Boy Scouts of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
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. THE COASTAL CAROLINA COUNCIL HAS BEEN PROUDLY OPERATING SINCE 1921 AND SERVES OVER 5.500 YOUTH AND ADULT VOLUNTEERS IN THE CHARLESTON, DORCHESTER, BERKELEY, GEORGETOWN, COLLETONM, ALLENDALE, HAMPTON, JASPER AND BEAUFORT COUNTIES.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- -3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 45%
- Employees
- 49
- Volunteers
- 1,442
- Highest pay
- $129,991, 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
Weak: 22 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 80% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 56% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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.
Independent board
25 of 2563 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)
- $1.3 million spent. CUB SCOUTS, A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM WHOSE MISSION IS TO DEVELOP CHARACTER AND ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING SKILLS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADES (5-10 YEARS OLD). CUB SCOUTING IS ORGANIZED INTO GROUPS CALLED PACKS AND DENS, EACH OF WHICH IS LED BY DEDICATED VOLUNTEER LEADERS WHO TEACH CUB SCOUTS FUN, VALUABLE LESSONS, HELP LEARN CITIZENSHIP, AND DEVELOP PHYSICAL FITNESS. SCOUTS, BSA IS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM FOR BOYS AND GIRLS 11-17 DESIGNED TO BUILD CHARACTER, CITIZENSHIP, AND PERSONAL FITNESS THROUGH A VIGOROUS OUTDOOR PROGRAM AND PEER GROUP LEADERSHIP WITH THE COUNSEL OF AN ADULT SCOUTMASTER. SCOUTING IS THE ULTIMATE FORM OF LEARNING BY DOING. SCOUTS EXPLORE THEIR INTEREST AND IMPROVE SKILLS WHILE WORKING TOWARDS SCOUTING'S HIGHEST RANK: EAGLE. VENTURING IS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE 14 YEARS OF AGE (OR 13 YEARS OF AGE AND HAVE COMPLETED THE EIGTH GRADE) AND UP TO 21 YEARS OF AGE. VENTURING PROVIDES POSITIVE YOUTH-LED EXPERIENCES TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE MATURE AND TO PREPARE THEM TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE AND CARING ADULTS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON ADVENTURE, LEADERSHIP, PERSONAL GROWTH, AND SERVICE. EXPLORING IS YEAR-ROUND, CO-ED CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN FROM AGES 10-20. EXPLORING PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT A WIDE VARIETY OF CAREER FIELDS AND NETWORK WITH PROFESSIONALS ALREADY WORKING IN THOSE FIELDS. PARTICIPANTS GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A PARTICULAR CAREER FIELD IS RIGHT FOR THEM. THEY ALSO DEVELOP VALUABLE NETWORKING CONTACTS WITH PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN THEIR SELECTED CAREER FIELDS, WHILE GETTING TO KNOW OTHER YOUTH WITH SIMILAR INTERESTS AND ASPIRATIONS.
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 2024.
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 January 1973.
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.