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Girl Scouts of Californias Central Coast

EIN 94-1567162 · Ventura, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

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

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$6.5 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 55%
Employees
73
Volunteers
2,954
Highest pay
$286,969, ceo

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 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 (3)
  1. $5.7 million spent. PROGRAMS: UNDER THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE, GIRL SCOUTS DISCOVER, CONNECT AND TAKE ACTION THROUGH GIRL-LED, COOPERATIVE, LEARN BY DOING EXPERIENCES. PROGRAMS INCLUDE ARTS AND CULTURE; BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY; ENVIRONMENT AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURE; SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM); AND WELLNESS AND HEALTHY LIVING. GIRLS DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS AS THEY DISCOVER THEMSELVES WHILE EXPLORING THEIR INTERESTS, AND CONNECT WITH OTHERS TO TAKE POSITIVE ACTION IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IS REFLECTED IN THE PRESTIGIOUS GIRL SCOUT GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE AWARDS ACHIEVED, AS WELL AS THE SIGNIFICANT WAY THEY GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH SERVICE PROJECTS. GIRLS DEVELOP IMPORTANT BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY SKILLS THROUGH THE GIRLS SCOUT COOKIE AND FALL PRODUCT SALES, BUILDING SELF-CONFIDENCE WHILE LEARNING BUSINESS AND MARKETING SKILLS, GOAL-SETTING, DECISION-MAKING, MONEY MANAGEMENT, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND BUSINESS ETHICS. THESE, AND OTHER FINANCIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, HELP GIRLS GAIN THE SELF-CONFIDENCE TO ULTIMATELY TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR OWN FINANCIAL FUTURE. GIRL SCOUTS DEVELOP SKILLS IN STEM, THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS FOREVER GREEN - A WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION PROGRAM. GIRL SCOUTS OFFERS INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE A GIRL'S SELF-ESTEEM AND PERSONAL SELF-IMAGE, SUCH AS BE A FRIEND FIRST BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAM, AND PHYSICAL FITNESS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BROWNILYMPICS AND GIRL SCOUT SOCCER. THESE AND OTHER PROGRAMS DEVELOP OUR FEMALE LEADERS OF TOMORROW.
  2. MEMBERSHIP: INCREASING GIRL AND VOLUNTEER MEMBERSHIP IS A TOP PRIORITY OF OUR ORGANIZATION. GSCCC CURRENTLY SERVES OVER 4,800 GIRLS AND 2,900 ADULT MEMBERS IN SIX COUNTIES - VENTURA, SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, SAN BENITO, MONTEREY, AND SANTA CRUZ - GIRL MEMBERSHIP IS CONTINUING TO GROW AND RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC. THE COUNCIL IS FOCUSED ON ENSURING THE MEMBERSHIP WE SERVE IS REFLECTIVE OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS IN OUR COUNCIL REGION. WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND ARE GROWING OUR SUPPORT FOR UNDERSERVED GIRLS THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS.
  3. VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT: WITH 2,954 ADULT VOLUNTEERS TO DELIVER GIRL SCOUT PROGRAMS TO OUR GIRL MEMBERSHIP, VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT IS CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS IN MEETING OUR MISSION. OUR VOLUNTEER GROUP INCLUDES COLLEGE STUDENTS, RETIREES, PROFESSIONAL MEN AND WOMEN, PARENTS, AND GIRL SCOUT ALUMNAE. THESE VOLUNTEERS GO THROUGH TRAINING IN ORDER TO COACH AND TEACH GIRLS AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS AT THE TROOP, SERVICE UNIT, OR COUNCIL LEVEL. TRAINING IS OFFERED IN PERSON OR VIA WEBINAR, ON TOPICS INCLUDING AN INTRODUCTION TO GIRL SCOUTING, TROOP LEADER INSTRUCTION, OUTDOOR TROOP CAMPING, OUTDOOR SKILLS, AND COOKIE PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, TRAINING IS AVAILABLE FOR SERVICE UNIT MANAGERS, LEARNING FACILITATORS, AND PROGRAM AIDES. IN ADDITION TO TRAINING, VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT INCLUDES RECRUITING, INTERVIEWING, AND PERFORMING AND MONITORING BACKGROUND CHECKS, AND RECOGNIZING ACHIEVEMENT OF VOLUNTEERS.

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 October 13, 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 April 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 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.