Western Flyer Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO STIR CURIOSITY THROUGH MARINE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND A BLEND OF SCIENCE AND ART INSPIRED BY JOHN STEINBECK, ED RICKETTS, AND THEIR JOURNEY ON THE WESTERN FLYER.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 65%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 144
- Highest pay
- $163,137, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 53% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (3)
- $1.2 million spent. THE FOUNDATION MAINTAINED AND OPERATED THE HISTORIC RESEARCH VESSEL WESTERN FLYER AS THE PRIMARY PLATFORM FOR ITS EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE VESSEL SUPPORTED EXPANDED PROGRAMMING IN MONTEREY BAY AND COMPLETED ITS FIRST EXTENDED EXPEDITION TO MEXICO. OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDED VESSEL MAINTENANCE, ONBOARD SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT, AND CREW SUPPORT NECESSARY TO SAFELY CONDUCT ALL PROGRAMS.
- $386,333 spent. THE WESTERN FLYER FOUNDATION SERVED OVER 1,700 STUDENTS THROUGH MARINE SCIENCE AND PLACE-BASED EDUCATION PROGRAMS DELIVERED ABOARD THE RESEARCH VESSEL WESTERN FLYER AND IN CLASSROOM AND SHORE-BASED SETTINGS. PROGRAMS INCLUDED AT-SEA AND DOCKED VESSEL EXPERIENCES, A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, AND SCIENCE ILLUSTRATION AND NATURE JOURNALING. ACTIVITIES TOOK PLACE IN MONTEREY BAY AND DURING A 4,700-MILE, 100-DAY GULF OF CALIFORNIA EXPEDITION, WHICH ALSO SUPPORTED PILOT RESEARCH CONDUCTED WITH SCIENTIFIC PARTNERS AND CONTRIBUTED TO DATASETS FOR ONGOING RESEARCH AND FUTURE EDUCATIONAL USE.
- $174,369 spent. THE FOUNDATION CONDUCTED PUBLIC OUTREACH ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA AND MEXICO THROUGH EVENTS, PRESENTATIONS, FREE PUBLIC VESSEL TOURS, AND DOCKSIDE PROGRAMMING, ENGAGING APPROXIMATELY 10,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS.THE FOUNDATION ALSO ADVANCED PRODUCTION OF ITS SHORT FILM,WE SIMPLY LIKED IT, EXTENDING ITS EDUCATIONAL AND STORYTELLING REACH.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2017.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.