Boy Scouts of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE GREATER ST. LOUIS AREA COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, INC., 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.
- Income
- $14.0 million
- Spending
- $13.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 4.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 65%
- Employees
- 377
- Volunteers
- 8,300
- Highest pay
- $355,634, scout executive/ceo & 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
Good: 85 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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 2589 of 89 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
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)
- $11.3 million spent. TRADITIONAL SCOUTING:TRADITIONAL SCOUTING PROGRAMS PROVIDE AGE APPROPIATE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOYS, GIRLS, AND YOUNG ADULTS TO BUILD CHARACTER, TO TRAIN IN THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARTICIPATING CITIZENSHIP, AND TO DEVELOP PERSONAL FITNESS. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR THE VARIOUS TRADITIONAL SCOUTING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE. TRADITIONAL SCOUTING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE INCLUDE: CUB SCOUTS - INCLUDES LION CUBS, YEAR BEFORE FIRST GRADE, AND TIGER CUBS, A FAMILY AND HOME-CENTERED PROGRAM THAT TEACHES ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING SKILLS FOR FIRST-GRADE (OR 7-YEAR OLD) CHILDREN; EMPHASIZES SHARED LEADERSHIP, LEARNING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND FAMILY UNDERSTANDING. CUB SCOUTS, A FAMILY AND HOME-CENTERED PROGRAM THAT DEVELOPS ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING SKILLS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN THE SECOND THROUGH FIFTH GRADES (OR WHO ARE 8, 9 AND 10 YEARS OLD); EMPHASIZES CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, CITIZENSHIP TRAINING AND PERSONAL FITNESS. SCOUTS BSA - A PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AGES 11 THROUGH 17 YEARS OLD DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE SCOUTING'S AIMS OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, CITIZENSHIP TRAINING AND PERSONAL FITNESS THROUGH A VIGOROUS OUTDOOR PROGRAM AND PEER GROUP LEADERSHIP WITH THE COUNSEL OF ADULT SCOUTMASTERS. VENTURING - A PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AGE 14 (OR HAVE COMPLETED THE EIGHTH GRADE) THROUGH AGE 20 PROVIDING POSITIVE EXPERIENCES THROUGH EXCITING AND MEANINGFUL YOUTH-RUN ACTIVITIES THAT HELP THEM PURSUE THEIR SPECIAL INTERESTS, GROW BY TEACHING OTHERS AND DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS. EXPLORING - PROGRAM FOR YOUTH SIXTH-GRADE TO 20 YEARS OF AGE THAT PROVIDES AN INTERACTIVE, WORKSITE-BASED CAREER EDUCATION PROGRAM. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024, THERE WERE 25,713 YOUTHS IN TRADITIONAL 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
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 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 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.