Boy Scouts of America

Analysis

Boy Scouts of America is a registered charity in United States, based in Rochester, NY. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in November 1965, 61 years ago. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Boy Scouts of America reported income of $3.4m and spending of $4.4m, spending 132% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $3.8m to $3.4m (-11%), an average of -3.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 104%. Over the whole period it spent 126% of the income it received.

Among 72,936 United States charities whose main cause is other charitable purposes and that reported income, Boy Scouts of America sits at the 89th percentile: it is larger than about 89% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 90th percentile, and in the 87th percentile within NY. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include University Nursery School ($3.4m), Society of St Vincent de Paul Council of Fond du Lac County Inc ($3.4m) and Echo Hose Hook and Ladder Ambulance Corps Inc ($3.4m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 28% and program service revenue 53% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $236k (5.3% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $1.5m. At year end it held assets of $5.6m against liabilities of $783k, net assets of $4.8m. It reported 132 employees.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.