Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Billfish Foundation Inc

EIN 59-2694327 · Ft Lauderdale, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO RESPONSIBLY CONSERVING, MANAGING, AND ENHANCING BILLFISH POPULATIONS WORLDWIDE THROUGH SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY TO ENSURE HEALTHLY FISH STOCKS, MARINE HABITAT AND SPORT FISHING OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
23 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
7
Highest pay
$133,000, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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, 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 (5)
  1. $293,045 spent. PUBLIC AWARENESS, EDUCATION AND CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES, COST TO PUBLISH MAGAZINES AND NEWSLETTERS AND OTHER TEXTS TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF THE RESEARCH AND GOALS OF THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION.
  2. $331,465 spent. PUBLIC OUTREACH ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FOUNDATION'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WITH THE PUBLIC AT LARGE AND CONCERNED CONSEVATIONISTS AT SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUMS, TOURNAMENTS, PUBLIC MEETINGS AND MEMBERSHIP EVENTS.
  3. $389,851 spent. RELEASE AND TAGGING PROGRAM COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CATCH AND RELEASE PROGRAM TARGETED AT ANGLERS WORLDWIDE TO GATHER SCIENTIFIC DATA USED TO ADVANCE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF BILLFISH POPULATIONS WORLDWIDE.
  4. TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF THE GOALS OF THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION THROUGH PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION.
  5. TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF THE GOALS OF THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION THROUGH PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 April 1987.

    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.