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American Caribbean Maritime Foundation

EIN 47-4047350 · Boca Raton, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AMERICAN CARIBBEAN MARITIME FOUNDATION ("THE FOUNDATION") IS A NOT-FOR- PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS ALLEVIATING POVERTY AND TRANSFORMING LIVES IN THE CARIBBEAN THROUGH MARITIME EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. THE FOUNDATION EXISTS TO SUPPORT ASPIRING CARIBBEAN MARITIME PROFESSIONALS AND WORKERS WHO ARE LOOKING TO BE TRAINED AT ANY OF ACMF ACADEMIC PARTNERS: THE CARIBBEAN MARITIME UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, AND LJM MARITIME ACADEMY (BAHAMAS), ATLANTIC ALLIANCE OFF-SHORE MARITIME TRAINING INSTITUTE, AND MATPAL MARINE INSTITUTE. THE FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORTS JOB PLACEMENT THROUGH ITS JOBS BOARD AND BY COLLABORATING WITH CREWING AGENCIES. THE FOUNDATION'S ACTIVITIES ARE FOCUSED ON RAISING FUNDS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING CLASSROOMS AND PHYSICAL AMENITIES. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MARITIME COMMUNITY IN WHICH THE CARIBBEAN MARITIME UNIVERSITY IS LOCATED.

Income
$554,838
Spending
$537,882
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
12.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$100,000, president&ex

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: 96 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 194% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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

    12 of 15

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

  • 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 (1)
  1. $448,254 spent. THE ACMF, JUST AFTER A FEW SHORT YEARS, HAS TRANSFORMED THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF ASPIRING CARIBBEAN SEAFARERS AND MARITIME PROFESSIONALS, AND THOUSANDS WHO HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE CLASSROOM WE HELPED TO FUND, AND THE EQUIPMENT DONATED BY THE FOUNDATION. IN 2024, THE ACMF SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED ITS SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANT AWARD PROGRAM. IN 2018, IT WAS THIRTEEN (13) AND GREW TO TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY-NINE (289) IN 2024. WE LAUNCHED A DIGITAL SCHOLARSHIP PORTAL, WHICH, WHEN ADDED TO OUR DIGITAL JOBS BOARD (EXCLUSIVELY FOR CARIBBEAN MARITIME GRADUATES) LAUNCHED IN THE PREVIOUS YEARMAKES OUR DELIVERY OF SERVICES MORE SEAMLESS AND EFFICIENT. OUR WORK WITH MAJOR SHIPPING COMPANIES SERVING THE CARIBBEAN RESULTED IN UNIQUE PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDING EXPANDING OUR CRUISE PARTNERSHIPS TO ROYAL CARIBBEAN, NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE, MSC, AND CARNIVAL. WE HOSTED OUR FIRST FORMAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS PROGRAM IN JAMAICA IN COLLABORATION WITH THE US EMBASSY IN KINGSTON, PRESIDED OVER BY THE US AMBASSADOR, AND ATTENDED BY MARITIME AUTHORITY LEADERS, STUDENTS, ACADEMIC PARTNERS FROM JAMAICA AND GUYANA. BEARING IN MIND THAT WE ARE APPROACHING OUR TENTH ANNIVERSARY IN 2027, WE HELD TWO STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSIONS TO ASSESS OUR OPERATIONS AND IMPACT AND GET INPUT FROM THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY AS TO HOW TO BETTER DELIVER ON OUR MISSION AND SERVE THE INDUSTRY. WE BEGAN EFFORTS TO EXPAND OUR COUNTRY NETWORK TO INCLUDE BELIZE IN THE 2024. OUR FOCUS GOING FORWARD IS "TALENT IN OUR BACKYARD". WOMEN CONTINUE TO BE UNDER-REPRESENTED AT SENIOR LEVELS IN THE MARITIME FIELD AND WE HAVE FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT THEY RECEIVE THE KIND OF SUPPORT THEY NEED TO GET ACCESS TO MARITIME ACADEMIC TRAINING. THEY CONTINUE TO BE A FOCUS OF OUR SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANT AWARDS-WHEREIN 50% OF OUR SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO THEM. WE CAPPED OFF 2024 WITH THE ANNUAL ANCHOR AWARDS IN DECEMBER HONORING TWO LEADERS FROM THE CRUISE AND CARGO SECTORS. THE EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER TOP BRASS OF THE CRUISE AND CARGO SHIPPING INDUSTRY, AND MARITIME PROFESSIONALS FROM ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN, PANAMA, EUROPE AND UNITED STATES. THE ACMF IS SUCCEEDING IN ITS MISSION TO TRANSFORM LIVES OF THE CARIBBEAN YOUTH THROUGH MARITIME EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT. TO DATE, WE HAVE AWARDED 289 SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS TO STUDENTS FROM JAMAICA, BAHAMAS, GRENADA, ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, GUYANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, SURINAME, AND ST. LUCIA. THE AVERAGE GPA OF OUR SCHOLARS IS 3.2; AND TWO OF OUR SCHOLARS WERE HONORED AS VALEDICTORIANS. WE HAVE ALSO FUNDED SEA TIME FOR SEVERAL STUDENTS AND CREATED A UNIQUE JOBS BOARD PLATFORM THAT IS FREE TO USE TO OUR GRADUATES. THE PLATFORM HAS REGISTERED ALMOST 300 CADETS, AND SEVERAL CRUISE AND CARGO COMPANIES HAVE HIRED CADETS FROM THE PLATFORM. THE ACMF HOSTED ITS SEVENTH ANCHOR AWARDS HONORING LAURA HODGES BETHGE, PRESIDENT OF CELEBRITY CRUISES AND CARLOS URRIOLA, CHAIRMAN SSA MARINE MIT (PANAMA). THE ACMF HAS SIGNED ON THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIC PARTNERS: WOMEN IN MARITIME CARIBBEAN (WIMAC), CARIBBEAN SHIPPING ASSOCIATION, AND THE SHIPPING ASSOCIATION OF BARBADOS. THE ACMF, JUST AFTER A FEW SHORT YEARS, HAS TRANSFORMED THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF ASPIRING CARIBBEAN SEAFARERS AND MARITIME PROFESSIONALS, AND THOUSANDS WHO HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE CLASSROOM WE HELPED TO FUND, AND THE EQUIPMENT DONATED BY THE FOUNDATION. IN 2024, THE ACMF SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED ITS SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANT AWARD PROGRAM. IN 2018, IT WAS THIRTEEN (13) AND GREW TO TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY-NINE (289) IN 2024. WE LAUNCHED A DIGITAL SCHOLARSHIP PORTAL, WHICH, WHEN ADDED TO OUR DIGITAL JOBS BOARD (EXCLUSIVELY FOR CARIBBEAN MARITIME GRADUATES) LAUNCHED IN THE PREVIOUS YEARMAKES OUR DELIVERY OF SERVICES MORE SEAMLESS AND EFFICIENT. OUR WORK WITH MAJOR SHIPPING COMPANIES SERVING THE CARIBBEAN RESULTED IN UNIQUE PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDING EXPANDING OUR CRUISE PARTNERSHIPS TO ROYAL CARIBBEAN, NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE, MSC, AND CARNIVAL. WE HOSTED OUR FIRST FORMAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS PROGRAM IN JAMAICA IN COLLABORATION WITH THE US EMBASSY IN KINGSTON, PRESIDED OVER BY THE US AMBASSADOR, AND ATTENDED BY MARITIME AUTHORITY LEADERS, STUDENTS, ACADEMIC PARTNERS FROM JAMAICA AND GUYANA. BEARING IN MIND THAT WE ARE APPROACHING OUR TENTH ANNIVERSARY IN 2027, WE HELD TWO STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSIONS TO ASSESS OUR OPERATIONS AND IMPACT AND GET INPUT FROM THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY AS TO HOW TO BETTER DELIVER ON OUR MISSION AND SERVE THE INDUSTRY. WE BEGAN EFFORTS TO EXPAND OUR COUNTRY NETWORK TO INCLUDE BELIZE IN THE 2024. OUR FOCUS GOING FORWARD IS "TALENT IN OUR BACKYARD". WOMEN CONTINUE TO BE UNDER-REPRESENTED AT SENIOR LEVELS IN THE MARITIME FIELD AND WE HAVE FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT THEY RECEIVE THE KIND OF SUPPORT THEY NEED TO GET ACCESS TO MARITIME ACADEMIC TRAINING. THEY CONTINUE TO BE A FOCUS OF OUR SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANT AWARDS-WHEREIN 50% OF OUR SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO THEM. WE CAPPED OFF 2024 WITH THE ANNUAL ANCHOR AWARDS IN DECEMBER HONORING TWO LEADERS FROM THE CRUISE AND CARGO SECTORS. THE EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER TOP BRASS OF THE CRUISE AND CARGO SHIPPING INDUSTRY, AND MARITIME PROFESSIONALS FROM ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN, PANAMA, EUROPE AND UNITED STATES. THE ACMF IS SUCCEEDING IN ITS MISSION TO TRANSFORM LIVES OF THE CARIBBEAN YOUTH THROUGH MARITIME EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT. TO DATE, WE HAVE AWARDED 289 SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS TO STUDENTS FROM JAMAICA, BAHAMAS, GRENADA, ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, GUYANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, SURINAME, AND ST. LUCIA. THE AVERAGE GPA OF OUR SCHOLARS IS 3.2; AND TWO OF OUR SCHOLARS WERE HONORED AS VALEDICTORIANS. WE HAVE ALSO FUNDED SEA TIME FOR SEVERAL STUDENTS AND CREATED A UNIQUE JOBS BOARD PLATFORM THAT IS FREE TO USE TO OUR GRADUATES. THE PLATFORM HAS REGISTERED ALMOST 300 CADETS, AND SEVERAL CRUISE AND CARGO COMPANIES HAVE HIRED CADETS FROM THE PLATFORM. THE ACMF HOSTED ITS SEVENTH ANCHOR AWARDS HONORING LAURA HODGES BETHGE, PRESIDENT OF CELEBRITY CRUISES AND CARLOS URRIOLA, CHAIRMAN SSA MARINE MIT (PANAMA). THE ACMF HAS S

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 September 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 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.