Boy Scouts of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE BALTIMORE AREA COUNCIL 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 YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS 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
- $5.6 million
- Spending
- $5.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 20.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 47%
- Employees
- 81
- Volunteers
- 7,000
- Highest pay
- $322,108, ceo/sec & scout executive
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. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 47% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2562 of 63 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, 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)
- $4.5 million spent. CAMPING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THE BALTIMORE AREA COUNCIL OWNS AND OPERATES THE BROAD CREEK MEMORIAL SCOUT RESERVATION WHICH IS USED FOR SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS AS WELL AS YEAR ROUND CAMPING. THE COUNCIL DEVELOPS AND MAINTAINS CAMPING TRADITIONS AND SPIRIT AND PROMOTES CAMPING AS A MEANS TO EDUCATE SCOUTS. NEARLY 1,000 SCOUTS AND ADULT VOLUNTEERS ATTENDED ONE OF OUR SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS AND NEARLY 23,000 SCOUTS AND ADULT VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN WEEKEND CAMPING AT BROAD CREEK IN 2024. THE COUNCIL ALSO OPERATES OTHER ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS TO BUILD CHARACTER, TO TRAIN IN THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARTICIPATING CITIZENSHIP, AND TO DEVELOP PERSONAL FITNESS. SCOUTING ACTIVITIES INCLUDE TRAININGS, DAY CAMPS, S.T.E.M. EVENTS, PINEWOOD DERBY AND MANY MORE. IN ALL, OVER 12,000 YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AND OVER 7,000 ADULT VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN THE SCOUTING PROGRAM IN THE BALTIMORE AREA IN 2024.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 7, 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 September 7, 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 7, 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.