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Boy Scouts of America

EIN 36-3831877 · St Charles, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF SCOUTING AMERICA IS TO PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE ETHICAL AND MORAL CHOICES OVER THEIR LIFETIMES BY INSTILLING IN THEM THE VALUES OF THE SCOUT OATH AND SCOUT LAW.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-9.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
73
Volunteers
3,178
Highest pay
$181,138, scout executive/ceo

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    40 of 40 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, 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)
  1. $2.5 million spent. OUR YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN EXCITING INDOOR/OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS (AGES 5-10) AND FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN (AGES 11-20). THEY ARE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF TRAINED ADULT VOLUNTEERS, WHO HELP THEM DEVELOP THE LIFE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BECOME FUTURE LEADERS AND ACTIVE CITIZENS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THESE SKILLS INCLUDE INTERDEPENDENCE, ETHICAL DECISION MAKING, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, SELF-ESTEEM, LITERACY SKILLS, VALUES SYSTEM. PERSONAL GROWTH, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, SEXUAL RESPONSIBILITY, POSITIVE PEER RELATIONSHIPS, SERVICE TO OTHERS, MENTORING SKILLS, DRUG AWARENESS EDUCATION, TEAMWORK, FITNESS, POSITIVE TEEN-ADULT RELATIONSHIPS, SCHOOL-TO-WORK SKILLS, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, CHARACTER EDUCATION, AND MANY MORE. THE THREE FIRES COUNCIL'S PROGRAMS ARE CLASSIFIED AS FOLLOWS:LIONS - A SCHOOL-YEAR PROGRAM FOR KINDERGARTEN (OR 5-YEAR OLD) BOYS AND GIRLS WORKING WITH ADULT LEADERS TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.TIGERS - A SCHOOL-YEAR PROGRAM FOR FIRST GRADE BOYS AND GIRLS AND THEIR ADULT LEADERS THAT STRESSES SHARED LEADERSHIP, LEARNING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, AND UNDERSTANDING THEIR FAMILY.CUB SCOUTS - A FAMILY AND HOME-CENTERED PROGRAM THAT DEVELOPS ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING FOR BOYS AND GIRLS IN THE SECOND THROUGH FIFTH GRADES (OR WHO ARE 8, 9, AND 10 YEARS OLD). FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE (OR 10-YEAR OLD) BOYS AND GIRLS ARE CALLED WEBELOS SCOUTS (WE'LL BE LOYAL SCOUTS) AND PARTICIPATE IN MORE ADVANCED ACTIVITIES THAT BEGIN TO TRANSITION THEM INTO THE SCOUTS BSA PROGRAM. CUB SCOUTING'S EMPHASIS IS ON QUALITY PROGRAMS AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL, VIGOROUS OUTDOOR PROGRAM AND PEER-GROUP LEADERSHIP WITH THE COUNSEL OF AN ADULT SCOUTMASTER.SCOUTS BSA - A PROGRAM FOR BOYS AND GIRLS 11 THROUGH 17 DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE THE AIMS OF SCOUTING THROUGH A VIGOROUS OUTDOOR PROGRAM AND PEER-GROUP LEADERSHIP WITH THE COUNSEL OF AN ADULT SCOUTMASTER. BOYS AND GIRLS WHO HAVE EARNED THE ARROW OF LIGHT RANK OR COMPLETED THE FIFTH GRADE, MAY TRANSITION TO THE SCOUTS BSA PROGRAM.VENTURING - A PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE 14 (AND HAVE COMPLETED THE EIGHTH GRADE) THROUGH 20 YEARS OF AGE TO PROVIDE POSITIVE EXPERIENCES THROUGH EXCITING AND MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES THAT HELP YOUTH PURSUE THEIR SPECIAL INTERESTS, GROW, DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND BECOME GOOD CITIZENS.EXPLORING - A CO-EDUCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO PREPARE YOUTH TO SUCCESSFULLY HANDLE THE COMPLEXITIES OF CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY AND TO ENHANCE THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE, MOTIVATION, AND SELF-ESTEEM. THE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, THE FORMATION OF POSITIVE PERSONAL VALUES, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL AND LIFE SKILLS. IT DOES ALL THIS IN AN ATMOSPHERE THAT PREPARES THE YOUTH TO MAKE ETHICAL DECISIONS THAT WILL HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.AS OF 10/31/2025, THERE WERE 6,202 MEMBERS: 3,377 CUB SCOUTS, 2,554 SCOUTS BSA, 70 VENTURING, AND 201 EXPLORING.

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

  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 November 6, 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 2025.

    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 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.