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Cowboy Athletics Inc

EIN 02-0669448 · Stillwater, OK

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceFair55 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT FIRST THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY AND SECOND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT OSU. [CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O] THE MISSION OF THE FOLLOWING THREE WHOLLY OWNED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:OSU COWBOY GOLF, LLC WAS FORMED PRIMARILY TO SUPPORT THE OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY MEN'S AND WOMEN'S GOLF TEAMS.COWBOY ATHLETIC FACILITIES, LLC WAS FORMED TO OVERSEE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES WITH RESPECT TO IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE ON REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY ATHLETES AND OTHERS ASSOCIATED WITH OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY.OSU COWBOY DINING, LLC FORMED TO PROVIDE FOOD SERVICES TO THE STUDENT ATHLETES AND OTHERS ASSOCIATED WITH OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY.

Income
$35.8 million
Spending
$22.6 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
334
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$834,889, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 62% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $20.7 million spent. COWBOY ATHLETICS, INC. (CAI) PROVIDES SUPPORT TO THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY (OSU). CAI ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT TO OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT OSU. THESE FUNDS ARE PROVIDED THROUGH GRANTS AND CAPITAL ASSET TRANSFERS. COWBOY ATHLETIC FACILITIES, LLC, A RELATED ORGANIZATION, IS ORGANIZED TO CONDUCT CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE UNIVERSITY.
  2. $508,708 spent. OSU COWBOY DINING, LLC IS ORGANIZED TO PROVIDE DINING SERVICES FOR THE UNIVERSITY'S ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT, ITS STUDENTS, AND OTHERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY, AS WELL AS OTHER EVENTS.
  3. $745,558 spent. OSU COWBOY GOLF, LLC IS ORGANIZED TO OPERATE A GOLF COURSE (KARSTEN CREEK) AND RELATED FACILITIES IN STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA. THE GOLF COURSE IS PRIMARILY UTILIZED AS A TEACHING AND PRACTICE FACILITY BY THE UNIVERSITY'S MEN'S AND WOMEN'S GOLF TEAMS. USE OF THE COURSE IS ALSO OPEN TO GOLF COURSE MEMBERS AND OTHERS BASED ON ESTABLISHED MEMBERSHIP AND USAGE FEE SCHEDULES.
  4. $35,166 spent. CLINICS, CAMPS, TOURNAMENTS, AND OTHER RELATED EVENTS ARE PUT ON BY THE CHEERLEADING PROGRAM AND FOOTBALL PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 7, 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.