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Boy Scouts of America

EIN 58-0566207 · Jefferson, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CORPORATION SHALL PROMOTE, WITHIN THE TERRITORY COVERED BY THE CHARTER FROM TIME TO TIME GRANTED IT BY SCOUTING OF AMERICA AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL CHARTER, BYLAWS, AND RULES AND REGULATIONS OF SCOUTING OF AMERICA, THE SCOUTING PROGRAM OF PROMOTING THE ABILITY OF BOYS AND YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN 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 SCOUTING OF AMERICA.

Income
$5.6 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
15.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 39%
Employees
133
Volunteers
4,000
Highest pay
$381,703, ceo & secret

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    154 of 154 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. $3.6 million spent. TRADITIONAL SCOUTING - IN THE BSA, SCOUTING IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE MOVEMENT WITH THREE MAIN PROGRAMS: CUB SCOUTING IS THE LARGEST OF THE THREE PROGRAMS, AVAILABLE TO BOYS AND GIRLS FROM FIRST TO FIFTH GRADE OR 7 TO 11 1/2 YEARS.THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PURSUE THE AIMS OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, CITIZENSHIP TRAINING, AND PERSONAL FITNESS. CUB SCOUTING IS DIVIDED INTO AGE-BASED LEVELS OF TIGER CUBS, WOLF CUBS, BEAR CUBS, AND WEBELOS SCOUTS. BOY SCOUTING IS THE FLAGSHIP PROGRAM OF THE BSA FOR BOYS AGES 10 TO 18. IT USES OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CAMPING, AQUATICS AND HIKING TO ACHIEVE THE AIMS OF CHARACTER, CITIZENSHIP AND PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINING. VARSITY SCOUTING IS A SUB-DIVISION OF BOY SCOUTING AVAILABLE TO BOYS AGES 14 TO 18; IT ADDS A PROGRAM OF HIGH ADVENTURE AND SPORTING ACTIVITIES. EXPLORING IS A WORKSITE-BASED PROGRAM. IT IS PART OF LEARNING FOR LIFE'S CAREER EDUCATION PROGRAM ALSO FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE 14 (AND HAVE COMPLETED THE EIGHTH GRADE) THROUGH 20 YEARS OLD. EXPLORING'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCES THAT HELP YOUNG PEOPLE MATURE AND TO PREPARE THEM TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE AND CARING ADULTS. EXPLORERS ARE READY TO INVESTIGATE THE MEANING OF INTERDEPENDENCE IN THEIR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITIES. EXPLORING IS BASED ON A UNIQUE AND DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUTH AND THE ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS INITIATE A SPECIFIC EXPLORER POST BY MATCHING THEIR PEOPLE AND PROGRAM RESOURCES TO THE INTERESTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE RESULT IS A PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES THAT HELPS YOUTH PURSUE THEIR SPECIAL INTERESTS, GROW, AND DEVELOP. EXPLORING PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON FIVE AREAS OF INTEREST: CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, LIFE SKILLS, CITIZENSHIP, CHARACTER EDUCATION, AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE. OVER 9,618 YOUTH WERE SERVED IN 2025. TRADITIONAL SCOUTING - IN THE BSA, SCOUTING IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE MOVEMENT WITH THREE MAIN PROGRAMS: CUB SCOUTING IS THE LARGEST OF THE THREE PROGRAMS, AVAILABLE TO BOYS AND GIRLS FROM FIRST TO FIFTH GRADE OR 7 TO 11 1/2 YEARS.THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PURSUE THE AIMS OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, CITIZENSHIP TRAINING, AND PERSONAL FITNESS. CUB SCOUTING IS DIVIDED INTO AGE-BASED LEVELS OF TIGER CUBS, WOLF CUBS, BEAR CUBS, AND WEBELOS SCOUTS. BOY SCOUTING IS THE FLAGSHIP PROGRAM OF THE BSA FOR BOYS AGES 10 TO 18. IT USES OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CAMPING, AQUATICS AND HIKING TO ACHIEVE THE AIMS OF CHARACTER, CITIZENSHIP AND PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINING. VARSITY SCOUTING IS A SUB-DIVISION OF BOY SCOUTING AVAILABLE TO BOYS AGES 14 TO 18; IT ADDS A PROGRAM OF HIGH ADVENTURE AND SPORTING ACTIVITIES. EXPLORING IS A WORKSITE-BASED PROGRAM. IT IS PART OF LEARNING FOR LIFE'S CAREER EDUCATION PROGRAM ALSO FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE 14 (AND HAVE COMPLETED THE EIGHTH GRADE) THROUGH 20 YEARS OLD. EXPLORING'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCES THAT HELP YOUNG PEOPLE MATURE AND TO PREPARE THEM TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE AND CARING ADULTS. EXPLORERS ARE READY TO INVESTIGATE THE MEANING OF INTERDEPENDENCE IN THEIR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITIES. EXPLORING IS BASED ON A UNIQUE AND DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUTH AND THE ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS INITIATE A SPECIFIC EXPLORER POST BY MATCHING THEIR PEOPLE AND PROGRAM RESOURCES TO THE INTERESTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE RESULT IS A PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES THAT HELPS YOUTH PURSUE THEIR SPECIAL INTERESTS, GROW, AND DEVELOP. EXPLORING PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON FIVE AREAS OF INTEREST: CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, LIFE SKILLS, CITIZENSHIP, CHARACTER EDUCATION, AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE. OVER 9,618 YOUTH WERE SERVED IN 2025.

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 November 4, 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.