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Franconia Soaring Foundation Inc

EIN 81-2864631 · Franconia, NH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

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

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE THE FRANCONIA AIRPORT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF AVIATION AND OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL USE. TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND TRAINING MATERIALS RELATED TO THE SCIENCE AND ART OF MOTORLESS FLIGHT. PROVIDE FLYING EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES TO ASSIST IN THE PROMOTION AND EDUCATION OF STUDENTS, PILOTS, YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC RELATED TO MOTORLESS FLIGHT AND PUBLIC SAFETY. TO ENCOURAGE, PROMOTE AND PROVIDE FOR THE TRAINING OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND PRACTICES OF MOTORLESS FLIGHT. TO STUDY AND RESEARCH THE SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUES OF SOARING IN THE METEOROLOGICAL CONDITION IN THE LOCAL AREA OF THE ORGANIZATION AND TO MAKE THESE FINDINGS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. TO PROVIDE ENHANCED OPPORTUNITIES FOR MOTORLESS FLIGHT BY FACILITATING OEPRATIONS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE UNIQUELY FAVORABLE SOARING CONDITIONS IN FRANCONIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Income
$270,297
Spending
$117,823
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-75.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 69%
Employees
0
Volunteers
20

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

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 56% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 105% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% 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

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 10 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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

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 (2)
  1. $7,730 spent. TRAINING AND EDUCATION - AVIATION STEM STUDENT INTRODUCTORY FLIGHTS, WITH GROUND AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTION, AND ADAPTIVE DAY INTRODUCTORY FLIGHTS FOR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS TO ENHANCE THE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE ART AND SCIENCE OF MOTORLESS FLIGHT.
  2. $97,271 spent. TO MAINTAIN AN AIRFIELD IN FRANCONIA, NH FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO UTILIZE IN EFFORTS TO CONTINUE THEIR MISSION OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION OF THE ART OF MOTORLESS FLIGHT, WHILE PRESERVING THE FRANCONIA AIRPORT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF AVIATION AND RECREATIONAL USE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 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 January 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.