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Boy Scouts of America

EIN 74-6079583 · San Antonio, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF SCOUTING 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
$4.2 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
9.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
102
Volunteers
2,607
Highest pay
$138,109, cfo/chief development officer

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

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    38 of 39 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, 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)
  1. $3.4 million spent. SCOUTING AMERICA (BSA) IS ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST AND MOST PROMINENT VALUES-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS. THE BSA PROVIDES A PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT BUILDS CHARACTER, TRAINS THEM IN THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARTICIPATING CITIZENSHIP, AND DEVELOPS PERSONAL FITNESS. FOR OVER A CENTURY, SCOUTING AMERICA HAS HELPED BUILD THE FUTURE LEADERS OF THIS COUNTRY BY COMBINING EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND LIFELONG VALUES WITH FUN. SCOUTING AMERICA BELIEVES - AND, THROUGH OVER A CENTURY OF EXPERIENCE, KNOWS - THAT HELPING YOUTH IS A KEY TO BUILDING A MORE CONSCIENTIOUS, RESPONSIBLE, AND PRODUCTIVE SOCIETY. SCOUTING AMERICA AND LEARNING FOR LIFE CARRIES OUT THEIR MISSION THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:CUB SCOUTING IS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADES, OR 7 TO 10 YEARS OF AGE. THOSE WHO ARE OLDER THAN 10, OR WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE FIFTH GRADE, CAN NO LONGER JOIN CUB SCOUTING, BUT THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO JOIN THE SCOUTS BSA. CUB SCOUTING IS A FAMILY ORIENTED PROGRAM DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF YOUNGER BOYS AND GIRLS.SCOUTS BSA IS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS 11 TO 17 YEARS OF AGE. BOYS AND GIRLS ALSO MAY BECOME SCOUTS IF THEY HAVE EARNED THE CUB SCOUTING ARROW OF LIGHT AWARD AND ARE AT LEAST 10 YEARS OLD OR HAVE COMPLETED THE FIFTH GRADES AND ARE AT LEAST 10 YEARS OLD. SCOUTS BSA IS DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE THE AIMS OF SCOUTING THROUGH A VIGOROUS OUTDOOR PROGRAM AND PEER GROUP LEADERSHIP WITH THE COUNSEL OF AN ADULT SCOUTMASTER.VENTURING IS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE 14 (AND HAVE COMPLETED THE EIGHTH GRADE) THROUGH 20 YEARS OF AGE. VENTURING PROVIDES POSITIVE EXPERIENCES THROUGH EXCITING AND MEANINGFUL YOUTH-RUN ACTIVITIES THAT HELP MEMBERS PURSUE THEIR SPECIAL INTERESTS, GROW BY TEACHING OTHERS, AND DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS.LEARNING FOR LIFE OFFERS SEVEN PROGRAMS, K-12, DESIGNED TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO PREPARE YOUTH TO SUCCESSFULLY HANDLE THE COMPLEXITIES OF CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY AND TO ENHANCE THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE, MOTIVATION, AND SELF-ESTEEM. THE SEVEN PROGRAMS FOCUS ON CHARACTER EDUCATION AND CAREER EDUCATION. LEARNING FOR LIFE PROGRAMS HELP YOUTH DEVELOP SOCIAL AND LIFE SKILLS, ASSIST IN CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, AND HELP YOUTH FORMULATE POSITIVE PERSONAL VALUES. IT PREPARES YOUTH TO MAKE ETHICAL DECISIONS THAT WILL HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

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

  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 2025.

    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.