Air Sea Heritage Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To research, locate, identify, document, and promote the preservation of relics, sites, and stories related to Mankind's aeronautical and maritime heritage
- Income
- $397,259
- Spending
- $526,102
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 0.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% 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
Weak: 22 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $526,102 spent. The joint ASHF/NPS team conducted subsea sonar surveys and diving operations in search of a lost WWII US military aircraft in the lagoon at Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. An adjunct effort while in the RMI visually documented five (5) historic US and Japanese aircraft wrecks at Jaluit Atoll in partnership (and with financial assistance from) Pacific Historic Parks, resulting in an educational "story map and in furtherance of our ongoing Devastator Project. In August 2024, the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation, Ocean Infinity, and SEARCH, Inc. discovered the wreck of the ex-USS Stewart. The search for Samoan Clipper, a pioneering Pan American Airways flying boat that went down near Pago Pago, American Samoa in January 1938, continued. Air/Sea Heritage Foundation contracted with Deep Sea Vision to scan over 100 square miles of unexplored seabed off the northwest coast of Tutuila Island with a state-of-the-art Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. The Air/Sea Heritage Foundation is leading an ongoing effort to locate the wreckage of Pan Am Flight 526A, which crashed off Puerto Rico in 1952, to preserve its cultural significance and raise historical awareness. Despite extensive research and multiple expeditionsincluding a major survey in April 2024the wreck remains undiscovered, but the team plans to continue the search.
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
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 2024.
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 January 2018.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Heritage Foundation (Washington, DC), EIN 23-7327730. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.