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 and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $2.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 55%
- Employees
- 49
- Volunteers
- 1,700
- Highest pay
- $236,777, 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
Fair: 50 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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 2528 of 28 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)
- $2.1 million spent. Scouts BSA - The traditional Scouting experience for young men and women ages 11 - 17. Service, community engagement and leadership development become increasingly important parts of the program as youth lead their own activities and work their way toward earning Scouting's highest rank, Eagle Scout.Sea Scouts - Programs that involve young men and women, ages 13-20, including activities on the water that strengthen leadership and teamwork.Cub Scouts - A year-round family program designed for boys and girls ages 5-10, designed specifically to meet the needs of younger boys and girls.Venturing - Adventure activities for young men and women ages 13-20, provides experiences to help young men and women mature to be responsible and caring adults.Learning for Life - Programs that enables young men and women to become responsible individuals by teaching positive character traits, career development, leadership, and life skills so they can make ethical choices and achieve their full potential.Annually, the nation's Scout Councils hold the "Trail's End Popcorn Sale" to assist fundraising efforts at the Unit and Council level.The religious emblems programs are programs created by the various religious groups to encourage youth to grow stronger in their faith. The religious groups, not the Boy Scouts of America, have created the religious emblems programs.Scouting for Food - On the first Saturday of November, door hangers are distributed in neighborhoods throughout our seven counties, alerting the residents that Scouts will return the following Saturday to pick up non-perishable food left outside. When collected on the second Saturday, the food is brought to district collection sites and transported to pre-arranged local food banks.
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 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 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.