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Project Recover Inc

EIN 45-0512575 · Woodland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MISSION - Project Recover is a collaborative effort to enlist 21st-century science and technology in a quest to find and repatriate Americans missing in action since World War II, in order to provide recognition and closure for families and the Nation.VISION - Project Recovers vision is: (i) to repatriate every American service member who has not come home through research, searches, recoveries and other methodologies; (ii) to provide information and closure to the families of service members; (iii) to provide a platform to educate the public on the importance of service to ones country; and (iv) to provide unique educational opportunities in the areas of science, technology, history, leadership, public service and diplomacy to a committed student audience, in conjunction with Project Recovers mission, in order to provide a real-world application to students and further educate the public.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
5
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$291,314, ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 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 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 50% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 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

    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, 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 (3)
  1. $1.6 million spent. Project Recover is dedicated to searching for and locating American MIAs and POWs from conflicts around the world. Project Recover seeks to provide recognition, information, and closure to families of these service members who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.DURING 2024, THE PROJECT RECOVER TEAM CONTINUED TO BUILD OUR PROCESS: RESEARCH, SEARCH, REPATRIATE AND EDUCATE. SUCCESSFUL EXPEDITIONS TO THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, PALAU, ITALY, AND GERMANY WERE UNDERTAKEN IN PARNERSHIP WITH DPAA AND OTHER DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATORS.
  2. $174,581 spent. EDUCATION/OUTREACH - Project Recover provides a platform for educating the public about critical historical events, the lost service members who shaped our nation, and the importance of public service.THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS A WEBSITE TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE United States' COMMITTMENT to accounting for EVERY service member MISSING IN ACTION AND to explain THE PROCESS,IMPACT, AND VALUe of these efforts for AMERICAN FAMILIES. IN 2024 - PROJECT RECOVER STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS continued to engage communities across the coutry. Representatives provided presentationsd to schools, civic groups, veterans organizations, and community partners, sharing THE HISTORY AND SCIENCE behind LOCATing MIAs AND supporting family connection. PROJECT RECOVER DELIVERED PUBLIC BRIEFINGS FOLLOWING FIELD OPERATIONS, PARTICIPATED IN MEMORIAL EVENTS FOR RETURNED SERVICE MEMBERS, AND SUPPORTED MEDIA AND DIGITAL OUTREACH TO EXPAND ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
  3. $132,981 spent. RESEARCH-PROJECT RECOVER FACILITATED A SPECIAL RESEARCH PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DPAA AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS.IN 2024, PROJECT RECOVER SUPPORTED A HISTORICALLY BASED RESEARCH EFFORT IN CHUUK STATE, FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA, FOCUSED ONADVANCING CASE DEVELOPMENT FOR U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS MISSING FROM WORLD WAR II.PROJECT RECOVER ALSO CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH UNIVERSITY PARTNERS ON SPECIALIZED SCIENTIFIC AND HISTORICAL RESEARCH TO SUPPORT THE U.S. GOVERNMENTS MISSION TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL AMERICANS MISSING IN ACTION.

Source: Form 990 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 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 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 November 2003.

    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.