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Boy Scouts of America

EIN 73-0580263 · Oklahoma City, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

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 THEM THE VALUES OF THE SCOUT OATH AND SCOUT LAW.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-35.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
115
Volunteers
2,716
Highest pay
$326,101, 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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 19% 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 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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

    80 of 80 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 (3)
  1. $2.4 million spent. CUB SCOUTS - FOR BOYS AND GIRLS FROM SIX THROUGH TEN YEARS OLD. THEIR ACTIVITIES ARE USED TO ACHIEVE THE AIMS OF SCOUTING - CITIZENSHIP TRAINING, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. THERE WERE 4,476 PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM DURING 2024.
  2. $1.0 million spent. SCOUTS BSA - FOR BOYS AND GIRLS FROM ELEVEN THROUGH SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES FUN, ADVENTURE, LEARNING, CHALLENGE, AND RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP YOUTH BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES. THERE WERE 2,032 PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROGRAM DURING 2024.
  3. $102,173 spent. VENTURING AND LEARNING FOR LIFE - FOR BOYS AND GIRLS FROM FOURTEEN THROUGH TWENTY YEARS OLD.VENTURING PROVIDES POSITIVE EXPERIENCES TO HELP PEOPLE MATURE AND TO PREPARE THEM TO BECOME MATURE, RESPONSIBLE, CARING ADULTS.LEARNING FOR LIFE ENABLES YOUNG PEOPLE 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.THERE WERE 183 PARTICIPANTS IN BOTH PROGRAMS DURING 2024.

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.