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Daedalian Foundation

EIN 74-1365823 · Jbsarandolph, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS THREEFOLD: TO INSPIRE YOUNG AMERICANS TO PURSUE CAREERS AS MILITARY AVIATORS VIA SCHOLARSHIPS, FLYING INSTRUCTION AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES; TO PERPETUATE THE SPIRIT OF PATRIOTISM, LOVE OF COUNTRY AND THE HIGH IDEALS OF SELF-SACRIFICE EXEMPLIFIED BY THE AMERICAN PILOTS OF WORLD WAR I; AND TO RAISE AND INVEST FUNDS TO ADVANCE THE GOALS OF THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION. AT YEAR END THE FOUNDATION HAD 8,980 MEMBERS.

Income
$417,777
Spending
$710,033
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
24 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
0
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$132,388, executive di

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 70% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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. $193,135 spent. PREPARATION, PUBLISHING AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE "DAEDALUS FLYER", A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE DOCUMENTING THE HISTORY OF MILITARY AVIATION AND ENCOURAGING AN INTEREST IN AVIATION AND AERONAUTICS. THE PUBLICATION INCLUDES INFORMATION ON NATIONAL AND LOCAL FLIGHT ACTIVITIES INCLUDING SPEAKERS, AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS.
  2. $322,660 spent. TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE DESIRE AND POTENTIAL TO BECOME A COMMISSIONED MILITARY AVIATOR. DAEDALIAN FLYING TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS RECOGNIZES THE EFFORTS OF CANDIDATES BY PROVIDING THE GROUND AND FLIGHT TRAINING NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE A SOLO FLIGHT IN A GENERAL AVIATION FIXED WING AIRCRAFT. THE FOUNDATION AWARDS EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION WITH PRESENTATIONS TO THE TOP GRADUATES OF THE FLYING TRAINING COURSES OF THE AIR FORCE AIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMAND, THE NAVAL AIR TRAINING COMMAND, THE ARMY AVIATION SCHOOL, AND THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY OUTSTANDING CADET IN THE ORDER OF GRADUATION. THE FOUNDATION ALSO AWARDS THE PRESTIGIOUS JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (JROTC) MEDAL TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF PATRIOTISM AND SERVICE IN JROTC PARTICIPANTS INTERESTED IN PURSUING A MILITARY CAREER. TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE DESIRE AND POTENTIAL TO BECOME A COMMISSIONED MILITARY AVIATOR. DAEDALIAN FLYING TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS RECOGNIZES THE EFFORTS OF CANDIDATES BY PROVIDING THE GROUND AND FLIGHT TRAINING NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE A SOLO FLIGHT IN A GENERAL AVIATION FIXED WING AIRCRAFT. THE FOUNDATION AWARDS EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION WITH PRESENTATIONS TO THE TOP GRADUATES OF THE FLYING TRAINING COURSES OF THE AIR FORCE AIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMAND, THE NAVAL AIR TRAINING COMMAND, THE ARMY AVIATION SCHOOL, AND THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY OUTSTANDING CADET IN THE ORDER OF GRADUATION. THE FOUNDATION ALSO AWARDS THE PRESTIGIOUS JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (JROTC) MEDAL TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF PATRIOTISM AND SERVICE IN JROTC PARTICIPANTS INTERESTED IN PURSUING A MILITARY CAREER.
  3. MATCHING AND OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS TO ENCOURAGE STUDY AND TRAINING IN ACTIVITIES LEADING TO CAREERS AS COMMISSIONED MILITARY PILOTS.
  4. MATCHING AND OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS TO ENCOURAGE STUDY AND TRAINING IN ACTIVITIES LEADING TO CAREERS AS COMMISSIONED MILITARY PILOTS.

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 October 1960.

    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.