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Cider Institute of North America

EIN 81-2735503 · Mount Vernon, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 46% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

CINA'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE AND ART OF CIDER MAKING BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL, TRAINING, AND SKILLS & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES TO NORTH AMERICAN CIDER PRODUCERS AND CIDER INDUSTRY.

Income
$220,445
Spending
$246,282
Spent on programs
46%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
1
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$80,500, executive director

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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    46% 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 93% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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.

  • 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 (8)
  1. $73,642 spent. INTRODUCTORY CIDER MAKING CLASS OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH UNIVERSITY TRAINING PROVIDERS. THERE WERE 72 STUDENTS IN 2 FOUNDATION CLASSES.
  2. $292 spent. ONLINE TRAINING FOR CIDERY OWNERS, OPERATORS, AND EMPLOYEES. THERE WERE 3 STUDENTS IN 2 CLASSES.
  3. $398 spent. ONLINE FORUM FOR POSTING OPEN JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS IN THE CIDER INDUSTRY. THERE WERE 8 INDIVIDUAL JOB POSTINGS.
  4. $20,405 spent. ADVANCED CIDER MAKING CLASS OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH UNIVERSITY TRAINING PROVIDERS. THERE WERE 26 STUDENTS IN 1 IN-PERSON CLASS IN 2024.
  5. $2,028 spent. CIDER LABORATORY SKILLS CLASS OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH UNIVERSITY TRAINING PROVIDERS. THERE WERE 4 STUDENTS IN 1 IN-PERSON CLASS.
  6. CIDER SENSORY EVALUATION CLASS OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH UNIVERSITY TRAINING PROVIDERS.
  7. $260 spent. TECHNICAL SKILLS SHARE MONTHLY WEBINAR SERIES. THERE WERE 86 PARTICIPANTS IN 8 WEBINARS.
  8. $15,905 spent. CIDER PRODUCTION TOUR TO EXCHANGE AND LEARN WITH INTERNATIONAL CIDER MAKERS.

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 June 2017.

    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.