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Okoboji Yacht Club Sailing School Inc 082897

EIN 42-1467238 · Milford, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair55 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OKOBOJI YACHT CLUB SALING SCHOOL, INC'S MISSION IS TO TEACH BOATING AND OTHER SAFE WATER PROCEDURES TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE GENERAL AREA OF LAKE OKOBOJI, IOWA.

Income
$625,821
Spending
$552,543
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
50.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 46%
Employees
15
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$53,000, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 50.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 24 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    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 (2)
  1. $346,658 spent. ALL OF THE CLASSES CONTINUE TO BE FORMATTED AROUND WEEKLONG CAMPS WHICH ALLOWS US TO KEEP OUR CLASS SCHEDULES SIMPLE AND FLEXIBLE. FOR OUR LEARN-TO-SAIL CLASSES WE OFFER A SERIES OF 8 ONE-WEEK CAMPS THAT ARE TAILORED TO NURTURE OUR YOUNG SAILORS AS THEY EXPERIENCE THE THRILL OF SAILING ON LAKE OKOBOJI.TINY PUFFS CLASS - THIS CLASS WILL INTRODUCE VERY YOUNG CHILDREN TO SAILING. SEVERAL SAILBOATS WILL BE RIGGED ON THE OYC LAWN FOR CHILDREN TO EXPLORE. TOTAL ENROLLMENT NUMBER FOR THE SEASON CAME TO 37.LITTLE PUFFS CAMPS - DESIGNED FOR 6-8 YEAR OLDS AS AN INTRODUCTION TO WATER AND BOATING SAFTETY. FUN, SAFETY, AND CLOSE SUPERVISION ARE THE HALLMARKS OF OUR LITTLE PUFFS CAMPS. TOTAL ENROLLMENT NUMBER FOR THE SEASON CAME TO 112.BEGINNERS CAMPS - THESE CAMPS ARE FOR 8-12 YEAR OLDS AND WILL ALSO FOCUS ON WATER AND BOATING SAFETY. SINGLE-HANDED SAILING SKILLS WILL BE DEVELOPED. WHEN APPROPRIATE, STUDENTS IN THESE CAMPS WILL BE DIVIDED INTO TEACHING GROUPS BASED ON EXPERIENCE LEVEL. TOTAL ENROLLMENT NUMBER FOR THE SEASON CAME TO 136.INTERMEDIATE OPTI FUNDAMENTALS - THIS CAMP IS DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED LITTLE PUFFS OR BEGINNERS CLASSES AND ARE READY TO SINGLE HAND AN OPTIMIST. TOTAL ENROLLMENT NUMBER FOR THE SEASON CAME TO 27.PERFORMANCE SAILING - THIS CAMP WILL INTRODUCE OLDER, MORE EXPERIENCED CHILDREN TO WEST LAKE OKOBIJI AS THEY SAIL TO NEW DESTINATIONS ON THE LASER RADIAL OR THE BIC O'PEN DINGHIES. STUDENTS SELECT THEIR DESITNATIONS AFTER LEARNING HOW TO READ WEATHER FORECASTS, ONLINE MAPS, AND CHARTS. TOTAL ENROLLMENT NUMBER FOR THE SEASON CAME TO 29.ADVENTURE SAILING - THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM IS BASED IN EXPLORATION. IT IS A FUN COMBINATION OF SAILING AND SCIENCE AND HOW DISCOVERY IN BOTH FIELDS CAN WORK TOGETHER IN A STEM BASED PROGRAM. TOTAL ENROLLMENT NUMBER FOR THE SEASON CAME TO 26. OTHER SAILING COURSES: PRIVATE LESSONS, ART WORKSHOPS, ADULT SAILING, OSC TEAM DEVELOPMENT, CREW U. TOTAL ENROLLMENT NUMBER FOR THE SEASON CAME TO 55.
  2. $22,992 spent. OUR RACING CURRICULUM IS SEGMENTED INTO THE CAMP FORMAT ALSO, WITH EACH SEGMENT FOCUSING ON A SPECIFIC ASPECT OF RACING. OPTIMIST RACING CAMPS - THIS CAMP IS DESIGNED FOR OUR MORE ADVANCED OPTI SAILORS THAT ARE READY TO MOVE INTO A COMPETITIVE SAILING PROGRAM WHILE THEY DEVELOP RACING SKILLS. TOTAL ENROLLMENT NUMBER FOR THE SEASON CAME TO 0.X-BOAT RACING CAMPS - THE X-BOAT RACING PROGRAM IS THE HALLMARK OF THE OKOBOJI SAILING CENTER. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED AS A SERIES TO PROMOTE SUMMER LONG TRAINING FOR OUR MOST ADAVNCED RACE FOCUSED SAILORS. TOTAL ENROLLMENT NUMBER FOR THE SEASON CAME TO 28.

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 November 6, 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 October 1998.

    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 November 4, 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.