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Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation

EIN 54-1915490 · Mclean, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 36% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

TO IMPLEMENT AN INFORMED, CONSENSUS-BASED NATIONAL OUTREACH STRATEGY THAT WILL INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN RECREATIONAL ANGLING AND BOATING AND THEREBY INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION OF THE NEED TO PROTECT, CONSERVE AND RESTORE THIS NATION'S AQUATIC NATURAL RESOURCES.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
36%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
17
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$400,318, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 86% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    36% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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

    15 of 15 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 March 31, 2026, 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. $435,189 spent. CONSUMER ENGAGEMENTTHE OBJECTIVE OF RBFF'S CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS IS TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN RECREATIONAL BOATING AND FISHING BY RECRUITING NEW AUDIENCES THROUGH A NATIONAL MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN DESIGNED TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF FISHING, BOATING, AND NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION; DISPEL NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES; AND ENCOURAGE CONSIDERATION, TRIAL, AND ULTIMATELY, PARTICIPATION.SEE SCHEDULE OCONSUMER ENGAGEMENT (CONT'D)TAKE ME FISHING IS THE BRAND THAT CARRIES RBFF'S MESSAGES AND THE APPEAL OF BOATING AND FISHING TO GENERAL MARKET CONSUMERS. THE BACKBONE OF THE BRAND IS THE TAKEMEFISHING.ORG WEBSITE, WHICH FEATURES OPTIMIZATION FOR ALL SCREEN SIZES AND FORMATS, PROMINENT STATE INFORMATION, HOW-TO VIDEOS, AND A RESOURCE CENTER FOR STAKEHOLDERS. IN FY26, THE WEBSITE CONTINUED TO OPERATE AND GENERATED APPROXIMATELY 160,000 VISITS PER MONTH EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE NO CONTENT UPDATES DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING.RBFF'S PSA CAMPAIGN, WHICH WAS UPDATED AT THE END OF FY25, GENERATED IN-KIND ADVERTISING IN FY26. ALL OTHER CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES WERE SUSPENDED IN FY26 DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING.
  2. $401,950 spent. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENTTHE OBJECTIVE OF RBFF'S STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS IS TO CONSOLIDATE STAKEHOLDER STRENGTHS, IDEAS, AND ENTHUSIASM TO ACHIEVE COMMON OBJECTIVES. HISTORICALLY, THIS APPROACH LED TO NEW EFFICIENCIES AND CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR STATE, INDUSTRY, AND FEDERAL AGENCY PARTNERS TO COLLABORATE ON INCREASING PARTICIPATION AND RETENTION IN FISHING AND BOATING. WHETHER TARGETING MULTICULTURAL MARKETS, ACTIVE WOMEN, OR LAPSED BOATERS, RBFF STAKEHOLDERS DISCOVERED INNOVATIVE WAYS TO RECRUIT, RETAIN, AND REACTIVATE PARTICIPANTS.ALL STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES WERE SUSPENDED IN FY26 DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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 March 2026.

    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 1999.

    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.