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International Game Fish Association Inc

EIN 23-7231048 · Dania, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE INTERNATIONAL GAME FISH ASSOCIATION IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO THE CONSERVATION OF GAME FISH AND THE PROMOTION OF RESPONSIBLE, ETHICAL ANGLING PRACTICES THROUGH SCIENCE, EDUCATION, RULE MAKING AND RECORD KEEPING.

Income
$4.9 million
Spending
$5.4 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
8.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
22
Volunteers
80
Highest pay
$212,614, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 31 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 September 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 (4)
  1. $753,221 spent. CONSERVATION PROGRAMS: IGFA CONSERVATION PROGRAMS FOCUS ON THE CONSERVATION OF GAME FISH AND THEIR HABITATS. THE IGFA WORKS WITH LIKEMINDED ORGANIZATIONS ON CONSERVATION TOPICS SUCH AS WORKING TOWARDS THE ELIMINATION OF DESTRUCTIVE FISHING GEAR TO ADVOCATING FOR SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT. PROGRAM INITIATIVES INCLUDE THE GREAT MARLIN RACE WHERE OVER 650 BILLFISH HAVE BEEN TAGGED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE ANIMALS UTILIZE THEIR HABITAT WITH A GOAL OF HELPING TO FURTHER BILLFISH CONSERVATION, THE BILLFISH SYMPOSIUM WHICH BROUGHT THE WORLDS BILLFISH SCIENTISTS TOGETHER TO DISCUSS BILLFISH SCIENCE, MANAGEMENT, AND CONSERVATION, IMPROVING FORAGE FISH MANAGEMENT AND DATA COLLECTION THROUGH THE FORAGE FISH RESEARCH PROGRAM; THE STRIPED MARLIN RESEARCH STUDY WHICH AIMS TO HIGHLIGHT CONSERVATION MEASURES NEEDED TO PROTECT THE FISHERY, AND REPRESENTING THE ANGLER VOICE IN THE INITIATIVE TO PROTECT 30% OF THE PLANET'S LAND AND OCEAN THROUGH THE 30X30 INITIATIVE.
  2. $724,753 spent. ANGLER RECOGNITION:THE IGFA MAINTAINS WORLD RECORDS FOR ALL SPECIES OF GAME FISH AND IS COMMITTED TO RULE MAKING, RECORD KEEPING AND RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE FIELD OF ANGLING. THE IGFA BINDS ALL SPORT ANGLERS TO A UNIVERSAL SET OF ANGLING RULES. THE IGFA ALSO MAINTAINS THE FISHING HALL OF FAME WHICH RECOGNIZES EXTRAORDINARY, LIFE-LONG ACHIEVEMENTS IN RECREATIONAL FISHING AROUND THE WORLD BY ANGLERS, CAPTAINS, SCIENTISTS, CONSERVATIONISTS, WRITERS OR INDUSTRY LEADERS.
  3. $603,577 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS:THE IGFA EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT THE SPORT OF ANGLING IS AN IMPORTANT RECREATIONAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL ACTIVITY ON WHICH THE PUBLIC MUST BE EDUCATED TO PURSUE IN A MANNER THAT ALIGNS WITH THE IGFA'S MISSION OF PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE, ETHICAL ANGLING PRACTICES AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AROUND THE WORLD. THE IGFA HAS A CURRENT YOUTH EDUCATION INITIATIVE TO TEACH 250,000 KIDS TO FISH TO HELP BUILD THE NEXT GENERATION OF ETHICAL, CONSERVATION-MINDED ANGLERS WITH CURRENT PROJECTS INCLUDING FREE ONLINE FISHING COURSES, VIRTUAL FISHING FILEDTRIPS AND, "PASSPORTS TO FISHING", IGFA'S PREMIER YOUTH ANGLER PROGRAM.
  4. $1.6 million spent. MEMBERSHIP AND RECORDKEEPING $765,312GRANT TO THE IGFA FOUNDATION $546,276OTHER PROGRAMS $310,798

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 February 1976.

    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.