Boy Scouts of America

Analysis

Boy Scouts of America is a registered charity in United States, based in Sacramento, CA. 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 $3.5m and spending of $3.6m, spending 102% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $3.3m to $3.5m (+7.5%), an average of +1.8% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2020, when income dropped by 32%. Over the whole period it spent 116% 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 90th percentile: it is larger than about 90% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 90th percentile, and in the 91st percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Fifth Avenue Counseling Center Inc ($3.5m), LGH Charitable Trust Inc ($3.5m) and Mid-Ohio Psychological Services Inc ($3.5m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 21% and program service revenue 31% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $328k (9.0% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $1.1m. At year end it held assets of $8.2m against liabilities of $1.2m, net assets of $7.0m. It reported 63 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.