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Boy Scouts of America

EIN 91-0569878 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COUNCIL'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO FACILITATE AND SUPPORT THE LOCAL DELIVERY OF THE SCOUTING PROGRAM TO YOUTH, ADHERING TO THE PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES SET FORTH BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA. THE COUNCIL PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE THAT SCOUTING ACTIVITIES ARE CONDUCTED SAFELY, AND PROVIDES TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR ADULT LEADERS, HELPING THEM DEVELOP THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO LEAD SUCCESSFUL SCOUTING UNITS.

Income
$6.5 million
Spending
$7.9 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
15.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 43%
Employees
175
Volunteers
4,929
Highest pay
$283,282, scout executive/ceo/secretary

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: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

    50 of 51 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 (2)
  1. $2.7 million spent. SCOUTS BSA IS A PROGRAM FOCUSED ON FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY FOR YOUTH 11 TO 18 YEARS OF AGE. WITH THE SCOUT OATH AND SCOUT LAW AS GUIDES, AND THE SUPPORT OF PARENTS, COMMUNITY AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, THESE YOUTH DEVELOP AN AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION OF THEIR ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND BECOME GOOD CITIZENS. THE PROGRAM TEACHES LEADERSHIP AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT THROUGH DIFFERENT METHODS, SUCH AS ADVANCEMENT, CAMPING AND TRAINING. THIS PROGRAM SERVED 3,772 YOUTH IN 2024.CUB SCOUTING IS A PROGRAM FOCUSED ON FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY FOR YOUTH 5 TO 10 YEARS OF AGE. CUB SCOUTS LEARN CITIZENSHIP, COMPASSION, AND COURAGE THROUGH SERVICE PROJECTS, CEREMONIES, GAMES, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES PROMOTING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. THIS PROGRAM SERVED 5,596 YOUTH IN 2024.SCOUTING AMERICA OFFERS TWO UNIQUE PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN. VENTURING IS A PROGRAM FOR 14 THROUGH 20 YEAR OLDS. VENTURING PROVIDES EXPERIENCES TO DEVELOP YOUTH TO BECOME MATURE, RESPONSIBLE, CARING ADULTS. EACH PROGRAM IS SPECIFIC TO THE YOUTH PARTICIPATING WHETHER IT IS ROBOTICS, HIGH ADVENTURING, COMPUTING, OR SAILING. EXPLORING IS A PROGRAM FOR 14 TO 21 YEAR OLDS AND FOCUSES ON CAREER EXPLORATION. THESE TWO PROGRAMS SERVED 267 YOUTH IN 2024.
  2. $4.0 million spent. IN 2024, MORE THAN 10,000 SCOUTS STAYED OVERNIGHT AT ONE OF OUR CAMPS. WITH EIGHT UNIQUE PROPERTIES FROM THE SALISH SEA TO THE SNOQULAMIE NATIONAL FOREST AND THE EASTERN CASCADE RANGE, OUR CAMPERS WILL EXPERIENCE EXCITING AND ENRICHING ACTIVITIES. WE CAN OFFER EXPERIENCES AS DIVERSE AS SCUBA DIVING TO NATURAL ROCK FACE MOUNTAIN CLIMBING, ROBOTICS TO MOUNTAIN BIKING, OR SAILING AND KAYAKING TO NATURE STUDIES. IN ADDITION TO OUR OVERNIGHT CAMPING PROGRAMS, WE OFFER A VARIETY OF DAY PROGRAMS WITH THE CEDAR OUTDOOR SCHOOL AND CUB SCOUT DAY CAMPS.

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.