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Buffalo Maritime Center Inc

EIN 27-2467764 · Buffalo, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceFair67 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BUFFALO MARITIME CENTER'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS AND LIFE LESSONS THROUGH COMMUNITY BOATBUILDING, PRESERVING MARITIME CUTURE, AND EXPLORING THE WATERWAYS OF WESTERN NEW YORK.

Income
$968,800
Spending
$911,763
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
21
Volunteers
125
Highest pay
$100,399, 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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 65% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $315,080 spent. SENECA CHIEF VOYAGE: THE BUFFALO MARITIME CENTER'S REPLICA OF THE ERIE CANAL BOAT SENECA CHIEF EMBARKED ON THE BICENTENNIAL VOYAGE, COMMEMORATING GOVERNOR DEWITT CLINTON'S HISTORIC 1825 JOURNEY FROM BUFFALO TO NEW YORK HARBOR. A BUFFALO MARITIME CENTER CREW , COMPRISED OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, NAVIGATED THE 33-DAY VOYAGE, DEPARTING FROM BUFFALO'S COMMERCIAL SLIP - THE WESTERN TERMINUS OF THE ERIE CANAL - AND TRAVELING TO PIER 26 IN NEW YORK CITY. THE BOAT DOCKED AT 28 PORTS ALONG THE ERIE CANAL AND HUDSON RIVER BEFORE REACHING NEW YORK CITY FOR THE OFFICIAL COMMEMORATION OF THE CANAL'S OPENING - 200 YEARS AFTER GOVENOR CLINTON'S INAUGURAL TRIP. THIS HISTORIC JOURNEY INVITED BUFFALO AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS NEW YORK STATE TO HONOR THE PAST WHILE ENVISIONING THE FUTURE.
  2. $122,995 spent. FLEET RESTORATION & CONSTRUCTION: THE BUFFALO MARITIME CENTER STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS MAINTAIN A VARIETY OF BOATS THAT ALLOW THE PUBLIC ACCESS TO LOCAL WATERWAYS. INCLUDED WITH THIS IS THE COMPLETION OF THE REPLICA OF THE 1812 USS TRIPPE.
  3. $79,681 spent. EDUCATION: THE BUFFALO MARITIME CENTER (BMC) IS A LIVING WORKSHOP WHERE VOLUNTEERS, STUDENTS, AND MASTER CRAFTSPEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO BUILD, RESTORE AND MAINTAIN WOODEN BOATS USING BOTH TRADITIONAL AND MODERN TECHNIQUES. THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, PUBLIC EXHIBITS, AND LARGE SCALE PROJECTS LIKE THE ERIE CANAL BOAT SENECA CHIEF THE BMC FOSTERS A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR THE REGIONS WATERWAYS, CRAFTSMANSHIP AND HISTORY.
  4. $56,635 spent. THE BUFFALO MARITIME CENTER HAS A VARIETY OF SMALLER PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDES A LIBRARY, MUSEUM, MODEL SHOP AND FOUNDRY.

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 July 2010.

    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.