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Boy Scouts of America

EIN 59-0624370 · Tallahassee, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SCOUTING AMERICA WAS FOUNDED IN 1910 AND EXISTS TODAY TO SERVE OTHERS BY HELPING INSTILL VALUES IN YOUNG PEOPLE AND PREPARE THEM TO MAKE ETHICAL CHOICES DURING THEIR LIFETIME AND ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE NATIONAL CHARTERS TO USE THE SCOUTING PROGRAM AS PART OF THEIR OWN YOUTH WORK IN THE SUWANNEE RIVER AREA COUNCIL.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$904,394
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-16.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
43
Volunteers
627
Highest pay
$134,032, scout executive/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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 58% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 128% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 25

    37 of 37 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, 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. $663,675 spent. OUR YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN EXCITING INDOOR/OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS (AGES 5-20). THEY ARE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF TRAINED ADULT VOLUNTEERS, WHO HELP THEM DEVELOP THE LIFE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BECOME FUTURE LEADERS AND ACTIVE CITIZENS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THESE SKILLS INCLUDE INTERDEPENDENCE, ETHICAL DECISION MAKING, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, SELF-ESTEEM, LITERACY DEVELOPMENT, SEXUAL RESPONSIBILITY, POSITIVE PEER RELATIONSHIPS, SERVICE TO OTHERS, MENTORING SKILLS, DRUG AWARENESS EDUCATION, TEAMWORK, FITNESS, POSITIVE TEEN-ADULT RELATIONSHIPS, SCHOOL-TO-WORK SKILLS, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, CHARACTER EDUCATION, AND MANY MORE. OUR COUNCIL IS AN IRC SECTION 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FUNDED BY MANY DIFFERENT SOURCES. THESE SOURCES PROVIDE NEEDED INCOME TO SUPPORT THE COUNTIES, COMMUNITIES, YOUTH, AND LEADERS THAT WE SERVE FULL TIME. OUR COLLEGE-EDUCATED AND TRAINED PROFESSIONAL STAFF MANAGES OUR MANY VOLUNTEERS ANNUALLY TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, OPERATION OF COUNCIL FACILITIES AND NEEDED SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS. WE RECEIVE INCOME FROM SIX AREAS: ANNUAL FRIENDS OF SCOUTING CAMPAIGN, PROJECT SALES, RETAIL STORE, ACTIVITIES, OUTDOOR EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES, AND INVESTMENTS. COUNCIL EXPENSES FROM OUR ANNUAL BUDGET CAN BE BROKEN DOWN AS FOLLOWS: 75.52% TO PROGRAM EXPENSES; 17.63% TO ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES; AND 6.85% TO FUNDRAISING EXPENSES. THESE PERCENTAGES ARE BASED UPON BI-ANNUAL TIME STUDIES CONDUCTED ON OUR STAFF. AN AUDIT IS HELD EACH YEAR, REQUESTED BY OUR COUNCIL VOLUNTEER EXECUTIVE BOARD AS PART OF OUR POLICY OF SOLID FISCAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.

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

  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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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