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South Jersey Aquatic Club

EIN 47-3425705 · Voorhees, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceFair60 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF SJAC IS TO PROVIDE QUALITY RECREATIONAL AND COMPETITIVE SWIM INSTRUCTION AND TEACH OVERALL WATER SAFETY SKILLS TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF AGE OR ABILITY. THE LONG-TERM FOCUS IS LIFE-LONG DEVELOPMENT OF TOTAL MIND AND BODY HEALTH.THE FOUNDING PRINCIPAL OF SJAC IS THAT SWIMMING SHOULD BE ENJOYED, NOT ENDURED. THIS PHILOSOPHY IS CARRIED ACROSS ALL LEVELS OF INSTRUCTION, FROM OUR JUNIOR SWIM TEAM TO OUR MASTERS PROGRAM TO OUR NATIONAL COMPETITORS, AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN. WE STRIVE TO TEACH OUR PARTICIPANTS SKILLS THAT THEY CAN CARRY WITH THEM OUTSIDE OF THE POOL TO LIVE ACTIVE HEALTHY LIVES.SOUTH JERSEY AQUATIC CLUB SWIMS AT THE BRAND NEW NL AQUATIC CENTER IN VOORHEES AND IS DIVIDED INTO 5 PROGRAMS: COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM, NON-COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM, MASTER'S SWIM TEAM, SPECIAL OLYMPICS TEAM, AND HOME SCHOOL SWIM TEAM.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
-2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
45
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$89,663, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 1106% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (1)
  1. $1.5 million spent. IN ADDITION TO TEACHING SWIM TECHNIQUE AND WATER SAFETY, THE CLUB STRIVES TO TEACH ITS PARTICIPANTS SKILLS THAT THEY CAN CARRY WITH THEM OUTSIDE OF THE POOL TO LIVE ACTIVE HEALTHY LIVES. THE CLUB SWIMS AT THE BRAND-NEW NL AQUATIC CENTER IN VOORHEES, NEW JERSEY AND IS DIVIDED INTO FIVE PROGRAMS: (1) SJAC SWIM SMART LESSONS, (2) COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM, (3) NON-COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM, (4) MASTER'S SWIM TEAM, AND (5) SPECIAL NEEDS SWIM PROGRAM. EACH OF THE PROGRAMS IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL BELOW. 1. THE SJAC SWIM SMART LESSONS THE SJAC SWIM SMART LESSONS ARE GEARED TOWARD THE COMPETITIVE SWIMMER. WE COMBINE INDIVIDUAL COACHING WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF EACH STROKE. WITH THE USE OF UNDERWATER CAMERAS, SWIM ANALYSIS SOFTWARE, AND AN ENDLESS POOL, WE ARE ABLE TO ANALYZE AND CORRECT THE INDIVIDUAL'S FROM EVERY ANGLE 2. THE COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM THE COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM IS A USA SWIMMING COMPETITIVE TEAM STARTED BY PETER HOLCROFT, AN ASCA (AMERICAN SWIM COACHES ASSOCIATION) LEVEL 4 SWIM COACH. SINCE STARTING THE COMPETITIVE TEAM IN THE FALL OF 2015, THE TEAM HAS GROWN TO OVER 615 SWIMMERS, THE LARGEST IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION, AND TOP 30 CLUB TEAMS IN THE USA. PETER HAS BEEN COACHING COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAMS AND RUNNING LESSON PROGRAMS FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH JERSEY COMMUNITY. HE RAN SEVERAL YMCA TEAMS THAT WERE RANKED AMONG THE TOP 75 TEAMS NATIONWIDE (SEE PETE HOLCROFT BIO FOR MORE INFORMATION). PETER IS THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF SJAC AND ALSO COACHES THE PLATINUM NATIONAL PROGRAM. PETER BASED HIS TEAM'S TRAINING WHAT HE LEARNED THROUGH HIS OWN COMPETITIVE SWIMMING CAREER THAT BALANCING A MEDIUM AMOUNT OF SWIM YARDAGE WITH TARGETED DRY-LAND TRAINING PREVENTED SWIMMERS FROM BURNING OUT TOO EARLY AND ALLOWED THEM TO EXTEND THEIR COMPETITIVE SWIM CAREERS. THIS PHILOSOPHY HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL AND HAS PRODUCED SWIMMERS WHO HAVE GONE ON TO OLYMPICS, SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE COMPETITIVE SWIMMING CAREERS, AND THE US NATIONAL SWIM TEAM. THE CLUB RECOGNIZES THAT NOT ALL SWIMMERS HAVE THE DESIRE TO COMPETE ON A NATIONAL LEVEL AND HAS DEVELOPED PROGRAMS TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYONE. YOUNGER SWIMMERS ARE DIVIDED INTO GROUPS BY AGE AND SKILL LEVEL, BRONZE BEING THE YOUNGEST GROUP, THEN SILVER, GOLD, AND GOLD SELECT. ALL SWIMMERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMPETE IN EVERY STROKE AT A VARIETY OF DISTANCES BECAUSE IT TEACHES THEM TO CONQUER THEIR FEARS, INSTILLS CONFIDENCE, AND ENCOURAGES THEM TO ATTEMPT ALL STROKES INSTEAD OF LIMITING THEMSELVES TO ONE. AS THE SWIMMERS GET INTO HIGH SCHOOL, THEY ARE DIVIDED BY SKILL AND COMMITMENT TO THE SPORT. THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A MORE DISCIPLINED PROGRAM AND TO COMPETE ON A NATIONAL LEVEL MOVE INTO THE NATIONAL/PLATINUM GROUP. THE SENIOR GROUP IS FOR HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMERS WHO MAY PLAY OTHER SPORTS AND SWIM IN THE OFF SEASON, ARE JUST LOOKING TO COMPETE AND STAY IN SHAPE, OR JUST LOVE TO SWIM COMPETITIVELY BUT ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT OF THE PLATINUM GROUP. 3. THE NON-COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM THE NON-COMPETITIVE, OR SJAC II TEAM, BEGAN IN THE FALL OF 2015 FOR SEVERAL REASONS. THE CLUB RECOGNIZES A NEED TO OFFER A PROGRAM WITHOUT THE SWIM MEET COMMITMENT OF THE COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM. THE CLUB ALSO WANTED TO OFFER YOUNGER SWIMMERS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD OF COMPETITIVE SWIMMING. SWIMMERS IN OUR BRONZE OR SILVER GROUP MAY ATTEND UP TO FOUR PRACTICES/WEEK. THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND MONTHLY SWIM MEETS, HOWEVER, THOSE MEETS ARE NOT REQUIRED. WE ALSO OFFER A SENIOR GROUP FOR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES. FINALLY, WE HAVE 2 DEVELOPMENTAL TEAMS FOR DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS THAT COMBINE SWIM LESSONS (TO DEVELOP CORRECT SWIM TECHNIQUE) AND TEAM TRAINING (TO ENCOURAGE SWIMMERS THROUGH THEIR PEERS). 4. THE MASTERS TEAM THE MASTERS TEAM STARTED IN THE FALL OF 2016. THE MASTERS TEAM OPERATES UNDER AND IS REGISTERED WITH US MASTERS SWIMMING. THIS GROUP IS FOR ADULT ATHLETES OVER THE AGE OF 18. MANY INDIVIDUALS ON THE MASTERS TEAM ARE FORMER COLLEGE SWIMMERS LOOKING FOR A COACHED PROGRAM TO STAY IN SHAPE, WHILE OTHERS ARE LOOKING TO IMPROVE THEIR TECHNIQUE IN ORDER TO COMPETE IN TRIATHLONS OR CROSS-FIT COMPETITIONS. FOR EVERYONE ON THE MASTERS TEAM, IT IS A REASON TO SOCIALIZE WITH OTHER ADULTS WITH SIMILAR INTERESTS. THE CLUB WELCOMES ANY ONE OVER THE AGE OF 18 ON THE MASTER TEAM, REGARDLESS OF SKILL LEVEL. 5. THE SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAMS:THE CLUB BEGAN ITS SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAMMING IN THE FALL OF 2016 AFTER RUNNING A TRIAL PROGRAM IN AUGUST WITH THE CAMDEN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EVENTS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROVIDING GROUP LESSONS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. THE SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAM MAINLY CONSISTS OF THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS SWIM TEAM (THE SJAC GATORS). THE CLUB BROUGHT ON SEVERAL COACHES WHO ARE TRAINED TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND HAVE SPECIALIZED IN AQUATICS. THE CLUB STRIVES TO GO BEYOND TRADITIONAL SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAMMING BY NOT ONLY ENCOURAGING ITS SPECIAL NEEDS SWIMMERS TO PARTICIPATE, BUT TO IMPROVE. IN ADDITION TO WORKING WITH CAMDEN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EVENTS, THE CLUB HAS ALSO DEVELOPED A PARTNERSHIP WITH CAMDEN COUNTY PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN. THE CLUB'S SPECIAL NEEDS SWIM TEAM PROGRAM NOW HAS 48 PARTICIPANTS THAT ALL COMPETE ON OUR SPECIAL OLYMPICS SWIM TEAM,THE LARGEST IN THE STATE. MANY OF THE CLUB'S COACHES, INSTRUCTORS AND SWIMMERS VOLUNTEER TO COACH THE TEAM.THE CLUB ASPIRES TO CREATE A FAMILY ATMOSPHERE AMONGST ALL OF THEIR PROGRAMS. MANY OF THE COACHES CURRENTLY WITH THE CLUB HAVE BEEN WITH PETE SINCE BEFORE HE MOVED THE SWIM TEAM TO THE NL AQUATICS CENTER. MANY OF THEM WERE FORMER SWIMMERS OF HIS WHO LOVED THE PHILOSOPHY AND THE ATMOSPHERE HE CREATED SO MUCH THAT THEY HAVE COME BACK TO COACH FOR HIM AS ADULTS. ALTHOUGH THE CLUB'S TEAMS ARE SPLIT INTO GROUPS, EACH GROUP HAS SEVERAL TEAM BONDING EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, INCLUDING TWO GROUP EVENTS AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE SEASON.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 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 August 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 March 2017.

    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.