The Ike Foundation a New Jersey Non-Profit Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE KIDS TO PUT DOWN THEIR SCREENS, GET OUTSIDE, AND DISCOVER HEALTHY, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES THAT BUILD CONFIDENCE, PATIENCE, AND RESPECT FOR NATURE THROUGH THE ACTIVITY OF FISHING.
- Income
- $235,402
- Spending
- $251,352
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Highest pay
- $598,000, trustee
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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (5)
- $17,572 spent. THE IKE FOUNDATION COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: THE IKE FOUNDATION BEGINS EACH YEAR WITH THE ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP DINNER IN PITTSGROVE, NJ, THIS SPECIAL EVENING PRIMARILY FUNDS OUR COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, WE PROUDLY AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS RANGING FROM 2,000 TO 2,500 TO 4-5 EXCEPTIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED A PASSION FOR FISHING AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE OUTDOORS COMMUNITY. APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED THROUGH A BLIND, MERIT-BASED PROCESS USING A STANDARDIZED POINT SYSTEM TO ENSURE FAIRNESS AND OBJECTIVITY. SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION IN 2017, THE IKE FOUNDATION HAS AWARDED OVER 100,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS, HELPING YOUNG LEADERS TAKE THE NEXT STEP TOWARD THEIR FUTURE.
- $37,942 spent. IKE'S HOOK'EM EARLY KIDS FISHING PROGRAM: THE IKE FOUNDATION HOSTS MULTIPLE IKE'S HOOK 'EM EARLY KIDS FISHING EVENTS EACH YEAR DURING THE SPRING, FALL, OUR ANNUAL PRO-AM TOURNAMENT, AND THE BASSMASTER CLASSIC. EACH OF THESE EVENTS SERVE 100 PLUS CHILDREN, PROVIDING HANDS-ON ACCESS TO LOCAL LAKES AND WATERWAYS AND INTRODUCING YOUTH, MANY FOR THE FIRST TIME, TO THE LIFELONG ACTIVITY OF FISHING. AT EVERY EVENT, EACH CHILD RECEIVES THEIR OWN ROD, REEL, TACKLE BOX, AND TACKLE, ALONG WITH INSTRUCTION FROM VOLUNTEERS. THIS ENSURES THAT THE EXPERIENCE DOES NOT END ON EVENT DAY, CHILDREN LEAVE FULLY EQUIPPED AND CONFIDENT TO CONTINUE FISHING WITH THEIR FAMILIES. PARENTS AND GUARDIANS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE, REINFORCING OUTDOOR RECREATION AS A FAMILY ACTIVITY AND SUPPORTING LONG-TERM ENGAGEMENT. VOLUNTEERS TRACK EVERY CHILD'S CATCH, ALLOWING US TO AWARD PRIZES AND CELEBRATE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND EACH CHILD LEAVES WITH NEW SKILLS, LASTING MEMORIES, AND A SMILE ON THEIR FACE. TO ENHANCE BOTH THE EXPERIENCE AND THE LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS, THE IKE FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH STATE AND LOCAL FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES TO STOCK THE LAKES WITH BASS, CATFISH, OR BLUEGILL, BASED ON EACH WATERWAY'S ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS. THESE STOCKINGS NOT ONLY MAKE THE EVENTS MORE SUCCESSFUL FOR YOUNG ANGLERS BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO A HEALTHIER, SUSTAINABLE FISHERY FOR YEARS TO COME. EVENT DAYS ALSO INCLUDE LUNCH, SNACKS, AND A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN TO ENJOY A FRONT-ROW SEAT TO WATCH THE PRO-AM BASS TOURNAMENT WEIGH-IN, WHERE THE CHILDREN CHEER ON THE ANGLERS AND SEE THE SPORT OF FISHING IN ACTION. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, THE IKE FOUNDATION ADVANCES ITS MISSION BY CONNECTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH THE OUTDOORS, PROMOTING CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY, AND FOSTERING A LOVE AND RESPECT FOR OUR WATERWAYS. THESE EVENTS CREATE MEANINGFUL, LONG-TERM IMPACT BY EQUIPPING THE NEXT GENERATION WITH SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, AND A PASSION FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION. IKE'S HOOK'EM EARLY KIDS FISHING PROGRAM: THE IKE FOUNDATION HOSTS MULTIPLE IKE'S HOOK 'EM EARLY KIDS FISHING EVENTS EACH YEAR DURING THE SPRING, FALL, OUR ANNUAL PRO-AM TOURNAMENT, AND THE BASSMASTER CLASSIC. EACH OF THESE EVENTS SERVE 100 PLUS CHILDREN, PROVIDING HANDS-ON ACCESS TO LOCAL LAKES AND WATERWAYS AND INTRODUCING YOUTH, MANY FOR THE FIRST TIME, TO THE LIFELONG ACTIVITY OF FISHING. AT EVERY EVENT, EACH CHILD RECEIVES THEIR OWN ROD, REEL, TACKLE BOX, AND TACKLE, ALONG WITH INSTRUCTION FROM VOLUNTEERS. THIS ENSURES THAT THE EXPERIENCE DOES NOT END ON EVENT DAY, CHILDREN LEAVE FULLY EQUIPPED AND CONFIDENT TO CONTINUE FISHING WITH THEIR FAMILIES. PARENTS AND GUARDIANS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE, REINFORCING OUTDOOR RECREATION AS A FAMILY ACTIVITY AND SUPPORTING LONG-TERM ENGAGEMENT. VOLUNTEERS TRACK EVERY CHILD'S CATCH, ALLOWING US TO AWARD PRIZES AND CELEBRATE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND EACH CHILD LEAVES WITH NEW SKILLS, LASTING MEMORIES, AND A SMILE ON THEIR FACE. TO ENHANCE BOTH THE EXPERIENCE AND THE LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS, THE IKE FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH STATE AND LOCAL FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES TO STOCK THE LAKES WITH BASS, CATFISH, OR BLUEGILL, BASED ON EACH WATERWAY'S ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS. THESE STOCKINGS NOT ONLY MAKE THE EVENTS MORE SUCCESSFUL FOR YOUNG ANGLERS BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO A HEALTHIER, SUSTAINABLE FISHERY FOR YEARS TO COME. EVENT DAYS ALSO INCLUDE LUNCH, SNACKS, AND A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN TO ENJOY A FRONT-ROW SEAT TO WATCH THE PRO-AM BASS TOURNAMENT WEIGH-IN, WHERE THE CHILDREN CHEER ON THE ANGLERS AND SEE THE SPORT OF FISHING IN ACTION. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, THE IKE FOUNDATION ADVANCES ITS MISSION BY CONNECTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH THE OUTDOORS, PROMOTING CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY, AND FOSTERING A LOVE AND RESPECT FOR OUR WATERWAYS. THESE EVENTS CREATE MEANINGFUL, LONG-TERM IMPACT BY EQUIPPING THE NEXT GENERATION WITH SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, AND A PASSION FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION.
- $19,582 spent. FISHING GEAR REQUEST PROGRAM: THROUGH OUR ON-LINE FISHING GEAR REQUEST PROGRAM WE DONATE 100-150 RODS AND REELS PER QUARTER TO OTHER QUALIFIED ORGANIZATIONS. THE IKE FOUNDATION CONSIDERS REQUESTS FROM CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER NON-PROFITS. IDEALLY, THE RELATIONSHIP WILL EDUCATE YOUTH ABOUT THE OUTDOORS, WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO THE SPORT OF FISHING. IDEAL DONATION RECIPIENTS ARE YOUTH-CENTERED PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THAT ALIGN WITH THE MISSION OF THE IKE FOUNDATION. OUR PRIORITY IS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT OFFER ONGOING FISHING EDUCATION AND FOSTER A LASTING APPRECIATION FOR NATURE AND CONSERVATION.
- $91,706 spent. CONNECTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH THE OUTDOORS THROUGH THE SPORT OF FISHING BUT ALSO FOSTERS A LOVE FOR CONSERVATION, SUSTAINABILITY, AND THE PROTECTION OF OUR WATERWAYS.
- CONNECTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH THE OUTDOORS THROUGH THE SPORT OF FISHING BUT ALSO FOSTERS A LOVE FOR CONSERVATION, SUSTAINABILITY, AND THE PROTECTION OF OUR WATERWAYS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.