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Force Blue Inc

EIN 35-2736193 · Mt Pleasant, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To unite the community of Special Operations veterans with the world of marine conservation for the betterment of both.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
4
Volunteers
11

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: 64 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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. $1.1 million spent. Many of the seeds sown in 2024 took root in 2025, making FORCE BLUEs ninth year of operation, by far, one of its most successful. Utilizing funds raised through Publix 2024 register campaign, the organization deployed its veterans on seven (7) separate marine conservation missions across the state of Florida, performing everything from living shoreline installations and marine debris removal ops to invasive species eradication and a coral nursery build. With a grant secured through the Seedling Foundation, FORCE BLUE onboarded and trained seven (7) new FORCE BLUE veterans, bringing the organizations total to 60. FORCE BLUE conducted its fifth Ocean Conservation school (OCS) at Loggerhead MarineLife Center and, with a sizeable donation received from FORCE BLUE New York, was able to complete two (2) more Tour of Duty stops, sending teams to Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Sanctuary in Hawaii and Flower Garden Banks in Texas. Building on the success of its documentary film FROG FATHERS: Lessons from the Normandy Surf, FORCE BLUE again partnered with World of Warships in the production of FROG FATHERS 2: Last Battle of the Pacific, which brought a team of FORCE BLUE veterans to the island of Okinawa, where they repaired a section of coral reef blown up by their UDT frog fathers in 1945. FORCE BLUE secured grants (for use in 2026) from Boeing and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, expanded its existing partnership with Luminox and added new ones with Vineyard Vines and the National Hockey League.

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 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 December 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 June 2022.

    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.