCIL SERVED OVER 5000 YOUTH THROUGH CUB SCOUTING, BOY SCOUTING, VENTURING, AND EXPLORING. BUFFALO TRACE COUNCIL OFFERS SPECIAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS; SCOUTREACH, SERVING YOUTH IN AFTER-SCHOOL SCOUTING PROGRAMS AND EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS SCOUTING PROGRAMS, SERVING SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS IN SCHOOL CLASSROOMS.
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.