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Boy Scouts of America

EIN 94-1156254 · San Jose, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 60 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

IT IS THE MISSION OF THE SILICON VALLEY MONTEREY BAY COUNCIL, SCOUTING AMERICA TO PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE ETHICAL CHOICES BY INSTILLING IN THEM THE VALUES OF THE SCOUT OATH AND SCOUT LAW.

Income
$6.4 million
Spending
$7.6 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
16.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 32%
Employees
120
Volunteers
6,785
Highest pay
$316,073, scout executive/ceo

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

Fair: 55 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 60 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

    51 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

    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. $6.0 million spent. SCOUTING ACTIVITY HAS EXISTED IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY AS EARLY AS 1915 WHEN TROOP 2 IN LOS GATOS WAS FIRST CHARTERED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL. MORE THAN 100 YEARS LATER, SCOUTING CONTINUES TO GROW WITH OUR GREAT VALLEY. THE SILICON VALLEY MONTEREY BAY COUNCIL CURRENTLY SERVES 10,000 YOUTH ACROSS THE COUNTIES OF MONTEREY, SAN BENITO, SANTA CLARA AND SANTA CRUZ AND HAS TWO CAMPING FACILITIES. WE ARE COUNCIL #055 IN THE NATIONAL SERVICE TERRITORY 3 OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.

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 November 6, 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 November 4, 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.