Boys and Girls Clubs of America meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
BBB WGA Comment
In August of 2019, a media company investigation found that 250 victims in 30 states were allegedly sexually abused as children at Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) affiliates. These abuses date back as far as the 1970s and allegedly took place at the hands of BGCA employees, volunteers, and other BGCA members. The investigation found 95 cases resulting in criminal convictions as well as civil lawsuits.
In finding that BGCA meets Standard 1, which addresses board oversight, BBB WGA considered that the organization hired an outside firm to facilitate an independent review of its policies and procedures to help ensure children’s safety. RAINN, an organization dedicated to abuse prevention, awareness, and response, conducted the review and worked for 8 months going over policies, practices, procedures, and implementation at the local level and examined the safety protocols, materials and resources of the national office, including interviews with national safety staff. In addition to enhancing their sexual abuse prevention policies, practices, and trainings, BGCA has also hired additional safety staff to focus on development and implementation of best practices within the BGCA network. BGCA is working to make training more accessible and comprehensive for local Club staff. BGCA is also increasing and updating program training for youth and families, with concepts such as respect, consent, boundaries, and healthy relationships. The organization is also working to upgrade its incident reporting system as well as the ability to increase local resources such as counseling and assistance from local authorities if an incident occurs. BGCA is also working to include more public facing resources for staff, families, and youth on its website, BGCA.org.
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Year, State Incorporated
1956, DC
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Also Known As
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
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Stated Purpose
"to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens."
Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is a youth development organization focused on enabling all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. Today, the organization reports that its 4,300 Clubs serve 4.3 million young people through Club membership and community outreach.
For the year ended December 31, 2019, Boys and Girls Clubs of America's program expenses were:
| Leadership training, development, and support of youth programs |
$99,815,000 |
| On-site assistance to member clubs |
$86,466,000 |
| Total Program Expenses: |
$186,281,000 |
*2017 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Invitations to fund raising events, Planned giving arrangements, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Cause- related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Other
Fundraising costs were 11% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $172,631,093, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
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 Boys and Girls Clubs of America's audited financial statements - consolidated for the year ended December 31, 2019.
| Source of Funds |
| Contributions |
$94,176,000 |
| Government grants and contracts |
$79,053,000 |
| Investment return, net |
$37,133,000 |
| Member organization dues |
$11,691,000 |
| Special events, net |
$6,033,000 |
| Other |
$1,857,000 |
| Income from funds held in trust by others |
$1,554,000 |
| Contributions in-kind |
$736,000 |
| Total Income |
$232,233,000 |
- Programs: 86%
- Fundraising: 9%
- Administrative: 5%
| Total Income |
$232,233,000 |
| Program expenses |
$186,281,000 |
| Fundraising expenses |
$18,501,000 |
| Administrative expenses |
$12,758,000 |
| Other expenses |
$0 |
| Total expenses: |
$217,540,000 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses |
$14,693,000 |
| Beginning Net Assets |
$336,868,000 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets |
$0 |
| Ending Net Assets |
$351,561,000 |
| Total Liabilities |
$51,596,000 |
| Total Assets |
$403,157,000 |
Note: According to the organization's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017, BGCA recieved in-kind income of $1,699,215 in the form of donated IT software.