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Girl Scouts San Diego-Imperial Council Inc

EIN 95-1644585 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO BUILD GIRLS OF COURAGE, CONFIDENCE AND CHARACTER WHO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR OVER 100 YEARS. GIRL SCOUTS IS THE VALUED GO-TO PARTNER FOR DEVELOPING AND ELEVATING GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES.

Income
$13.2 million
Spending
$14.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
14.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
325
Volunteers
9,000
Highest pay
$335,348, 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: 77 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 39 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 29% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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. $7.8 million spent. VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT IS CENTRAL TO THE GIRL SCOUTS SAN DIEGO MISSION, WITH NEARLY 9,325 REGISTERED ADULT VOLUNTEERS FACILITATING THE PROGRAMMING FOR LOCAL GIRL SCOUTS. GSSD VOLUNTEERS REPRESENT DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE SCREENING, TRAINING, AND ONGOING SUPPORT TO LEAD SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY AT ALL LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION. TRAINING OFFERED IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY EQUIP VOLUNTEERS WITH LEADERSHIP, PLANNING, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING SKILLS WHILE STRENGTHENING PROGRAM QUALITY FOR GIRLS. VOLUNTEERS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN MENTORING GIRLS, FACILITATING THE GIRL SCOUT EXPERIENCE, AND FOSTERING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
  2. $3.5 million spent. GIRL SCOUTS SAN DIEGO (GSSD) DELIVERS INCLUSIVE, RESEARCH DRIVEN PROGRAMS IN A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT THAT PROVIDES GIRLS A PATH TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. GIRLS BELONG AS THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES, ENGAGE IN CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, LEAD COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS, EXPERIENCE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE, AND PRACTICE SUSTAINABILITY SKILLS WHILE MAKING FRIENDS AND HAVING FUN. PROGRAMS INCLUDE LEADERSHIP PATHWAYS, GOLD AWARD OPPORTUNITIES, TRAVEL, AND LIFELONG SISTERHOOD SUPPORTED BY CARING ADULTS. SERVING 14,514 GIRLS ACROSS DIVERSE SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS, GSSD PRIORITIZES UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES; NEARLY 40% OF MEMBERS LIVE IN LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL GIRLS REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY, AND PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT ENSURES ACCESS TO LIFE CHANGING GIRL SCOUT EXPERIENCES.
  3. $526,586 spent. TEACHING GIRLS BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY SKILLS AND GIVING THEM VALUABLE ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCES IS WHY MANY OF OUR GIRL SCOUTS HAVE BECOME SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS LEADERS. THE GIRL SCOUT COOKIE PROGRAM IS THE LARGEST FINANCIAL LITERACY AND ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM IN THE WORLD FOR GIRLS. IT HAS BEEN A CORNERSTONE PROGRAM IN GIRL SCOUTS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. THIS PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE FALL PRODUCT PROGRAM, HELP GIRLS BUILD CONFIDENCE WHILE LEARNING BUSINESS AND MARKETING SKILLS, GOAL SETTING, DECISION MAKING, MONEY MANAGEMENT, PEOPLE SKILLS, AND BUSINESS ETHICS. BY PARTICIPATING IN MONEY-EARNING, FINANCIAL LITERACY PROJECTS, GIRLS IN SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES BUILD REAL-WORLD SKILLS THAT ALSO BENEFIT THEIR TROOP, COUNCIL, AND COMMUNITY. THESE FINANCIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS HELP GIRLS GAIN THE CONFIDENCE AND SKILLS TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS AND MANAGE THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURES.

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 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? 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1947.

    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.