Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Sarasota Military Academy Inc

EIN 65-1149763 · Sarasota, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WITHIN A CULTURE WHERE EVERY CADET IS HIGHLY VALUED, SARASOTA MILITARY ACADEMY IS COMMITTED TO: (1) PREPARING STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE, CAREERS, AND CITIZENSHIP; (2) DEVELOPING TOMORROW'S LEADERS; AND (3) CULTIVATING CHARACTER BASED UPON THE STEADFAST VALUES OF HONOR, INTEGRITY, AND RESPECT.

Income
$13.4 million
Spending
$13.1 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
-6.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
166
Volunteers
45
Highest pay
$198,932, head of school

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 47% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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 June 30, 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)
  1. $8.6 million spent. THE SARASOTA MILITARY ACADEMY (SMA) OFFERS A VAST ARRAY OF EXCITING, HIGH INTEREST, AND IN-DEPTH COURSE OFFERINGS (MAJORS). ALL COURSES ARE DESIGNED TO MEET AND EXCEED DISTRICT AND SUNSHINE STATE STANDARDS AND TO LAUNCH STUDENTS ON A PATH TO FUTURE SUCCESS. OUR GRADUATES ARE WELL PREPARED FOR COLLEGE, MILITARY SERVICE, OR THEIR CHOSEN CAREER FIELD. WE ARE PROUD TO OUTLINE THE "MAJOR OPPORTUNITIES" OFFERED TO SMA CADETS.SMALL CLASS SIZES, INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION, STRUCTURE, DISCIPLINE, STRINGENTLY ENFORCED DRESS CODES, AND RESPECT IN THE CLASSROOM HELP TO ENSURE A UNIQUE, HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM. WE HAVE NO ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS, BUT WE DO HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR OUR CADETSBOTH ACADEMICALLY AND BEHAVIORALLY. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE AT: SARASOTAMILITARYACADEMY.ORG.RECIPIENT OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY'S HIGHEST AWARD "HONOR UNIT WITH DISTINCTION". FULLY ACCREDITED BY THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS/ADVANCED. DRUG TESTING AND CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECKS OF EVERY EMPLOYEE. A RECOGNIZED COMMUNITY LEADER FOR INVOLVEMENT IN VETERANS AND MEMORIAL DAY PARADES, CIVIC EVENTS, BLOOD BANK CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS TO TROOPS, WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA AND TOYS FOR TOTS. FAMILY ORIENTED WITH CONCERN FOR THE SUCCESS OF EACH CADET.JROTC ADVANCED SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP - FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE SERIOUS ABOUT JOINING THE MILITARY AND/OR GOING TO ONE OF THE SERVICE ACADEMIES, STAFF TRAINING IS AVAILABLE. SINCE SMA IS A COLLEGE AND CAREER PREPARATORY SCHOOL, MOST OF OUR STUDENTS (85%) GO ON TO COLLEGERATHER THAN THE MILITARY WITH A 95% GRADUATION RATE. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ALTHOUGH WE ARE A MILITARY ACADEMY, AND EVERYONE TAKES JROTC, THE FOCUS IN THE PROGRAM IS ON DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP QUALITIES VIA THE JROTC PROGRAM WITH THE END GOAL BEING TO HELP OUR STUDENTS BECOME BETTER CITIZENS, LEADERS, AND TEAM PLAYERS IN THEIR CHOSEN PATH IN LIFE.SMA PREP PARTICIPATED IN THE VETERAN'S AND MEMORIAL DAY PARADES, WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA AND TOYS FOR TOTS. SMA PREP JOINED THE FLORIDA SUN COAST LEAGUE (FSCL) AND IS COMPETING WITH OTHER MEMBERS IN MANY SPORTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 2002.

    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.