Bison Hockey Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
YOUTH HOCKEY ORGANIZATION
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 97%
- Employees
- 35
- Volunteers
- 80
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 March 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 (1)
- $1.1 million spent. BISON HOCKEY ASSOCIATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT BEGAN IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK IN 1959. TODAY WE ARE A YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION THAT HAS OVER 310 KIDS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. OUR KIDS RANGE IN AGES FROM 3-19 YEARS OLD. WE HAVE AN ACTIVE PROGRAM FOR BOTH BOYS & GIRLS. AT OUR YOUNGEST AGES WE TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO SKATE. OUR GOAL IS SHARE OUR LOVE FOR THE GAME AND INTRODUCE FAMILIES TO THE GREAT GAME OF ICE HOCKEY. APPROXIMATELY 100 SKATERS PARTICIPATE IN OUR INITIATION PROGRAM. OUR INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF OF TRAINED PROFESSIONALS PROVIDES WEEKLY SKILL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS FOR ALL AGE GROUPS, FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH MARCH EACH SEASON. AS THE KIDS PROGRESS WE FORM TRAVEL TEAMS. IN THE 24/25 SEASON WE HAD OVER 15 TEAMS PLAYING COMPETITIVELY ACROSS NEW YORK STATE AND SOUTHERN ONTARIO, CANADA.BISON HOCKEY OFFERS FINANCIAL AID SUPPORT TO ANY FAMILY REQUIRING ASSISTANCE EACH SEASON. WE BELIEVE IN MAKING YOUTH HOCKEY ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY FAMILY THAT WANTS THEIR KIDS TO PARTICIPATE. OUR PROGRAM PRINCIPALLY OPERATES IN THREE RINKS IN THE NORTH BUFFALO AREA, THE NICHOLS SCHOOL RINK, NORTH BUFFALO RINK AND BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE ARENA. WE ALSO OPERATE OUT OF FORT ERIE, ONTARIO WHEN WE HOST GAMES IN CANADA. OVER THE YEARS BISON HOCKEY TEAMS HAVE WON 50 NEW YORK STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS AT ALL AGE LEVELS FOR BOTH BOYS & GIRLS TEAMS. IN RECENT YEARS, OVER 150 YOUNG WOMEN HAVE GRADUATED FROM BISON HOCKEY AND GONE ON TO PLAY COMPETITIVE COLLEGE HOCKEY IN BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. OUR GIRLS TEAMS ARE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE LOWER LAKES FEMALE HOCKEY LEAGUE (LLFHL) OF ONTARIO. OUR BOYS TEAMS ARE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE WESTERN NEW YORK AMATEUR HOCKEY LEAGUE (WNYAHL). BISON HOCKEY IS A PROUD MEMBER OF USA HOCKEY, WHICH SERVES AS OUR NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY. THROUGH USA HOCKEY WE PROVIDE GENERAL LIABILITY AND ACCIDENT (EXCESS) INSURANCE FOR ALL REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1973.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.