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Spirit of America Foundation Inc

EIN 34-1801766 · Mentor, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OFFERING A UNIQUE, SAFE AND COMPREHENSIVE WATER-BASED EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAM, THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA FOUNDATION INSTILLS CONFIDENCE AND FOSTERS THE SPIRIT OF TEAMWORK IN OUR NATIONS YOUTH. OUR UNDERLYING GOALS ALSO INCLUDE DEVELOPING SELF-ESTEEM WHILE NURTURING RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR AND POSITIVE, LIFELONG AMBITIONS.

Income
$388,649
Spending
$396,143
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 84%
Employees
6
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$79,440, ceo/presiden

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: 73 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 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

    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 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 (1)
  1. $334,040 spent. 1.SPIRIT OF AMERICA FOUNDATION PROGRAM CURRICULUM ENCOMPASSES AND CONFORMS WITH ALL AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE (ANSI) APPROVED ON WATER, SKILLS-BASED STANDARDS OF EDUCATION - THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA FOUNDATION, WITH COMPLETION OF OVER 30 YEARS ON THE WATER, ANNOUNCED THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM CURRICULUM HAS BEEN VERIFIED TO MEET ALL OF THE APPROVED ANSI ON WATER SKILLS-BASED STANDARDS OF EDUCATION. IN ADDITION WE PROVIDE THE NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE-BASED STANDARDS AS A PART OF THEIR PROGRAM CURRICULUM. THE NATIONAL ON WATER STANDARDS (NOWS) PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO 'ADVANCING THE QUALITY, AVAILABILITY, AND CONSISTENCY OF ON-WATER, SKILLS-BASED INSTRUCTION IN ENTRY-LEVEL RECREATIONAL BOAT OPERATION'. WE PROVIDE A CURRICULUM INCLUSIVE OF AND CONFORMING WITH ALL CURRENT NOWS STANDARDS. IN ADDITION, OUR PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES DROWNING PREVENTION AND EQUIPMENT AWARENESS AS A PART OF THE MANDATORY COMPONENTS OF OUR CURRICULUM. SPIRIT OF AMERICA FOUNDATION MAY BE ONE OF FEW, IF NOT THE ONLY, PROGRAM AVAILABLE PROVIDING A NATIONALLY APPROVED STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM INCLUSIVE OF ALL DISCIPLINES, SAIL, HUMAN POWERED, AND POWERED VESSELS. THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES 6-12 NATIONAL COMMON CORE STANDARDS OF EDUCATION,PHYSICAL EDUCATION, NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE AND INFINITE COMPONENTS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS AND MATH (STEM). THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA TRADITIONAL CURRICULUM, AS WELL AS OTHER SOA PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION, CONTINUED TO PROVIDE A CURRICULUM BENEFITTING YOUNG PERSONS ALL YEAR LONG, THROUGH MOST OF OUR NATIONAL HOST LOCATIONS AS WELL AS THROUGH SCHOOL, HOME AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS. PROGRAM CURRICULUM IS ALSO PROVIDED FOR THOSE WITH EARNING DIFFERENCES AND PHYSICAL CHALLENGES IN A MANNER UNIQUE TO ANYOTHER PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES. THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM IS MODIFIED TO FIT THE NEEDS OF OUR YOUNG STUDENTS. THE TRADITIONAL PROGRAM, OR FOR THOSE UTILIZING COMPONENTS IN A STAND-ALONE PROGRAM, IN LOCATIONS HOSTING THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA PROGRAM, MAY OPERATE AT ANY TIME OF YEAR. STUDENTS FACING PHYSICAL AND OR LEARNING CHALLENGES BENEFIT FROM PARTICIPATING IN OUR STANDARDIZED NONTRADITIONAL HANDS-ON CURRICULUM. OUR CURRICULUM PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR ALL STUDENTS TO GROW, BECOME MORE EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY CONFIDENT, COMPETENT AND INDEPENDENT. 2.COMPASSES AND COMPANIONWAYS .. PREPARING EVERYONE FOR LIFE'S VOYAGE THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A CURRICULUM BENEFITTING PERSONS WITH LEARNING AND OR PHYSICAL CHALLENGES IN A MANNER UNIQUE TO ANY OTHER PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES. THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM HAS EVOLVED TO INCLUDE THE TRADITIONAL STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM INCLUSIVE OF ALL DISCIPLINES FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO CAN SAFELY PARTICIPATE. THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM AND ITS COMPONENTS ARE MODIFIED BY PROFESSIONALS TO SAFELY FIT THE NEEDS OF OUR YOUNG STUDENTS WHEN POSSIBLE. OPERATING AT ANY TIME OF YEAR, INCLUDED IN THE TRADITIONAL PROGRAM OR AS A STAND-ALONE PROGRAM, IN LOCATIONS HOSTING THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA PROGRAMS, STUDENTS FACING PHYSICAL AND OR LEARNING CHALLENGES PARTICIPATE IN OUR STANDARDIZED NONTRADITIONAL HANDS-ON CURRICULUM WHICH PERMITS ALL STUDENTS TO GROW, BECOMING MORE EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY CONFIDENT, COMPETENT AND INDEPENDENT. STUDENTS RECEIVE A 'CERTIFICATE OF SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION' AFTER EACH COMPONENT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND A CERTIFICATE OF GRADUATION AT THE END OF FULL PROGRAM COMPLETION. 'NO CHILD LEFT AT THE DOCK' 3.SPIRIT OF AMERICA FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO BUILD THE NATIONAL YOUTH BOATING HALL OF FAME - THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED THE FIRST AND ONLY NATIONAL YOUTH BOATING HALL OF FAME. OFFICIAL FIRST RECOGNITION WAS MADE JULY 2019 FOR A VERY HONORABLE AND DISTINCT NOMINATION, ACCEPTANCE AND INDUCTION INTO THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA FOUNDATION NATIONAL YOUTH BOATING HALL OF FAME. THIS NATIONAL HONOR IS BEEN PRESENTED TO NOMINEES FOR THEIR TRULY INSPIRING DEDICATION TO BOATING AND WATER SAFETY EDUCATION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH OTHERS AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. 1.SPIRIT OF AMERICA FOUNDATION PROGRAM CURRICULUM ENCOMPASSES AND CONFORMS WITH ALL AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE (ANSI) APPROVED ON WATER, SKILLS-BASED STANDARDS OF EDUCATION - THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA FOUNDATION, WITH COMPLETION OF OVER 30 YEARS ON THE WATER, ANNOUNCED THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM CURRICULUM HAS BEEN VERIFIED TO MEET ALL OF THE APPROVED ANSI ON WATER SKILLS-BASED STANDARDS OF EDUCATION. IN ADDITION WE PROVIDE THE NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE-BASED STANDARDS AS A PART OF THEIR PROGRAM CURRICULUM. THE NATIONAL ON WATER STANDARDS (NOWS) PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO 'ADVANCING THE QUALITY, AVAILABILITY, AND CONSISTENCY OF ON-WATER, SKILLS-BASED INSTRUCTION IN ENTRY-LEVEL RECREATIONAL BOAT OPERATION'. WE PROVIDE A CURRICULUM INCLUSIVE OF AND CONFORMING WITH ALL CURRENT NOWS STANDARDS. IN ADDITION, OUR PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES DROWNING PREVENTION AND EQUIPMENT AWARENESS AS A PART OF THE MANDATORY COMPONENTS OF OUR CURRICULUM. SPIRIT OF AMERICA FOUNDATION MAY BE ONE OF FEW, IF NOT THE ONLY, PROGRAM AVAILABLE PROVIDING A NATIONALLY APPROVED STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM INCLUSIVE OF ALL DISCIPLINES, SAIL, HUMAN POWERED, AND POWERED VESSELS. THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES 6-12 NATIONAL COMMON CORE STANDARDS OF EDUCATION,PHYSICAL EDUCATION, NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE AND INFINITE COMPONENTS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS AND MATH (STEM). THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA TRADITIONAL CURRICULUM, AS WELL AS OTHER SOA PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION, CONTINUED TO PROVIDE A CURRICULUM BENEFITTING YOUNG PERSONS ALL YEAR LONG, THROUGH MOST OF OUR NATIONAL HOST LOCATIONS AS WELL AS THROUGH SCHOOL, HOME AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS. PROGRAM CURRICULUM IS ALSO PROVIDED FOR THOSE WITH EARNING DIFFERENCES AND PHYSICAL CHALLENGES IN A MANNER UNIQUE TO ANYOTHER PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES. THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM IS MODIFIED TO FIT THE NEEDS OF OUR YOUNG STUDENTS. THE TRADITIONAL PROGRAM, OR FOR THOSE UTILIZ

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1995.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.