Boy Scouts of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA IS TO PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE ETHICAL CHOICES OVER THEIR LIFETIME BY INSTILLING IN THEM THE VALUES OF THE SCOUT OATH AND LAW.
- Income
- $18.5 million
- Spending
- $16.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 18.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 43%
- Employees
- 404
- Volunteers
- 6,097
- Highest pay
- $507,262, 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 28% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 25127 of 128 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 (3)
- $9.9 million spent. Program and Field Service - To support and deliver a quality Scouting program throughout our 13 county area with over 480 Scouting Units (Cub Scout Packs, Scouts BSA Troops, Venturing Crews and Explorer Posts) including over 19,600 youth and 6,700 adult volunteers, the Atlanta Area Council employs 28 unit serving executives, 17 program and finance executives and management, 20 program and office support staff, along with Scoutreach program staff. The Atlanta Area Council serves youth in thirteen Metro-Atlanta counties, including Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, and Rockdale. Scoutreach is a division within the Council with an emphasis on growing the Scouting program in all areas by removing barriers to ensure that all youth have the opportunity to join Scouting. Scoutreach sponsors uniforms, transportation and professional leadership to Scouts and units that otherwise would not be able to participate in the adventures of Scouting. Over 480 Scouts attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 2024.
- $4.9 million spent. Camping - The Atlanta Area Council owns two camping facilities, Robert W. Woodruff Scout Camp and Bert Adams Scout Camp, and operates Allatoona Aquatics Base. In addition to summer camp and resident camps, Scouts are encouraged to use these facilities throughout the year for overnight camping and day trips. Camping offers an outdoor classroom providing Scouts the opportunity to participate in physically and intellectually challenging activities. Positive outcomes of camp occur because the environment and activities incorporate all of the elements of healthy youth development: strong personal values and character, positive sense of self-worth and usefulness, caring and nurturing relationships, a desire to learn and creative use of time and social adeptness. Bert Adams and Woodruff Scout Camps served over 6,300 Scouts BSA youth and 100 Cub Scouts in 11 sessions of Scouts BSA Camp and one session of Cub Scout Camp. These resident programs provide fun, adventure, learning and memory building opportunities for youth and families as they enjoy dozens of activities at summer camp. Winter Camp held in December at Bert Adams served over 400 participants and offers Scouts BSA Youth the same great summer camp programs coupled with unique merit badges and camp programs like the polar bear plunge in the lake and klondike derby games for fun. Youth are guided toward the mission of Scouting America of teaching youth to make moral and ethical choices throughout their lifetimes.
- $768,501 spent. Activities - Council activities include leadership and instructor training, CPR, first-aid and lifesaving training, Cub Adventure, Venturing and Exploring activities. Each of the Council's 13 districts held activities ranging from training, volunteer recognition banquets, camporees to day camps. Training activities provide leadership skills to both youth and adult leaders. It empowers leaders to provide enhanced and exciting program activities for all youth served by the Council. Activity programs embrace the theory of "Fun with a Purpose" by teaching a variety of skills and values through activities designed for fun. The youth are guided toward the mission of the Scouting America of teaching youth to make moral and ethical choices throughout their lifetimes. IN 2024, WINTER FAMILY JUBILEE WAS ATTENDED BY 250 PARTICIPANTS FOR A ONE-DAY "SNOWMAN EXTRAVAGANZA" OF FUN. SCOUTERS WINTER CAMPOUT HAD 160 PARTICIPANTS AND VOLUNTEERS OVER A WEEKEND WHERE SCOUTERS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES CAME TOGETHER TO STRENGTHEN THEIR WINTER CAMPING SKILLS AND FELLOWSHIP. CIVIL RIGHTS HERITAGE HIKE WAS HELD AT EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH/ KING CENTER, WITH 441 PARTICIPANTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TAKING TOURS WITH NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND HIKING FROM EBENEZER TO CIVIL RIGHTS MUSUEM IN ATLANTA. SPRING FAMILY INTERNATIONAL CUB-A-REE OVER 2 WEEKENDS HAD 2,400 PARTICIPANTS WHERE PARTICIPANTS COULD WRITE POST CARDS TO SCOUT UNITS OVERSEAS, LEARN HOW TO HULA WITH POLYNESIAN DANCERS, AND GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH GINGER THE PYTHON & SCALY ADVENTURES. UNIVERSITY OF SCOUTING WAS HELD AT LIFE UNIVERSITY WITH OVER 250 SCOUTERS & YOUTH LEARNING NEW SKILLS, NYLT, DEN CHIEF TRAINING, DUTCH OVEN COOKING, POSITION SPECIFIC TRAINING AND MORE. FALL FAMILY SPOOKY-REE HELD ON 3 WEEKENDS INCLUDED OVER 4,500 PARTICIPANTS AND OVER 200 VOLUNTEERS WHO ENJOYED THE THEME OF "WITCHES & WIZARDS" WITH PACK GATEWAY COMPETITION, MAGIC STEM CASTLE (SCIENCE CREATIONS & BOOTH MUSEUM), PUMPKIN CARVING, GLOW PARTY, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. DURING THE SUMMER, STEM ACADEMY IS A PROGRAM THAT FACILITATES BOTH SCOUTS AND NON-SCOUTS, PROVIDING AN EXPERIENCE FOR 60 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON A WEEKLONG PROGRAM TO VISIT VARIOUS STEM RELATED BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO LEARN WHAT THEY DO, THE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE EDUCATION THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THOSE POSITIONS. WE PROVIDE OLDER YOUTH PROGRAMS INCLUDING THREE MERIT BADGE SUMMITS EACH YEAR THAT HAVE THEMED BADGES: EAGLE RANK, STEM, STRANGER THINGS (UNCOMMON BADGES) HOSTING A TOTAL OF 882 YOUTH FOR THOSE SUMMITS. TWICE A YEAR, WE DO SPECIAL MERIT BADGE DAYS WITH PORSCHE OFFERING AUTOMOTIVE MAINTENANCE FOR 60 SCOUTS AND ASFIP/CFA SOCIETY OFFERING PERSONAL MANAGEMENT FOR 140 SCOUTS. DURING THE SUMMER, WE OFFER 9 WEEKENDS OF AQUATIC BADGES AT THE ALLATOONA AQUATICS BASE AT LAKE ALLATOONA SERVING 461 YOUTH. BADGES INCLUDE: SWIMMING, LIFESAVING, CANNOEING, KAYAKING, FISHING, FLY-FISHING, SMALL-BOAT SAILING, STAND-UP PADDLE BOARD, AND ROWING. DURING THE FALL, WE OFFER A FIRST YEAR SCOUT SKILLS FOR 70 BRAND NEW SCOUTS TO GET ACCLIMATED WITH THE SCOUTING PROGRAM. LEARNING; FIRST AID, KNOTS, KNIFE/AX/SAW SAFETY, FIRE SAFETY, MAP AND COMPASS, COOKING, AND BASIC CAMPING SKILLS. TOWARDS THE LATE FALL, WE HOST A MINATURE WEEKEND SUMMER CAMP CALLED CONSERVATION WEEKEND. WE PUT ON A PROGRAM FOR 668 YOUTH AND ADULTS THAT PROVIDES VARIOUS MERIT BADGES, OPPORTUNITIES TO DO CONSERVATION PROJECTS, LEARN HOW TO USE TOOLS ON THE TRAIL. THERE ARE EVEN ADULT CLASS OPTIONS SUCH AS CERTIFIED ANGLING INSTRUCTOR TRAINING AND LEAVE NO TRACE TRAIN THE TRAINER. THERE ARE FOUR NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING COURSES THAT WE OFFER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT ACCOMMODATES 56 YOUTH EACH COURSE. NYLT IS A SIX-DAY ADVANCED LEADERSHIP COURSE DESIGNED TO TEACH SCOUTS THE TOOLS, TECHNIQUES, AND SKILLS THEY NEED TO BE BETTER LEADERS - NOT ONLY IN THEIR UNITS, BUT ALSO AT HOME, IN SCHOOL, AND IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. WE ALSO OFFER ADULT TRAINING PORGRAMS AS WELL. WOOD BADGE OCCURS TWICE A YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF 89 ADULTS. THROUGH WOOD BADGE, ADULTS WILL GAIN VALUABLE TOOLS IN LISTENING, COMMUNICATING, CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, PROJECT PLANNING AND LEADING CHANGE. THEY WILL LEARN TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND LEVERAGE DIVERSITY AND THE GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES IN SOCIETY. LEARN TO LEAD WITH A VISION AND LEARN SKILLS THAT WILL MAKE THEM A BETTER LEADER. THERE ARE INTRODUCTORY TRAINING COURSES FOR LEADERS WHO WISH TO TAKE THEIR UNIT CAMPING. TWICE A YEAR, WE FACILITATE AN IOLS AND BALOO COURSE FOR 120 LEADERS. IOLS (INTRODUCTION TO OUTDOOR LEADER SKILLS) IS FOR SCOUTS BSA AND VENTURE LEADERS. WORKING AS PATROLS, THIS HANDS-ON COURSE PROVIDES ADULT LEADERS THE PRACTICAL OUTDOOR SKILLS THEY NEED TO LEAD SCOUTS IN THE OUT-OF-DOORS. BALOO (BASIC ADULT LEADER OUTDOOR ORIENTATION) IS FOR CUB SCOUT LEADERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ADDING A CAMPING COMPONENT TO THEIR PACK ACTIVITIES ARE TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE BALOO TRAINED ADULT ON EVERY CUB SCOUT DEN OR PACK OVERNIGHT OUTDOOR EVENT.
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 November 6, 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 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 November 4, 2026.
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