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Boat US Foundation

EIN 54-1156448 · Springfield, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BOATU.S. FOUNDATION IS AN INNOVATIVE LEADER PROMOTING SAFE, CLEAN, AND RESPONSIBLE BOATING. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH DIRECTLY TO BOATERS AND SUPPORTS PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE.WITH MILLIONS OF BOATERS ON THE WATER, OUR AIM IS TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES, INCREASE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR WATERWAYS AND KEEP BOATING A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE PASTIME. THE BOATUS FOUNDATION IS A NATIONAL 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. OUR WORK IS PRIMARILY FUNDED BY GRANTS AND INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
0
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$118,636, treasurer

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 53% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    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 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 (4)
  1. $1.7 million spent. ONLINE BOATING SAFETY COURSE - THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES A FREE BOATING SAFETY COURSE ON THE INTERNET. ANY BOATER WITH A COMPUTER AND ACCESS TO THE INTERNET CAN TAKE THIS NASBLA APPROVED COURSE AND GAIN VALUABLE SAFETY INFORMATION AND SAFE BOATING SKILLS. A FREE CERTIFICATE MAY BE PRINTED UPON COMPLETING A FINAL EXAM WITH A SCORE OF 80% OR HIGHER. IN 2024, 261,650 BOATERS ENROLLED IN THE ONLINE COURSE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SEVERAL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES ADDITIONAL MORE TECHNICAL BOATING SAFETY COURSES AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR PURCHASE.
  2. $822,910 spent. NOAA MARINE DEBRIS REMOVAL PROGRAM - THE FOUNDATION WAS AWARDED A $10 MILLION-DOLLAR MULTI-YEAR GRANT TO COMPLETE SEVERAL PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF REMOVING MARINE DEBRIS AND ABANDONED AND DERELICT VESSELS (ADV'S) FROM ACROSS THE NATION. THE MAIN PROGRAM AWARD IS IN SUPPORT OF A NATIONAL COMPETITION FOR SUB AWARDEES TO ACCOMPLISH REMOVALS. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION WILL CREATE A DATABASE TO DOCUMENT WHERE ADV'S EXIST CURRENTLY TO ASSIST STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH FUTURE REMOVAL ACTIVITIES. IN 2024, WITH THE SUPPORT OF NOAA FUNDING, THE FOUNDATION PLANNED A FIRST OF ITS KIND VIRTUAL SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN EARLY 2025 TO BRING MORE AWARENESS TO THE ISSUES SURROUNDING MARINE DEBRIS REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL SOLUTIONS.
  3. $273,256 spent. ON THE WATER TRAINING PROGRAM - AS PART OF ITS GENERAL EDUCATION MISSION, THE FOUNDATION CREATED AN ON THE WATER TRAINING PROGRAM IN 2017 WHICH PARTNERS WITH LOCAL PROVIDERS TO OFFER THE PUBLIC MORE ACCESS TO HANDS ON SKILLS TRAINING ABOARD RECREATIONAL VESSELS. HANDS ON TRAINING REDUCES RECREATIONAL BOATING ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. MORE THAN 9000 STUDENTS HAVE RECEIVED TRAINING SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION. AT THE END OF 2024, THE FOUNDATION SHIFTED ITS PROGRAM MODEL FROM PROVIDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES RELATED TO SCHEDULING AND PAYMENT FOR TRAINING TO A LISTING SERVICE MODEL FOR VETTED LOCAL PROVIDERS. THE FOUNDATION PUBLISHES AND PROMOTES GENERAL EDUCATION INFORMATION REGARDING BOATING SAFETY, MARINE DEBRIS, AND CLEAN WATER INITIATIVES ON ITS WEBSITE. DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS INCLUDE VARIOUS MARKETING CHANNELS, DIRECT EMAIL AND MULTIPLE PUBLIC SPEAKING EVENTS BY STAFF. BOATUS FOUNDATION STAFF HOLD LEADERSHIP POSITIONS ON MANY BOATING SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE.
  4. $370,495 spent. KIDS AFLOAT - PROVIDES LOCAL, US BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY TO PURCHASE KID-SIZED LIFE JACKETS AT A DISCOUNTED RATE OF $5 PER JACKET.EPIRB RENTAL - PROVIDES EMERGENCY POSITION INDICATING RADIO BEACONS AND PERSONAL LOCATOR BEACONS TO BOATERS FOR RENT.FISHING LINE RECYCLING PROGRAM - BUILDS AND PROVIDES FISHING LINE RECYCLING BINS, SIGNAGE AND SUPPORT TO ACTIVE FISHING LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

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 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 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 June 1981.

    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.