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Cultural Island Travel Inc

EIN 46-2808095 · Great Neck, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceWeak33 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CULTURAL ISLAND TRAVEL IS LICENSED BY THE US TREASURY OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS (OFAC) TO CONDUCT CULTURAL EXCHANGE (PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE) TRAVEL TO CUBA. ITINERARIES CENTERED AROUND MUSIC, DANCE AND ART, FULLY COMPLIANT WITH OFAC GUIDELINES, ARE DESIGNED.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$98,400, president

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs.

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

Governance

Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $939,761 spent. CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS U.S. CITIZENS TO LEGALLY TRAVEL TO CUBA AND EXPERIENCE ITS UNIQUE HISTORY. THE ORGANIZATION HAS A LICENSE THROUGH THE US TREASURY OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL. OUR GOAL IS TO FOSTER MEANINGFUL CULTURAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN CUBANS AND U.S. CITIZENS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON MUSIC, DANCE, AND VISUAL ART, IN WAYS THAT ARE SURE TO BE UNFORGETTABLE FOR BOTH PARTIES. EXPERIENCES TO OTHER COUNTRIES (IRELAND, MEXICO, ITALY) ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.
  2. $115,671 spent. CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS U.S. CITIZENS TO LEGALLY TRAVEL TO CUBA AND EXPERIENCE ITS UNIQUE HISTORY. THE ORGANIZATION HAS A LICENSE THROUGH THE US TREASURY OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL. OUR GOAL IS TO FOSTER MEANINGFUL CULTURAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN CUBANS AND U.S. CITIZENS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON MUSIC, DANCE, AND VISUAL ART, IN WAYS THAT ARE SURE TO BE UNFORGETTABLE FOR BOTH PARTIES. EXPERIENCES TO OTHER COUNTRIES (IRELAND, MEXICO) HAVE BEEN ADDED DURING THE CURRENT YEAR.
  3. CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS U.S. CITIZENS TO LEGALLY TRAVEL TO CUBA AND EXPERIENCE ITS UNIQUE HISTORY. THE ORGANIZATION HAS A LICENSE THROUGH THE US TREASURY OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL. OUR GOAL IS TO FOSTER MEANINGFUL CULTURAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN CUBANS AND U.S. CITIZENS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON MUSIC, DANCE, AND VISUAL ART, IN WAYS THAT ARE SURE TO BE UNFORGETTABLE FOR BOTH PARTIES. EXPERIENCES TO OTHER COUNTRIES (IRELAND, MEXICO) HAVE BEEN ADDED DURING THE CURRENT YEAR.

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 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 2024.

    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 December 2014.

    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.