Blue Sky Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BLUE SKY FUND PROVIDES TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR RICHMOND AREA YOUTH THROUGH OUTDOOR EDUCATION.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 8.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 45
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $97,890, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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 (1)
- $801,108 spent. ALL PROGRAM SERVICES IN 2024-2025 FOCUSED ON ENRICHING THE LIVES AND EDUCATION OF YOUTH FROM DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOODS AND INCLUDED: (1) EXPLORERS, A SCIENCE BASED OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM WORKING WITH 1,923 PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN 3RD THROUGH 5TH GRADES FROM LOW-INCOME AND UNDERPERFORMING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SEVERAL FIELD TRIPS PER SCHOOL YEAR THAT ENHANCE STUDENT COMPREHENSION OF THE SOL SCIENCE STANDARDS RESPECTIVE TO EACH GRADE. (2) OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, A YEAR-ROUND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WORKING WITH 21 HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH FROM DIVERSE SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS TO BUILD LEADERSHIP, UNITY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT THROUGH REGULAR SERVICE PROJECTS AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURE. (3)OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CLUBS, A WEEKLY AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM WORKING WITH 222 SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT TEACHES ADVENTURE SKILLS, EXPLORES NATURE, AND FOSTERS RESILIENCY AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. ALL PROGRAM SERVICES IN 2024-2025 FOCUSED ON ENRICHING THE LIVES AND EDUCATION OF YOUTH FROM DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOODS AND INCLUDED: (1) EXPLORERS, A SCIENCE BASED OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM WORKING WITH 1,923 PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN 3RD THROUGH 5TH GRADES FROM LOW-INCOME AND UNDERPERFORMING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SEVERAL FIELD TRIPS PER SCHOOL YEAR THAT ENHANCE STUDENT COMPREHENSION OF THE SOL SCIENCE STANDARDS RESPECTIVE TO EACH GRADE. (2) OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, A YEAR-ROUND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WORKING WITH 21 HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH FROM DIVERSE SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS TO BUILD LEADERSHIP, UNITY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT THROUGH REGULAR SERVICE PROJECTS AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURE. (3)OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CLUBS, A WEEKLY AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM WORKING WITH 222 SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT TEACHES ADVENTURE SKILLS, EXPLORES NATURE, AND FOSTERS RESILIENCY AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.
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 March 2008.
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.