Tango Flight Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
An educational non-profit company created to inspire the next generation of engineers, pilots, aviation mechanics, and technicians. Our proprietary curriculum provides meaningful classroom learning with hands-on training. Students apply their classroom knowledge to build an actual, FAA certified airplane.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $700,772
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 42.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 71%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 450
- Highest pay
- $236,748, executive director
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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 42.4 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 43% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 69% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 284% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% 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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 253 of 5 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
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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, 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)
- $649,830 spent. Tango Flight, Inc. with the help of 436 aircraft experienced mentors providing 22,672 volunteer service hours, was able to provide 946 high school students a total of 102,942 hours of hands-on experience in the construction of an FAA certified plane. Tango Flight mentor and student efforts have resulted in a total of 10 completed aircraft and substantial progress on 58 more.
- Tango Flight, Inc. provides a proprietary high school level STEM curriculum that is aviation and aerospace focused. The construction of the airplane reinforces the STEM principles taught in the classroom. Total in-classroom time for students in 2025 was 102,942 hours. The Tango Flight classroom curriculum is taught by a certified teacher at each of its 43 school locations.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2017.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.