Gba Ships Florence Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SHARING KNOWLEDGE, HELP AND HOPE WITH PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD BY SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE SHIPS LOGOS HOPE AND DOULOS HOPE.
- Income
- $5.7 million
- Spending
- $6.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 57%
- Employees
- 71
- Volunteers
- 1,339
- Highest pay
- $98,912, vice 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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 252 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
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, 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 (1)
- $4.8 million spent. GBA SHIPS FLORENCE (DBA OM SHIPS INTERNATIONAL) SEEKS TO SUPPORT THE INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS DESCRIBED BELOW. THIS SUPPORT IS PROVIDED THROUGH FUNDRAISING, THE SALES OF BOOKS, AND THE PROVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. OM SHIPS INTERNATIONAL IS THE ORGANIZATION OPERATING LOGOS HOPE AND DOULOS HOPE. THE OM "SHIPS MINISTRY" BEGAN IN 1970 AS PART OF THE GLOBAL CHRISTIAN TRAINING AND OUTREACH MOVEMENT, OM INTERNATIONAL. SINCE THEN OM'S SHIPS HAVE VISITED OVER 450 DIFFERENT PORTS IN OVER 150 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES AND WELCOMED 47 MILLION VISITORS ON BOARD. THE GOAL OF OM SHIPS INTERNATIONAL IS TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE, HELP, AND HOPE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD. WE DO THIS BY SUPPLYING VITAL LITERATURE RESOURCES, ENCOURAGING CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, TRAINING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR MORE EFFECTIVE LIFE AND SERVICE, PROVIDING NEEDED RELIEF, AND SHARING A MESSAGE OF HOPE IN GOD WHEREVER THERE IS OPPORTUNITY. THE SHIPS VISIT EACH PORT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS EACH AND OPEN THE GANGWAYS TO HUNDREDS AND SOMETIMES THOUSANDS OF VISITORS EACH DAY. ON AVERAGE, OVER ONE MILLION VISITORS HAVE BEEN WELCOMED ONBOARD EVERY YEAR! THE FLOATING BOOK FAIRS OFFER OVER 6,000 TITLES, PROVIDING MANY VISITORS THEIR FIRST-EVER OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE QUALITY EDUCATIONAL CHRISTIAN LITERATURE. AN INTERNATIONAL CREW AND STAFF OF VOLUNTEERS LIVE AND WORK ON THE SHIPS. TEAMS FROM THE SHIP GO INTO SURROUNDING AREAS TO SUPPLY AID AND COMMUNITY CARE. IN EACH PORT, THE SHIP'S CREW JOINS LOCAL CHURCHES TO BRING HOPE AND SHOW LOVE TO PEOPLE WHATEVER THEIR CIRCUMSTANCE, CULTURE, OR BACKGROUND.
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
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 November 6, 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 2024.
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 July 2007.
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 November 4, 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.