Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Save Our Ship Inc

EIN 36-3368703 · Duluth, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RESTORATION PROCESS DULUTHIAN BERT ENGER, OF ENGER AND OLSON FURNITURE COMPANY, ALONG WITH HIS PARTNER MARIE OLSON, PURCHASED THE SHIP FROM CAPTAIN FOLGERO AND CREW SOON AFTER THE VOYAGE, AND HE DONATED THE LEIF ERIKSON TO THE CITY OF DULUTH. THE SHIP WAS PLACED ON DISPLAY IN DULUTHS LAKE PARK, WHICH WAS LATER RE- NAMED LEIF ERIKSON PARK AROUND 1929. THERE THE LEIF ERIKSON STEADILY DETERIORATED AFTER YEARS OF NEGLECT AND VANDALISM. THE STATE OF THE SHIP REACHED A LOW POINT IN 1980, PROMPTING A FORMER DULUTH CITY COUNCILOR TO SUGGEST THAT THE LEIF ERIKSON BE BURNED IN THE TRADITIONAL VIKING MANNER OF PUTTING A SHIP TO REST. THIS SUGGESTION INSPIRED MARIE OLSONS GRANDSON, WILL BORG, TO CONTACT HIS BOYHOOD FRIEND, NEILL ATKINS, WHO WAS ALSO SERVING ON THE CITY COUNCIL AT THAT TIME TO HELP FORM A RESTORATION COMMITTEE. NEILL AND WILL BROUGHT TOGETHER A DIVERSE COLLECTION OF VOLUNTEER WORKERS TO BEGIN FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TO RESTORE THE SHIP TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION. FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES

Income
$36,244
Spending
$3,118
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%

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

Financial health

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (1)
  1. $3,118 spent. THE LEIF ERIKSON REPLICA VIKING SHIP HAS BEEN MOVED FROM DULUTH TO A NEW HOME AT THE KNIFE RIVER HERITAGE AND CULTURAL CENTER, 180 MARINA ROAD, KNIFE RIVER, MN.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 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 January 1986.

    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.