Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Girl Scouts of Northern California

EIN 94-1551410 · Alameda, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GIRL SCOUTING BUILDS GIRLS OF COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND CHARACTER, WHO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

Income
$20.6 million
Spending
$24.5 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
10.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 69%
Employees
321
Volunteers
22,000
Highest pay
$395,820, ceo (thru 10/11/24)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 44 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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 September 30, 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 (4)
  1. $9.4 million spent. SUMMER CAMP IS AN INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE - 1,200 YOUTH ENJOYED SUMMER CAMP, CONNECTING WITH NEW FRIENDS, BUILDING COURAGE TO TRY NEW THINGS, AND FINDING SAFETY AFTER TWO YEARS OF PANDEMIC HARDSHIP. OUR MEMBERS ENJOYED OUR PROPERTIES, SPENDING TIME IN NATURE, EXPLORING HIKING TRAILS AND OUTDOOR SPACES.
  2. $5.8 million spent. IN OUR STEM PROGRAMS, GIRLS EXPLORE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES LIKE EARNING BADGES IN CYBERSECURITY, SPACE SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND ROBOTICS. MORE THAN 16,000 GIRLS PARTICIPATED IN OUR COOKIE AND FALL ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMS, WHERE THEY BUILD BUSINESS SKILLS LIKE GOAL-SETTING, MONEY HANDLING, PUBLIC SPEAKING, BUDGETING AND SALES. GIRLS GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND EARN BRONZE, SILVER AND GOLD AWARDS FOR "TAKE ACTION" PROJECTS WHERE THEY IDENTIFY ISSUES THEY CARE ABOUT, DISCOVER THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE ISSUES, AND TAKE ACTION TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS. THIS YEAR, 116 GOLD AWARDS WERE AWARDED.
  3. $3.4 million spent. OUR COUNCIL SERVES APPROXIMATELY 24,000 GIRL AND 22,000 ADULT MEMBERS FROM SANTA CLARA COUNTY TO THE OREGON BORDER. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE CHECKED-IN WITH MEMBERS THROUGH SURVEYS, TOWN HALLS, AND OFFICE HOURS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SUPPORT THEY NEEDED. WE OFFERED HANDS-ON TRAINING FOR TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT GIRL SCOUT MEETINGS AND ACTIVITIES.
  4. $1.8 million spent. WE OPERATE RETAIL LOCATIONS AND AN ONLINE STORE, WHICH EQUIP GIRLS WITH PROGRAM SUPPORT ITEMS SUCH AS UNIFORMS, KITS AND BADGES. COMMUNICATIONS AND OTHER SUPPORT SYSTEMS PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH ONGOING UPDATES AND INFORMATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, 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 September 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 August 1964.

    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.