Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Boy Scouts of America

EIN 63-0302107 · Vestavia, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 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 THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL CHARTER, BYLAWS,RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE BOY SCOUTS 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 THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.

Income
$4.8 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-9.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
177
Volunteers
3,213
Highest pay
$287,952, scout executive & ceo

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

Weak: 49 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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 25

    85 of 85 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. $4.3 million spent. THE SCOUTING PROGRAM INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: LION SCOUTS - A FUN INTRODUCTION TO THE SCOUTING PROGRAM FOR KINDERGARTEN-AGE YOUTH EAGER TO GET GOING! LIONS DO ADVENTURES WITH THEIR ADULT PARTNERS AND OTHER LIONS EVERY MONTH. THIS PROGRAM INTRODUCES YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES TO SCOUTING AND THE OUTDOORS AS IT BUILDS A FOUNDATION OF CHARACTER. A LION DEN IS PART OF THE CUB SCOUT PACK. TIGER SCOUTS ONE-YEAR, FAMILY-ORIENTED PROGRAM FOR A GROUP OF TEAMS, EACH CONSISTING OF A FIRST-GRADE (OR 7-YEAR-OLD) BOY OR GIRL AND AN ADULT PARTNER (USUALLY A PARENT). A TIGER DEN IS PART OF THE CUB SCOUT PACK. CUB SCOUTING - FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY-CENTERED APPROACH TO LEARNING CITIZENSHIP, COMPASSION, AND COURAGE THROUGH SERVICE PROJECTS, CEREMONIES, GAMES, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES PROMOTING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. SCOUTS BSA - WITH THE SCOUT OATH AND SCOUT LAW AS GUIDES, AND THE SUPPORT OF PARENTS AND RELIGIOUS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, SCOUTS DEVELOP AN AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION OF THEIR ROLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND BECOME WELL-ROUNDED YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THROUGH THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE PROGRAM. SCOUTS PROGRESS IN RANK THROUGH ACHIEVEMENTS, GAIN ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AND EARN MERIT BADGES THAT INTRODUCE A LIFELONG HOBBY OR A REWARDING CAREER. VENTURING PROVIDES EXPERIENCES TO HELP YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, AGES 14 OR 13 WITH COMPLETION OF THE EIGHTH GRADE THROUGH 20, BECOME MATURE, RESPONSIBLE, CARING ADULTS. YOUNG PEOPLE LEARN LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND PARTICIPATE IN CHALLENGING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING HAVING ACCESS TO BSA CAMPING PROPERTIES, A RECOGNITION PROGRAM, AND YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING. THE ORDER OF THE ARROW IS THE BSA NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY FOR EXPERIENCED CAMPERS, BASED ON NATIVE AMERICAN TRADITIONS AND IS DEDICATED TO THE IDEAL OF CHEERFUL SERVICE AND BROTHERHOOD. VENTURING IS A PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN 14 (AND WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE EIGHTH GRADE) THROUGH 20 YEARS OF AGE. VENTURING'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE POSITIVE EXPERIENCES TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE MATURE AND TO PREPARE THEM TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE AND CARING ADULTS. OVER 18,270 SERVED THROUGH CUB SCOUT PACKS, SCOUTS BSA TROOPS, VENTURING CREWS, EXPLORING POSTS AND LFL GROUPS.

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.

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.