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Berts Big Adventure Inc

EIN 05-0523733 · Atlanta, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ESTABLISHED IN 2002, BERT'S BIG ADVENTURE IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES A MAGICAL, ALL EXPENSES PAID, FIVE-DAY JOURNEY TO WALT DISNEY WORLD FOR CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC AND TERMINAL ILLNESSES AND THEIR FAMILIES. FOLLOWING THE ANNUAL TRIP, BERT'S BIG ADVENTURE PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND SUPPORT THROUGH INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE FAMILY REUNION ADVENTURES, THE FAIRY GODPARENT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, AND ADDITIONAL CHARITABLE SERVICES. THE TRIP AND PROGRAMS CREATE A COMMUNITY OF FAMILIES THAT ESTABLISH LASTING FRIENDSHIPS WITH OTHERS FACING SIMILAR CHALLENGES.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
14.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
7
Volunteers
70
Highest pay
$87,444, vp/executive director

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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $674,468 spent. EACH YEAR, BERT'S BIG ADVENTURE PROVIDES A FIVE-DAY, ALL-EXPENSES-PAID TRIP TO WALT DISNEY WORLD FOR CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC AND TERMINAL ILLNESSES AND THEIR FAMILIES. TO QUALIFY FOR BERT'S BIG ADVENTURE, CHILDREN MUST BE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 5 AND 12, LIVE IN "THE BERT SHOW" RADIO LISTENING AREA, PROVE FINANCIAL NEED, AND HAVE NEVER BEEN TO WALT DISNEY WORLD. FROM THE LIMO RIDES AND CHARTERED FLIGHT TO THE CHARACTER-FILLED PARTIES AND PRINCESS MAKEOVERS, THE TRIP IS NOTHING SHORT OF MAGICAL. THROUGHOUT THE TRIP, EACH FAMILY IS ACCOMPANIED BY A BERT'S BIG ADVENTURE LIAISON, ALLOWING THEM TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THEIR ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE. IN 2024, 12 CHILDREN WITH TERMINAL OR CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND THEIR FAMILIES PARTICIPATED IN THE FIVE-DAY, ALL EXPENSES PAID TRIP TO WALT DISNEY WORLD.THE NUMBER OF FAMILY MEMBERS: 54THE AVERAGE AGE OF BERT'S BIG ADVENTURE CHILDREN: 7.8 YEARS OLDGENDER STATISTICS ON CHILDREN: (MALE VS FEMALE): 50% MALE, 50% FEMALETHE NUMBER OF BERT'S BIG ADVENTURE FAMILY MEMBERS NOT LIVING IN GEORGIA: 8AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD FAMILY MEMBERS: 4.5AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $51,000
  2. $450,742 spent. FOLLOWING THE ANNUAL TRIP, BERT'S BIG ADVENTURE STRIVES TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN ITS ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY AND FRIENDSHIPS BY HOSTING FAMILY REUNION ADVENTURES. ALSO KNOWN AS FAMILY REUNIONS, THE EXCLUSIVE AND UNIQUE EVENTS PROVIDE THE FAMILIES WITH YEAR-ROUND OPPORTUNITIES TO ENJOY MORE VIP EXPERIENCES AND INTIMATE FAMILY TIME AWAY FROM DOCTOR VISITS AND HOSPITAL STAYS.IN 2024:THE NUMBER OF BERT'S BIG ADVENTURE CHILDREN WHO ATTENDED ONE OR MORE FAMILY REUNION ADVENTURES: 105THE NUMBER OF FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED ONE OR MORE FAMILY REUNION: 460THE AVERAGE AGE OF BERT'S BIG ADVENTURE CHILDREN ATTENDING FAMILY REUNION ADVENTURES: 14 YEARS OLDGENDER STATISTICS ON CHILDREN ATTENDING: (MALE VS FEMALE): 54% MALE, 46% FEMALETHE NUMBER OF BERT'S BIG ADVENTURE FAMILY MEMBERS NOT LIVING IN GEORGIA THAT ATTENDED ONE OR MORE FAMILY REUNION ADVENTURES: 7THE NUMBER OF BERT'S BIG ADVENTURE FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST A CHILD THAT ATTEND (ONE OR MORE)FAMILY REUNION ADVENTURES: 4
  3. $209,900 spent. THE BERT'S BIG ADVENTURE FAIRY GODPARENT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE ORGANIZATION'S FAMILIES WHEN A BERT'S BIG ADVENTURE CHILD IS ADMITTED TO A PARTNER HOSPITAL. THE FAIRY GODPARENT VOLUNTEERS VISIT THE CHILDREN DAILY AND PROVIDE MAGICAL MOMENTS DURING A TRYING TIME. THE CARTER'S CHARITABLE FOUNDATION GRACIOUSLY SPONSORS THIS PROGRAM. IN 2024:THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN VISITED: 7THE NUMBER OF VISITS MADE: 145 VISITSTHE AVERAGE AGE OF CHILDREN VISITED: 11 YEARS OLDGENDER STATISTICS ON CHILDREN VISITED (MALE VS FEMALE): 3 FEMALES, 4 MALESTHE FAIRY GODPARENTS VOLUNTEERED AT 19 EVENTS IN 2024.

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 September 2002.

    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.

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