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Boy Scouts of America

EIN 42-0680304 · Cedar Rapids, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

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

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 46%
Employees
45
Volunteers
1,182
Highest pay
$168,723, executive di

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

Weak: 48 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 47 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: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 29 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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, 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 (3)
  1. $842,358 spent. IN THE COUNCIL'S SEVEN COUNTY SERVICE AREA, 2,187 YOUTH WERE SERVED BY THE SCOUTING PROGRAM IN 2024. THE COUNCIL PROVIDES DIRECT SUPPORT TO ADULT VOLUNTEERS, YOUTH LEADERS AND THE SCOUTS THEMSELVES. WORKING IN TANDEM WITH PARTNERS CALLED "CHARTERED ORGANIZATIONS, " THE COUNCIL PROVIDES PROGRAMS TO CUB SCOUTS, SCOUTS BSA, VENTURING AND EXPLORING GROUPS. THE COUNCIL PROVIDES SUPPORT IN TRAINING, ADVANCEMENT, ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE FOR ALL MEMBERS AND LEADERS, MARKETING, HIGH ADVENTURE OPPORTUNITIES, DAY CAMPING PROGRAMS AND CAREER/VOCATION TRAINING. EXPENSES ALSO INCLUDE COMMISSIONED YOUTH SERVING EXECUTIVES, PROGRAM MATERIALS, LOCAL SCOUTING EVENTS AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT.
  2. IN 2024 WE HAD OVER 1,500 YOUTH AND ADULTS PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS PROGRAMS HELD AT CAMP LAST SUMMER. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS YOUTH OF ALL AGES WERE RIDING ZIPLINES, CLIMBING THE TOWER, HIKING AROUND CAMP, LEARNING TO COOK, RACING THROUGH THE NINJA WARRIOR COURSE, FISHING, SHOOTING AND MORE. ALTHOUGH WE STILL HAVE THE IMPACT OF COVID AFFECTING OUR CAMP NUMBERS FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS, CAMP WAKONDA HAS BEEN ADDED TO BROADEN OUR REACH TO MORE YOUTH BOTH IN & OUTSIDE OF SCOUTING. THIS CAMP IS SIMILAR TO OUR TRADITIONAL SCOUT CAMPS, BUT DO NOT INCLUDE ADVANCEMENT OTHAT ARE REQUIRED OF OUR SCOUTS, BUT INSTEAD FOCUSES ON THE OTHER ASPECTS OF CAMP, WORKING TOGETHER AND HAVING FUN, BUT WITHIN A MUCH DIFFERENT STRUCTURE. OUR CAMP STAFF IS KNOWN FOR BEING ONE OF THE BEST AROUND, AND THEY ARE EXCITED TO SHARE OUR CAMP AND ALL THAT IT HAS TO OFFER WITH NEW AUDIENCES. SCOUTS CAN BRING THEIR FRIENDS, COUSINS, NEIGHBORS WHO MAY NOT BE INVOLVED IN SCOUTING CURRENTLY, BUT CAN NOW HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCES AT CAMP. IN 2024 WE HAD OVER 1,500 YOUTH AND ADULTS PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS PROGRAMS HELD AT CAMP LAST SUMMER. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS YOUTH OF ALL AGES WERE RIDING ZIPLINES, CLIMBING THE TOWER, HIKING AROUND CAMP, LEARNING TO COOK, RACING THROUGH THE NINJA WARRIOR COURSE, FISHING, SHOOTING AND MORE. ALTHOUGH WE STILL HAVE THE IMPACT OF COVID AFFECTING OUR CAMP NUMBERS FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS, CAMP WAKONDA HAS BEEN ADDED TO BROADEN OUR REACH TO MORE YOUTH BOTH IN & OUTSIDE OF SCOUTING. THIS CAMP IS SIMILAR TO OUR TRADITIONAL SCOUT CAMPS, BUT DO NOT INCLUDE ADVANCEMENT OTHAT ARE REQUIRED OF OUR SCOUTS, BUT INSTEAD FOCUSES ON THE OTHER ASPECTS OF CAMP, WORKING TOGETHER AND HAVING FUN, BUT WITHIN A MUCH DIFFERENT STRUCTURE. OUR CAMP STAFF IS KNOWN FOR BEING ONE OF THE BEST AROUND, AND THEY ARE EXCITED TO SHARE OUR CAMP AND ALL THAT IT HAS TO OFFER WITH NEW AUDIENCES. SCOUTS CAN BRING THEIR FRIENDS, COUSINS, NEIGHBORS WHO MAY NOT BE INVOLVED IN SCOUTING CURRENTLY, BUT CAN NOW HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCES AT CAMP.
  3. $314,302 spent. THE WAKONDA KIDS PROGRAM, A PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL CHILD CARE PROVIDERS SAW OVER 500 YOUTH AGES 5 AND UP VISIT THE PROPERTY AS A FIELD TRIP OPPORTUNITY PROVIDED TO THEIR SUMMER PROGRAM. THIS ALLOWED MANY NON- SCOUTING YOUTH TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF SUMMER CAMP AND OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING WITH ACTIVITIES NOT OFTEN ACCESSIBLE IN OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDING CLIMBING, ARCHERY, AND ECOLOGY ACTIVITIES. IN 2024 WE HAVE PLANS TO EXPAND THIS TO INCLUDE PARTNERSHIPS WITH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS AND BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS THROUGHOUT THE AREA. THE FALL IS OUR BUSIEST SEASON OF THE YEAR, WITH OUR MEMBERSHIP PUSH HAPPENING AT BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS AS THE KIDS HEAD BACK TO SCHOOLS IN AUGUST. THE SCOUTING CALENDAR IS FULL WITH COMBINED CAMPOUTS, YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAININGS, AND SERVICE PROJECTS ALL TAKING PLACE. WE ALSO HELD A MERIT BADGE UNIVERSITY FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH NEARLY 300 YOUTH AT KIRKWOOD COLLEGE & IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS FOR THE SCOUTS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING NECESSARY FUNDS FOR HAC TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS IN THE FUTURE. HAC HAD ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SCOUTING FOR FOOD CAMPAIGN, WHICH IS OUR MAJOR SERVICE PROJECT FOR THE YEAR, AND LAST SPRING COLLECTED 53,090 POUNDS OF FOOD, WHICH PROVIDED OVER 47,496 MEALS TO THOSE IN EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY IN THE CORRIDOR. 74 YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN EARNED THEIR EAGLE SCOUT AWARD IN 2024, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST RANK IN SCOUTING. THE WAKONDA KIDS PROGRAM, A PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL CHILD CARE PROVIDERS SAW OVER 500 YOUTH AGES 5 AND UP VISIT THE PROPERTY AS A FIELD TRIP OPPORTUNITY PROVIDED TO THEIR SUMMER PROGRAM. THIS ALLOWED MANY NON- SCOUTING YOUTH TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF SUMMER CAMP AND OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING WITH ACTIVITIES NOT OFTEN ACCESSIBLE IN OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDING CLIMBING, ARCHERY, AND ECOLOGY ACTIVITIES. IN 2024 WE HAVE PLANS TO EXPAND THIS TO INCLUDE PARTNERSHIPS WITH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS AND BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS THROUGHOUT THE AREA. THE FALL IS OUR BUSIEST SEASON OF THE YEAR, WITH OUR MEMBERSHIP PUSH HAPPENING AT BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS AS THE KIDS HEAD BACK TO SCHOOLS IN AUGUST. THE SCOUTING CALENDAR IS FULL WITH COMBINED CAMPOUTS, YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAININGS, AND SERVICE PROJECTS ALL TAKING PLACE. WE ALSO HELD A MERIT BADGE UNIVERSITY FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH NEARLY 300 YOUTH AT KIRKWOOD COLLEGE & IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS FOR THE SCOUTS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING NECESSARY FUNDS FOR HAC TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS IN THE FUTURE. HAC HAD ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SCOUTING FOR FOOD CAMPAIGN, WHICH IS OUR MAJOR SERVICE PROJECT FOR THE YEAR, AND LAST SPRING COLLECTED 53,090 POUNDS OF FOOD, WHICH PROVIDED OVER 47,496 MEALS TO THOSE IN EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY IN THE CORRIDOR. 74 YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN EARNED THEIR EAGLE SCOUT AWARD IN 2024, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST RANK IN SCOUTING.

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

  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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 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.