The organization strives to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values and ideals of the scout oath and law.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
84¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$146K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
1 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $46K a year · 4% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 1 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
84%
of spending
Looks good: 84% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$146K
to officers and key staff · 15% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 15% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $1.7M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 1.4 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $7K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$63K
1% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
38
of 39 voting members
Looks good: 38 of 39 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$685K
Spent
$947K
To programs
84%
Net assets
$4.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$685K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$685K
FY2021$974K
FY2022$2.8M
FY2023$853K
FY2024$875K
Expenses
$947K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$947K
FY2021$1.5M
FY2022$961K
FY2023$1.2M
FY2024$1.3M
Net assets
$4.4M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$4.4M
FY2021$4.0M
FY2022$5.6M
FY2023$5.4M
FY2024$5.3M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Nov 1965.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

84 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 84% · $798K Management & general 9% · $82K Fundraising 7% · $67K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

39 people listed on the 990; $146K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Scout Executive/Secretary
$146,467Pt VII · Sec A
Immediate Past President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Council Commissioner
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President - Membershi
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President - Program
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President - Marketing
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President - Propertie
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President - Endowment
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
John G Harding$147,850$152,943$143,884$144,964$146,467

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See 156 Buffalo Trace Council executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Instills Scout Oath and Law values to help youth make ethical choices throughout life.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $798K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

The organization provides a program for all youth based on character development, citizenship training, and personal health and fitness. The council achieves these three objectives through partnerships with local schools, churches and community based organizations.

$798Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$7K
Grants paid · 5 grants · $134K · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$48,355
Unitemized GrantFY2023$40,015
Unitemized GrantFY2022$18,263
Unitemized GrantFY2021$14,247
Unitemized GrantFY2020$13,470

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$685K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$474K
Other incomeLn 4–11$146K
Investment incomeLn 3$45K
Money outPt IX
$947K
Ln 25
Programscol B$798K
Managementcol C$82K
Fundraisingcol D$67K
Owns and owesPt X
$4.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$112K
Total assetsLn 16$4.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$63K
PeoplePt VI, VII
39
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a39
IndependentVI 1b38
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$474K
Government grantsLn 1e$113K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$3K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$36K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$20K
Investment incomeLn 3$45K
Other incomeLn 4–11$146K
Gains on assetsLn 7$11K
Total revenueLn 12$685K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$112K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$112K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.5M
Other assetsLn 15$88K
Total assetsLn 16$4.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$63K
Net assetsLn 32$4.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 513
VolunteersI 63,000
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$317K$112K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.6M$1.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.6M$2.5M
Total assetsLn 16$4.7M$4.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$130K$63K
Net assetsLn 32$4.5M$4.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$13K$13K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$168K$145K$15K$8K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$293K$253K$26K$14K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$16K$11K$3K$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$53K$48K$3K$2K
Payroll taxesLn 10$34K$29K$3K$2K
Legal feesLn 11b$701$48$653
Accounting feesLn 11c$25K$21K$250$3K
Investment management feesLn 11f$15K$15K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$8K$7K$32$439
Advertising and promotionLn 12$276$338$33−$95
Office expensesLn 13$57K$33K$3K$22K
OccupancyLn 16$62K$57K$3K$2K
TravelLn 17$10K$9K$685$381
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$3K$3K$224$124
InterestLn 20$674$579$61$34
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$20K$20K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$89K$81K$5K$3K
InsuranceLn 23$33K$29K$3K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$47K$38K$2K$7K
Total functional expensesLn 25$947K$798K$82K$67K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $875K$1.3M−$448K$5.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 $853K$1.2M−$355K$5.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.8M$961K$1.8M$5.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $974K$1.5M−$516K$4.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $685K$947K−$263K$4.4M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $684,757 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $588,207$473,813
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $113,852$20,198
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $59,396$44,548
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $489,972$146,198
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,251,427$684,757
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $31,174$13,470
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $711,291$564,423
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $597,252$369,366
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,339,717$947,259
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$88,290−$262,502
Part VI · Governance 38 of 39 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body39
VI-1b Independent voting members38
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $684,757 across 13 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $30,820 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$136,699
VIII-1c Fundraising events$36,200
VIII-1e Government grants$112,974
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$187,940
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$3,208
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$473,813
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $20,198$20,198
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $33,289$33,289
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $300$300
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $11,259$11,259
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $104,261$104,261
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $10,817$10,817
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $61,835 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $149,109$684,757
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $947,259 across 20 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $13,470$13,470
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $145,099 · Management $14,771 · Fundraising $8,207$168,077
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $253,385 · Management $25,668 · Fundraising $14,260$293,313
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $11,154 · Management $2,935 · Fundraising $1,630$15,719
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $48,249 · Management $3,282 · Fundraising $1,823$53,354
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $29,206 · Management $3,056 · Fundraising $1,698$33,960
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $48 · Fundraising $653$701
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $21,151 · Management $250 · Fundraising $3,423$24,824
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $14,933$14,933
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $7,074 · Management $32 · Fundraising $439$7,545
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $338 · Management $33 · Fundraising −$95$276
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $33,119 · Management $2,565 · Fundraising $21,808$57,492
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $56,642 · Management $3,351 · Fundraising $1,862$61,855
IX-17 TravelPrograms $8,836 · Management $685 · Fundraising $381$9,902
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $2,793 · Management $224 · Fundraising $124$3,141
IX-20 InterestPrograms $579 · Management $61 · Fundraising $34$674
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $19,940$19,940
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $80,536 · Management $5,446 · Fundraising $3,025$89,007
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $28,652 · Management $2,514 · Fundraising $1,397$32,563
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $37,762 · Management $2,196 · Fundraising $6,555$46,513
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $797,985 · Management $82,050 · Fundraising $67,224$947,259
Part X · Balance sheet $4,462,010 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $317,497$112,204
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $56,901$36,163
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $200$601
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $57,799$66,441
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $17,693$13,218
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $2,580,123$2,491,116
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,562,713$1,653,836
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $83,589$88,431
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,676,515$4,462,010
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $62,379$3,067
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $9,012$5,391
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $59,085$54,393
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $130,476$62,851
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,008,879$1,791,402
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,537,160$2,607,757
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,546,039$4,399,159
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,676,515$4,462,010
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,399,159 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$684,757
XI-2 Total expenses$947,259
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$262,502
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,546,039
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$110,780
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$4,842
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,399,159

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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