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Rocking the Boat Inc

EIN 13-4177814 · Bronx, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ROCKING THE BOAT PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP PRIDE, PURPOSE, AND POSSIBILITY BY LEARNING THE UNIQUE AND LIFELONG SKILLS BEHIND BUILDING AND ROWING WOODEN BOATS, SAILING, AND RESTORING THE BRONX RIVER. WE CREATE COMMUNITY, TEACH THROUGH TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES, AND MAKE NATURE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, INSPIRING YOUNG PEOPLE TO DETERMINE THEIR OWN FUTURE AGAINST A BACKDROP OF SYSTEMIC INEQUITY.

Income
$4.8 million
Spending
$4.9 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
9.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
0
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$233,373, 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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 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 (3)
  1. $2.8 million spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SPLIT INTO THREE TRACKS WOODEN BOATBUILDING, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND JUSTICE, AND SAILING AND TWO LEVELS STUDENT AND APPRENTICE BUT UNITED THROUGH A SHARED FOCUS ON GIVING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN BY DOING PRACTICAL WORK THAT PRODUCES TANGIBLE RESULTS. LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS ON STAFF PROVIDE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOCUSED ON POST-SECONDARY READINESS AND OVERSEEING A PEER MENTORING PROGRAM.THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TAKES PLACE IN THE SOUTH BRONX AND SAN FRANCISCO.
  2. $599,619 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMS OFFERS UNIQUE YEAR-ROUND EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL, CAMP, AND OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS. GROUPS EXPLORE THEIR LOCAL ECOSYSTEM, LEARN NEW SKILLS AND PRACTICE TEAMWORK THROUGH ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NATURAL WORLD, SCIENCE EXPLORATIONS AND ROWING. DURING THE SUMMERTIME, ROCKING THE BOAT WELCOMES THE PUBLIC ABOARD STUDENT-BUILT WOODEN ROWBOATS AND SAILBOATS, ACCOMPANIED BY ROCKING THE BOAT'S STAFF WHO TEACHES THEM ABOUT THE LOCAL WATERWAYS, AND INTRODUCES VISITORS TO BIRDWATCHING.A PARALLEL PROGRAM TAKES PLACE IN INDIA BASIN ON SAN FRANCISCO BAY.
  3. $549,517 spent. SAIL CENTRAL PARK - FOR THE FIRST TIME IN CENTRAL PARK BOAT POND'S HISTORY ROCKING THE BOAT IS USING THE SITE FOR MISSION-ALIGNED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. RUNNING THE MODEL SAILBOAT CONCESSION, A STORIED INSTITUTION RECOGNIZED AROUND THE WORLD, IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR BOAT LOVERS TO HAVE SAILING EXPERIENCE IN THE HEART OF NEW YORK CITY. UNDERSERVED AND TITLE 1 SCHOOLS IN MANHATTAN NOW WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS ROCKING THE BOAT PROGRAMMING IN THE CITY MORE EASILY THAN IF THEY HAD TO TRAVEL TO THE BRONX.

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

  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 December 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 December 2001.

    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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