Freedom of Information Act

[kasane]

Does the Freedom of Information Act apply to the Boy Scouts of America? I know it isn't a department of the Federal Government, but it is chartered by them.

 

If it does apply, how does one go about filing an application to obtain information?

[NJCubScouter]

I see no reason why the FOIA would apply to the BSA. As you say, it is not a governmental agency. It is a corporation, though with a charter granted by the U.S. Congress, rather than a charter from a state government as most corporations have. (Local BSA councils, to my knowledge, would be state-chartered not-for-profit corporations, and they also hold a "charter" from the BSA, though the word "charter" is being use to mean 2 different things here.)

[OldGreyEagle]

Ksane,

What do you want to know about the BSA? Maybe we can help, or maybe we cant, but ask and we will see what responses you get

[eisely]

FOIA applies to the executive branch of the US government. The only way it might apply to BSA is where BSA, or some branch of BSA, had dealings with the government. For example, documents in the Department of the Army dealing with the jamborees at Army facilities would be subject to FOIA, but only those documents in the possession of the government would be subject to FOIA. Documents internal to BSA concerning such matters would not be subject to FOIA.

[Prime00]

BSA takes money from the government. This is reflected on their 990 forms. Since they take taxpayer funding in the form of grants, they are subject to FOIA. FOIA guidelines may vary from State to State but I know this is the case in my state. 

[mrjohns2]

On 12/31/2024 at 12:01 PM, Prime00 said:

Since they take taxpayer funding in the form of grants, they are subject to FOIA. FOIA guidelines may vary from State to State but I know this is the case in my state. 

IF they are subject to FOIA, it would only be in relation to how the grants are used. Not "in general".

[Tron]

On 12/31/2024 at 12:01 PM, Prime00 said:

BSA takes money from the government. This is reflected on their 990 forms. Since they take taxpayer funding in the form of grants, they are subject to FOIA. FOIA guidelines may vary from State to State but I know this is the case in my state. 

No, the FOIA only applies to the federal government; period. If your state has some sort of other state level law I would suggest you state what that law is and the state; it is unlikely that the law you are thinking about even vaguely affects non-government entities. 

[Cburkhardt]

The federal FOIA and the various state and local versions apply only to governmental entities.  This is not a productive way to get information from not-for-profit organizations.