Ferry Beach Park Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Ferry Beach Park Association is a retreat and conference center located in Saco, Maine, which was founded in 1901. Ferry Beach awakens hearts to explore, grow, and renew the spirit of universal love. They accomplish their mission through activities related to: culture and the arts, education, spirituality, care for the Earth, personal growth, and social justice and social action. Ferry Beach sponsors conferences, retreats, and is supported primarily through public and member contributions, as well as conference fees and rental income.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 79%
- Employees
- 35
- Volunteers
- 54
- Highest pay
- $128,073, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $1.3 million spent. Ferry Beach sponsors conferences and retreats, which support individuals and families in their personal journeys towards self-understanding and spiritual awareness. Ferry Beach welcomes all people. For 11 weeks each summer, Ferry Beach hosts nearly 30 camps and conferences with a wide range of programs. Our programs fall into four general categories: adult conferences, family conferences, professional/church development, and youth camps. Summer conferences at Ferry Beach feature special programming for both adults and children. Each morning, adults attend a variety of exciting workshops while children engage in the fun, creative, supervised activities of the Ferry Beach Children's Program. Afternoons are open for family time, the beach, exploring Maine's coast, or curling up with a good book. Evenings are filled with music, dancing, games, and conversations in front of a fire. You can come to Ferry Beach as a conferee or a vacationer.During the spring and fall, church groups and other 501(c)(3) organizations rent the Ferry Beach Campus for weekend retreats.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1988.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.