Skip to the page content
Your donations
Check before you give

Challenge Air for Kids and Friends Inc

EIN 75-2559486 · Dallas, TX

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHALLENGE AIR FOR KIDS & FRIENDS, INC., EXISTS TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIAL NEEDS THROUGH THE GIFT OF FLIGHT.

Income
$518,864
Spending
$527,086
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
0
Volunteers
530
Highest pay
$109,303, ceo

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

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $327,931 spent. CHALLENGE AIR WAS CREATED TO CHANGE THE PERCEPTION OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS THROUGH THE GIFT FLIGHT. SINCE 1993, WE HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. WITH A NETWORK OF OVER 2,500 VOLUNTEERS NATIONWIDE, WE CONTINUE TO GROW THROUGH EVENTS CALLED FLY DAYS.BY ELIMINATING THE BELIEF THAT THEY ARE LIMITED, THE CHILDREN CAN GROW TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. THEY ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND COURAGE WITHIN THEMSELVES AND BUILD IN AREAS WHERE THEY LACK SELF-ESTEEM. CHALLENGE AIR PROVIDES AN UNFORGETTABLE GROWING EXPERIENCE THAT OPENS THE DOOR TO POSSIBILITIES WHILE ALLOWING THE CHILDREN TO SEE IF THEY CAN FLY A PLANE THEY CAN DO ANYTHING.

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 September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2020 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2020.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2022.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.

    California's Attorney General lists its registration as revoked as of December 19, 2007. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 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.