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Boy Scouts of America

EIN 56-0529985 · Winston Salem, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 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 LIFETIMES BY INSTILLING IN THEM THE VALUES OF THE SCOUT OATH AND SCOUT LAW.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 60%
Employees
218
Volunteers
2,000
Highest pay
$225,597, scout executive

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

Good: 88 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 25

    50 of 50 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. $2.9 million spent. TRADITIONAL SCOUTING: THE OLD HICKORY COUNCIL, BSA PROVIDES PROGRAM SUPPORT, FACILITIES, ORGANIZED ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER RELATED SERVICES FOR SCOUTING IN EIGHT COUNTIES OF NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA. TOTAL REGISTERED YOUTH IN TRADITIONAL SCOUTING, CUB SCOUTS, VENTURERS AND EXPLORERS IN 2025 WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,487. YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED TO BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 6-20. ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM FOCUS ON CITIZENSHIP, CHARACTER AND FITNESS. APPROXIMATELY 5,008 SCOUTS AND LEADERS FROM ALL OVER THE SOUTHEAST AND THE OLD HICKORY COUNCIL AREA PARTICIPATED IN SUMMER CAMP 2025 AT CAMP RAVEN KNOB. 99 SCOUTS EARNED THE RANK OF EAGLE SCOUT IN 2025. SCOUTS PROVIDED OVER 18,208 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE COUNCILS NORTHWEST NC TERRITORY. SCOUTS COLLECTED 40,996 LBS. OF FOOD DURING THE ANNUAL SCOUTING FOR FOOD DRIVE TO HELP FEED HUNGRY FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE EIGHT-COUNTY AREA.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 7, 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 September 7, 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 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.