Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Apprenticeshop

EIN 22-3132234 · Rockland, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Apprenticeshop is a community that cultivates thinkers, makers, and doers through traditional boat building and seamanship to navigate an ever-changing world.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$682,866
Spent on programs
53%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
19
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$91,668, 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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 61% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    53% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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, 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. $190,383 spent. APPRENTICE Program: At The Apprenticeshop, we learn by doing and we believe that all people are capable of building and sailing boats. By navigating challnges within a supportive community, we come to understand what we are capable of, and to build resilience, self-confidence and resourcefulness in the process. Our apprentice program is anchored in hands-on, experential education with the boat as the curriculum. During the season, seamanship is practiced weekly with two week-long expeditions a year. Apprenticeships last either 12 weeks, 9 months, or 2 years. We also offer short workshops for adults in boatbuilding-related skills on evenings and weekends.
  2. $110,988 spent. Sailing youth and adult: From March through October we provide access to the water and our maritime heritage for sailings programs for ages 6 and up. Our programs include: a) Fall and Spring High School Sailing; b) Fall Middle School Sailing; c) Youth Summer Sailing Camp; and d) Adult Sailing courses. No previous experience is required and all participants are given the opportunity to develop resilience, self-confidence and resourcefulness while building seamanship skills in a fun and supportive environment. With support from organizations and individuals, we strive to make all of our programs accessible regardless of ability to pay.
  3. $61,636 spent. Jr. Apprenticeship: For local youth in middle and high school, we partner with school districts in the region to offer a Jr. Apprenticeship. Students come to the Apprenticeshop during and after school to learn both traditional boatbuildlng and seamanship. The Jr. Apprenticeship is centered around the construction of two vessels, an 8' lapstrake sail & row pram and a 40' traditional Portuguese sailing sardine carrier. Jr. Apprentices learn hard skills, such as shop safety, hand and power tool use, woodworking, knot tying, sailmaking, rowing, and sailing, alongside the soft skills of working and problem solving within a team. As with all of our programs, the Jr. Apprenticeship requires collaboration and pushes young people to see what they are capable of, while building resilience, self-confidence, and resourcefulness in the process.

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 October 13, 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 October 1991.

    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 October 21, 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.