Boy Scouts of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
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 LAW.
- Income
- $9.2 million
- Spending
- $9.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 52%
- Employees
- 288
- Volunteers
- 6,000
- Highest pay
- $364,251, scout executive
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: 44 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 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 2545 of 45 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
10 of 10Gave 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (4)
- $4.4 million spent. SCOUTS BSA:A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM FOR NEARLY 7,000 YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AGES 11-17 USING THE OUTDOORS AS A LABORATORY TO INSTILL OUR MISSION, OATH AND LAW. TEACHING OUTDOOR SKILLS, GOOD CITIZENSHIP, AND LIFE SKILLS.WE HAVE OVER 130 DISCIPLINES CALLED MERIT BADGES THAT SCOUTS LEARN WHILE THEY EARN AND ADVANCE IN RANK.
- $3.6 million spent. CUB SCOUTS: A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM FOR OVER 5,500 GIRLS AND BOYS GRADES K-5TH WE ENCOURAGE BOYS AND GIRLS TO MAKE FRIENDS, BE HELPFUL TO OTHERS, AND DO THEIR VERY BEST NO MATTER THE OUTCOME. WITH THE HELP OF LEARNING PROJECTS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, WE TEACH CHILDREN THAT DOING THEIR BEST CAN BE A FUN AND REWARDING EXPERIENCE-NO MATTER THE DIFFICULTY OF THE CHALLENGE.
- $353,415 spent. OLDER YOUTH PROGRAMS: THE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AGES 14-20. WE SERVE NEARLY 500 YOUTH IN THIS AREA.VENTURING: THIS PROGRAM IS A YOUTH-LED PROGRAM ALL ABOUT BUILDING ADVENTURES WITH YOUR FRIENDS. SCOUTS CHOOSE THEIR OWN ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS LIKE LEADERSHIP, EVENT-PLANNING, ORGANIZATION, COMMUNICATION, AND RESPONSIBILITY WHILE HAVING FUN.SEA SCOUTING HAS PROMOTED BETTER CITIZENSHIP AND IMPROVED MEMBERS' BOATING SKILLS THROUGH INSTRUCTION AND PRACTICE IN WATER SAFETY, BOATING SKILLS, OUTDOOR, SOCIAL, SERVICE EXPERIENCES, AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR MARITIME HERITAGE.
- $281,007 spent. EXPLORING: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES EXCITING ACTIVITIES AND MENTORSHIP FOR YOUTH LOOKING TO DISCOVER THEIR FUTURE. WHETHER YOU'RE A LOCAL ORGANIZATION LOOKING TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY OR A YOUNG PERSON WANTING TO UNCOVER THE POSSIBILITIES, EXPLORING IS A GREAT PLACE TO START.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.