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Boy Scouts of America

EIN 59-1150488 · Fort Myers, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 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 THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL CHARTER, BYLAWS, AND RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, THE SCOUTING PROGRAM OF PROMOTING THE ABILITY OF YOUTH TO DO THINGS FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS, TRAINING THEM IN SCOUTCRAFT, AND TEACHING THEM PATRIOTISM, COURAGE, SELFRELIANCE, AND KINDRED VIRTUES, USING THE METHODS WHICH ARE NOW IN COMMON USE BY THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA. IN ACHIEVING THIS PURPOSE, EMPHASIS SHALL BE PLACED UPON THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND THE OATHS, PROMISES, AND CODES OF THE SCOUTING PROGRAM FOR CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, CITIZENSHIP TRAINING, AND MENTAL AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. 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 YOUTH FROM KINDERGARDEN TO FIFTH-GRADE OR 5 TO 10 YEARS.THE P

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
10.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 36%
Employees
3
Volunteers
1,557
Highest pay
$118,554, scout execut

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

Good: 72 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    46 of 46 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $1.7 million spent. IT IS THE MISSION OF THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COUNCIL, INC., BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, THAT IT SHALL PROMOTE, WITHIN THE TERRITORY COVERERED BY THE CHARTER GRANTED BY THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL CHARTER, BY LAWS, AND RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA THE SCOUTING PROGRAM. THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COUNCIL TERRITORY INCLUDES CHARLOTTE, COLLIER, DESOTO, HENDRY(LABELLE), LEE, MANATEE AND SARASOTA COUNTIES. THE COUNCIL PROVIDES UNIT OPERATION SUPPORT TO ENABLE COMMUNITY CHARTER PARTNERS TO DELIVER B.S.A. PROGRAMS. THE LOCAL COUNCIL DELIVERED THE SCOUTING PROGRAM TO 16,445 YOUTH AND 1,451 REGISTERED ADULT VOLUNTEERS IN 2023 CHARTERED BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THESE UNITS INCLUDED CUB SCOUT PACKS, SCOUTS BSA TROOPS, VENTURING CREWS, EXPLORING POSTS AND LEARNING FOR LIFE GROUPS. PROGRAM SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDE: PROGRAM COORDINATION, MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT/NEW UNIT ORGANIZATION, CAMP FACILITY OPERATIONS, ADULT VOLUNTEER TRAINING, RISK MANAGEMENT, DISTRICT/COUNTY OPERATIONS, PROFESSIONAL STAFF SUPPORT, COUNCIL SERVICE CENTER SERVICES, SCOUT RETAIL SHOP OPERATION, FINANCE MANAGEMENT AND OVERALL ORGANIZATIONAL GOVERNANCE. IT IS THE MISSION OF THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COUNCIL, INC., BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, THAT IT SHALL PROMOTE, WITHIN THE TERRITORY COVERERED BY THE CHARTER GRANTED BY THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL CHARTER, BY LAWS, AND RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA THE SCOUTING PROGRAM. THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COUNCIL TERRITORY INCLUDES CHARLOTTE, COLLIER, DESOTO, HENDRY(LABELLE), LEE, MANATEE AND SARASOTA COUNTIES. THE COUNCIL PROVIDES UNIT OPERATION SUPPORT TO ENABLE COMMUNITY CHARTER PARTNERS TO DELIVER B.S.A. PROGRAMS. THE LOCAL COUNCIL DELIVERED THE SCOUTING PROGRAM TO 16,445 YOUTH AND 1,451 REGISTERED ADULT VOLUNTEERS IN 2023 CHARTERED BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THESE UNITS INCLUDED CUB SCOUT PACKS, SCOUTS BSA TROOPS, VENTURING CREWS, EXPLORING POSTS AND LEARNING FOR LIFE GROUPS. PROGRAM SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDE: PROGRAM COORDINATION, MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT/NEW UNIT ORGANIZATION, CAMP FACILITY OPERATIONS, ADULT VOLUNTEER TRAINING, RISK MANAGEMENT, DISTRICT/COUNTY OPERATIONS, PROFESSIONAL STAFF SUPPORT, COUNCIL SERVICE CENTER SERVICES, SCOUT RETAIL SHOP OPERATION, FINANCE MANAGEMENT AND OVERALL ORGANIZATIONAL GOVERNANCE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 7, 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 September 7, 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 7, 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.