Uss Iowa Ssn-797 Commissioning Committee
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE COMMISSIONING COMMITTEE IS TO GENERATE THE FUNDS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE AMENITIES, EQUIPMENT AND CELEBRATION EVENTS NOT FUNDED BY CONGRESS.
- Income
- $195,790
- Spending
- $264,266
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- 8.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 17
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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 752% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 47% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $261,623 spent. THE CHRISTENING AND COMMISSIONING CEREMONIES FOR A NAVY SHIP ARE LONG-STANDING AND REVERED TRADITIONS THAT PROMOTE PATRIOTISM AMONG THOSE WHO ATTEND AND DEMONSTRATES TO THE CREW OF THE VESSEL THAT THE PUBLIC APPRECIATES THE GREAT SACRIFICES THEY MAKE TO DEFEND OUR NATION. A COMMISSIONING CEREMONY IS COSTLY, AND CONGRESS ONLY PROVIDES VERY LIMITED FUNDS FOR BASICS SUCH AS BUNTING, ATTENDEE STANDS AND BUS TRANSPORTATION FROM A LOCAL HOTEL TO THE CEREMONY. TO GIVE THE CREW AND THE PUBLIC THE PROPER CEREMONY, THE COMMITTEE MUST RAISE THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO ORGANIZE VARIOUS EVENTS SUPPORTING THE CEREMONY AND THE ACCOMPANYING CELEBRATIONS. DONATED FUNDS ARE USED TO PURCHASE ITEMS FOR THE CREW THAT ARE NOT SUPPLIED BY THE NAVY, SUCH AS EXERCISE AND ENTERTAINMENT EQUIPMENT TO BE USED BY THE CREW WHILE AT SEA, AND OTHER AMENITIES THAT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE CREW AS THEY ENDURE MONTHS AT SEA IN CLOSE QUARTERS, AND AWAY FROM HOME AND THEIR LOVED ONES, IN DEFENSE OF OUR NATION. FUNDS ARE ALSO USED FOR PLAQUES AND OTHER EMBLEMATICS AND MEMORABILIA THAT HONOR THE CREW FOR BEING 'PLANK OWNERS', WHICH ARE THE FIRST CREW MEMBERS TO MAN THE SHIP. ADDITIONALLY, SOME OF THESE FUNDS ARE USED TO HELP ESTABLISH AND SUPPORT THE COMMAND'S FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP TO PROVIDE ASSETS/RESOURCES TO FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE CREW THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. DONATED FUNDS ARE USED TO DEFER THE COSTS OF BRINGING CREW MEMBERS BACK TO IOWA TO PARTICIPATE IN INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP EVENTS SUCH AS THE IOWA STATE FAIR, IRISH FEST, VETERAN'S AND MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES AND RAGBRAI (THE REGISTER'S ANNUAL GREAT BIKE RIDE ACROSS IOWA) TO INCREASE AWARENESS AMONG THE CITIZENS OF IOWA REGARDING THE NAVY AND USS IOWA; CREATING A LIFELONG BOND BETWEEN THE CITIZENS OF IOWA AND THE CREW THAT WILL MAN THEIR NAMESAKE U.S. NAVY VESSEL, AND; TO PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM) SUBJECTS IN EDUCATING OUR YOUTH.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2018.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.
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