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Kalmar Nyckel Foundation

EIN 51-6015181 · Wilmington, DE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE KALMAR NYCKEL FOUNDATION (KNF) IS A VOLUNTEER-BASED EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION "TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE CULTURAL AND MARITIME HERITAGE OF DELAWARE AND THE DELAWARE VALLEY FOR THE EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT OF ALL."

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
-18.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 35%
Employees
38
Volunteers
223

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

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 41% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 89 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 October 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 (2)
  1. $569,015 spent. OUR MODERN-DAY KALMAR NYCKEL THE OFFICIAL TALL SHIP OF DELAWARE HAS BECOME ONE OF THE REGION'S GREAT EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. AS A FULL-SCALE AND FAITHFUL REPRODUCTION OF THE SQUARE-RIGGED SHIP THAT FOUNDED THE COLONY OF NEW SWEDEN IN 1638, THE PRESENT-DAY KALMAR NYCKEL SERVES AS A FLOATING CLASSROOM AND INSPIRATIONAL PLATFORM FOR KNF'S AWARD-WINNING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. KALMAR NYCKEL VOYAGES OVER 3,000 NAUTICAL MILES EACH YEAR, SAILING FROM APRIL TO NOVEMBER, AND OUR SHIP AND SHORE PROGRAMS REACH MORE THAN 30,000 PEOPLE DURING A TYPICAL YEAR.
  2. $847,252 spent. WITH OUR COPELAND MARITIME CENTER AND REVITALIZED SHIPYARD CAMPUS, WE HAVE BECOME A YEAR-ROUND DESTINATION FOR BOTH INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC VISITORS, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND 250 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS. IN TYPICAL YEARS, OUR FIELD TRIP PROGRAMS, CLASSROOM PROGRAMS, AND SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY EVENTS REACH OVER 15,000 STUDENTS A YEAR. ANOTHER 15,000 PEOPLE OF ALL AGES VISIT OUR SHIP FOR SAILING ADVENTURES AND DOCKSIDE TOURS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 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 October 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 November 1959.

    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.