Passes our checks

Ships of Exploration and Discovery Research

EIN 76-0285405 · Santa Fe, NM

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

What it says it does

EXPLORING FOR & CONSERVING HISTORICAL SHIPS

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 13.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15
Income fell 65% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

Independent board
0 of 25
0 of 2 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15
Reports no 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
10 of 10
Gave 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.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)

$106,614 spent. DPAA PROJECTS (MULTIPLE) - DEFENSE POW-MIA ACCOUNTING AGENCY PROJECTS FOR THE SURVEY AND EVACUATION OF WWII AIRCRAFT LOSSES TO LOCATE AND RECOVER REMAINS OF US SERVICE PERSONNEL.
BOEM PROJECT - CREATION AND MAINTENANCE OF AN ArcGIS PROJECT THAT CAN SUPPORT A GEO-REFERENCED DATABASE OF KNOWN, REPORTED, AND POTENTIAL UCH RESOURCES (e.g. SHIPWRECKS, AIRPLANES, ETC) ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF(OCS) OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLAND(CNMI), GUAM AND AMERICAN SAMOA.
$19,086 spent. NOAA OE SAIPAN - NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OCEAN EXPLORATION GRANT TO INVENTORY, IDENTIFY, AND DOCUMENT SUBMERGED WWII CULTURAL RESOURCES IN SAIPAN.
$931 spent. BATTLEFIELD GRANT - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION PROGRAM GRANT FOR WORLD WAR II RELATED RESEARCH IN ALASKA.
BATTLEFIELD GRANT - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 931. 0. 0.

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

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.
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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1989.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.