Boy Scouts of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
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 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 THEMSLEVES AND OTHERS, TRAINING THAM 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
- $800,627
- Spending
- $797,822
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 20.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 37%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 1,150
- Highest pay
- $126,155, scout director
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
Good: 80 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 49 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: 90 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2557 of 57 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
0 of 10Did not give 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, 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)
- $654,022 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 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 14 TO 18; IT ADDS A PROGRAM OF HIGH ADVENTURE AND SPORTING ACTIVITIES. THE ORDER OF THE ARROW IS THE BOY SCOUTING 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 & 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 34,000 SERVED THROUGH 256 CUB SCOUT PACKS, 230 BOY SCOUT TROOPS, AND 92 VENTURING CREWS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 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 September 7, 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 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.