Boy Scouts of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF SCOUTING AMERICA, W. D. BOYCE COUNCIL 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 LAW. THIS INCLUDES ENCOURAGING THEM TO LIVE BY THE SCOUT OATH AND LAW, HELP OTHERS, AND MAINTAIN PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND MORAL STRENGTH.
- Income
- $2.1 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 9.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 42%
- Employees
- 57
- Volunteers
- 1,373
- Highest pay
- $238,015, 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
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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.
Independent board
25 of 2532 of 32 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, 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)
- $1.7 million spent. THE COUNCIL WORKS THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO DELIVER SCOUTING PROGRAMS THAT DEVELOP CHARACTER, CITIZENSHIP, PERSONAL FITNESS, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. DURING 2025, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED 155 UNITS, SERVING 3,823 YOUTH MEMBERS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 1,373 REGISTERED ADULT VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT 14 CENTRAL-ILLINOIS COUNTIES.INGERSOLL SCOUT RESERVATION IS A YEAR-ROUND SCOUT CAMP OPERATED SINCE 1964. THE RESERVATION COMPRISES 646 ACRES OF LAKES, FOREST, AND RIVERS NEAR LONDON MILLS, ILLINOIS. ISR SERVES AS AN OUTDOOR LEARNING LABORATORY WHERE SCOUTS GROW THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS, CONNECT WITH NATURE, AND ADVANCE IN SCOUTING. THE CAMP HOSTS RESIDENT AND WEEKEND PROGRAMS SERVING NEARLY 15,000 YOUTH AND ADULTS IN 2025. CACHE LAKE IS A REMOTE WILDERNESS RETREAT IN UNORGANIZED ONTARIO CANADA. IN 2025, NEARLY 200 SCOUTS AND ADULTS JOURNEYED TO THE CANADIAN WILDERNESS, MANY EXPERIENCING THEIR FIRST ADVENTURE OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. MORE THAN 530 SCOUTS RECEIVED FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH CAMPERSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND SCOUTREACH PROGRAMS. SCOUTREACH AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE SPECIALIZED ADAPTATIONS OF THE CUB SCOUT AND SCOUTS BSA PROGRAMS TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME STUDENTS. YOUTH FROM INNER-CITY AND RURAL FAMILIES TAKE PART IN PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO BUILD CHARACTER, TEACH LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND INSTILL LIFETIME VALUES THROUGH THE USE OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND PAID STAFF WHERE CONSISTENT ADULT VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP IS NOT OTHERWISE AVAILABLE.
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
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? 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 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 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 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.