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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: August 2025 Expires: August 2027

Scouting of America, Sam Houston Area Council

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
2225 North Loop West
Houston, TX, 77008
http://www.samhoustonbsa.org
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Scouting of America, Sam Houston Area Council meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

Year, State Incorporated:
1914, TX

Also Known As:
Boy Scouts of America, Sam Houston Area, Sam Houston Area Council, Boy Scouts of America

The Sam Houston Area Council serves approximately 46,000 youth in 16 counties in Southeast Texas through dedicated service and leadership of approximately 16,000 adult volunteers. Scouting is completely funded by the generosity of those that believe in its mission.

Sam Houston Area Council Boys Scouts of America offers the following programs: Cub Scouts for boys and girls aged Kindergarten – 5th grade. The Cub Scouts Program focuses on motto, "Do Your Best." Cub Scouts experience fun activities that develop personal and social skills while earning advancement and recognition. Scouts BSA for boys and girls ages 11-17.  The Scouts BSA program combines outdoor programs with learning opportunities through the merit badge program. Benefits include the development of leadership skills, developing a peer group, community service, rank advancement, and citizenship and positive value system. Venturing for young men and women 14-20: a youth development program providing positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults with an emphasis on team building and high adventure. Exploring is a worksite-based program for young men and women 14-20 years of age designed to develop career experience and critical thinking skills.

The purpose of the council is to guide and support its districts for the achievement of the movements purpose. Councils establish policies and programs. Districts carry out the policies and programs in their respective territories. Support of Scouting provides programs, services, professional support, as well as year-round outdoor programs - all designed to lead youth to lifelong values, service, and achievement.

The Sam Houston Area Council's services area includes the following counties of Southeast Texas: Austin, Brazos, Burleson, (portion of) Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Grimes, Harris, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, (portion of) Trinity, Walker, Waller, Washington, and Wharton.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, Scouting of America, Sam Houston Area Council's program expenses were:

Program Services $8,429,867
Total Program Expenses $8,429,867

Chief Executive
Marvin Smith, CEO

Chair of the Board
John Berger

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Sunnova Energy

Board Size
55

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Grant proposals

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Scouting of America, Sam Houston Area Council's unaudited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Source of Funds
Total Revenues $5,878,978
Direct Support $3,281,108
Net Assets released from restriction $1,367,882
Indirect Support $43,804
Total Income $10,571,772

Programs: 82% Fundraising: 11% Administrative: 6%

Total Income $10,571,772
Total expenses: $10,266,376
  Program expenses $8,429,867
  Fundraising expenses $1,091,682
  Administrative expenses $646,762
  Other expenses $98,065
Income in Excess of Expenses $305,396
Beginning Net Assets $179,392,777
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $179,698,173
Total Liabilities $9,865,558
Total Assets $161,311,626

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

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Report completed by:
BBB of Greater Houston and South Texas