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Fencers Club Inc

EIN 13-2959888 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak18 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FENCERS CLUB IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IS FENCING, ACADEMICS, AND CHARACTER. WE ACTIVELY SUPPORT A CULTURE OF SHARING BY PERFORMING COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT EXTEND BEYOND FENCING; PROVIDE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF FACILITY AND INSTRUCTION FOR THE SPORT OF MODERN FENCING; PROMOTE SOCIAL AND ATHLETIC INTERACTION OF ITS MEMBERS THROUGH THE SPORT OF FENCING; PROVIDE SPACE AND ATMOSPHERE WHERE THE SPORT OF FENCING IS PROMOTED AND ENJOYED BY ALL ABILITY LEVELS AND ALL AGES, INSPIRE AND ASSIST OUR STUDENT-FENCERS TO ACHIEVE AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS IN FENCING AND IN ACADEMICS; PROMOTE A CULTURE OF SHARING AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGH FENCING-RELATED ACTIVITIES.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-71.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 85%
Employees
3
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$151,800, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 18 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 72% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 45% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 49 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 19 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

    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 August 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 (3)
  1. $1.1 million spent. Fencers Club provided fencing lessons and other member services to 500 active members in fiscal year 2024. We provided discounts to members and the community at large in line with the clubs mission to promote fencing, learning, character development, and community service. Some of the discounts given were to members in need, the Peter Westbrook Foundation, and training camps for competitive fencers from across the country and from abroad. There is also the public school athletic league program, where all students who fence in public schools are welcome to the club to be coached by one of our coaches at a 75% discount. The club also provides free fencing to military veterans to give them an opportunity to integrate into the broader community through fencing, mentoring, and sharing. The goal of this program is to inspire veterans and service members to excel in fencing and to share their military experiences in order to make a positive and meaningful impact in the broader community.
  2. $105,144 spent. SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM THE PROGRAM TEACHES FENCING TO STUDENTS IN THEIR OWN SCHOOL WHILE IMPARTING THE CHARACTER BUILDING VALUES, DISCIPLINE AND STRATEGIC THINKING THAT ARE INTEGRAL TO THE SPORT. BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH STUDENTS IN A SPORT THAT IS PHYSICALLY, INTELLECTUALLY AND EMOTIONALLY CHALLENGING, OUR HIGHLY TRAINED AND MOTIVATED SCHOLAR-ATHLETE COACHES WILL ENCOURAGE THE STUDENTS TO WORK THROUGH DIFFICULTIES TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND DEVELOP PERSEVERANCE THAT CAN ENHANCE THE STUDENTS ABILITY TO PERFORM IN NON-FENCING PURSUITS.
  3. $24,202 spent. KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES: THE CAMP PROGRAM. THE CLUB HAS AN OUTREACH DAY CAMP PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM COUNTRY AND FROM ABROAD. THERE IS ALSO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ATHLETIC LEAGUE PROGRAM WHERE ALL STUDENTS WHO FENCE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE WELCOME TO THE CLUB TO BE COACHED BY ONE OF OUR COACHES AT A 75% DISCOUNT. THE CLUB ALSO PROVIDES FREE FENCING TO MILITARY VETERANS TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTEGRATE INTO THE BROADER COMMUNITY. THROUGH FENCING, MENTORING AND SHARING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES. THE CONSISTS OF ACADEMICS IN THE MORNING AND A FREE HEALTHY LUNCH AND FENCING IN THE AFTERNOON. THE CLUB ALSO SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED A TRAINING CAMP WHERE ATHLETES CAN TRAIN WITH OTHER FENCERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1980.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.

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