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Fresh Air Family Inc

EIN 26-1167804 · Birmingham, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

See Schedule O

Income
$416,909
Spending
$359,388
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 68%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$53,460, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 65% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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, 2024, 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 (5)
  1. $276,285 spent. Gross Out Camp expanded in 2024 to 68 camps in 26 locations for more than 1,200 campers. We awarded more than $62,000 in financial aid to children whose families could not afford to send them to an award-winning summer camp. 39% of our campers attended using some form of financial aid. Our camps are designed to teach children critical thinking using outdoor field biology. Screen-free these fresh air camps lead children in an exploration of their world in creeks and woods. Many of our children were in foster care living with grandparents single mothers or families with critical losses due to health fire or job loss. Our camps run from 8 am to 6 pm so struggling parents can get to work to support their children while we provide quality childcare. We provided 60,000 hours of instruction.
  2. $6,051 spent. Afterschool programs in 2024 were operated throughout the school year serving 45 children. Children participated in our award-winning science program with a total of nearly 1,400 instructional hours. A diverse group populated our students who studied outdoors on a trail behind the school and through science experiments. These are the children of working parents who need quality childcare.
  3. $3,586 spent. School Field trips hosted 220 children during 2024. We served 80 children with in-school enrichment. We offered 35 family field trips attended by 520 participants. We maintain a comprehensive statewide calendar of outdoor educational programs provided by Fresh Air Family and its partners. We produce a weekly newsletter with on average 70 events per week to 8,000 families. Our readership is 42%. We offer this service to encourage more families to enjoy the outdoors and to learn more about science and the environment. And for families to spend quality time with children.
  4. $1,706 spent. Part III Line 4d OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: Fresh Air Family hires paleontologists to take families to one of the top three Coal-Age fossil sites in the world. 380 people attended three fossil hunts. A 12-year-old girl found a museum-quality piece of an animal never seen before in the site. She donated the fossil to the Alabama Museum of Natural History. Attendees from three states attended the hunts. The hunts provide a way to teach about the rich mineral history of Alabama and its prehistoric past.
  5. FORM 990 PART III LINE 4D OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE REVENUE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 July 2008.

    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.

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.