New England Science & Sailing Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO EMPOWER STUDENTS WITH A LOVE OF LEARNING THROUGH OCEAN-BASED EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMS THAT SERVE SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, AND FAMILIES.
- Income
- $3.7 million
- Spending
- $3.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -4.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 49%
- Employees
- 77
- Volunteers
- 80
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
Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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)
- $1.5 million spent. THE NEW ENGLAND SCIENCE & SAILING FOUNDATION (NESS) IS AN EDUCATION ORGANIZATION WORKING WITH STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12 THROUGH A UNIQUE EDUCATION MODEL THAT COMBINES EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND ON-THE-WATER EXPERIENCES TO BUILD SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE STANDARDS-BASED AND USE MARINE SCIENCES AND BOATING AS PLATFORMS TO CREATE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. NESS IS ACCREDITED BY THE NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES (NEASC), AND PROGRAMS ARE MAPPED TO THE NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS, THE COLLABORATIVE FOR ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING STANDARD SET, AND DERIVED FROM THE OCEAN LITERACY PRINCIPLES. THESE EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE IN-CLASSROOM EXPERIENCES AND FIELD TRIPS TO THE NESS CAMPUS AND OTHER SITES WITH WATER ACCESS.
- $1.2 million spent. NESS'S OPEN ENROLLMENT SUMMER PROGRAMS ARE FOR STUDENTS AGES 4-17. THE PROGRAMS RUN FOR 11 WEEKS FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST AND ARE STAFFED BY FULL-TIME AND SEASONAL EDUCATORS. STUDENTS CAN REGISTER FOR JUST ONE WEEK OR THE ENTIRE SUMMER. THESE PROGRAMS COMPRISE UNIQUE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THAT INCLUDES WEEKLY THEMES AND EMBEDDED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING ELEMENTS, AND ARE DESIGNED AROUND AGE-BASED LEVELS IN SAILING, MARINE SCIENCE, ADVENTURE SPORTS, AND POWERBOATING.
- $499,735 spent. NESS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES TO PARTICIPATE IN HANDS-ON, EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMS. VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS RECREATION DEPARTMENTS, PARTNER WITH NESS TO BRING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THEIR CLIENTS. NESS ALSO OFFERS ADULT SAILING PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDE BEGINNER AND INTERMEDIATE CLASSES. FAMILIES CAN ALSO EXPERIENCE NESS PROGRAMS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN MANY COMMUNITY- HOSTED EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.