Veterans Education Training & Support Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
VETS INC operates The Landing Zone a Family Recreation Center. Our MISSION is to make The Landing Zone a special and unique Recreation & Rehabilitation Facility for Veterans and the Community. Our vision of a Veteran recovery center paired with a community recreation center is one of a kind. The tools we use to accomplish our objectives include activities such as individual and group counselling open and league bowling an arcade restaurant and special event venue. Other organizations focus either on Veterans and Veterans Support or Community Recreation activities our mission is to fully integrate those programs for the good of the Community and to bring those with Special Needs into a closer relationship with the Community. In the military a safe place for extracting wounding and inserting reinforcements is The Landing Zone. Our mission is to create a Recreational Facility with a Purpose for Veterans and others within the Community in need of help.
- Income
- $932,885
- Spending
- $877,909
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- -2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 93%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $66,000, vp - general manager
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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 104% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% 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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
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, 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)
- $449,261 spent. The proceeds from operation of the Landing Zone are used to provide an Employment Training Program at The Landing Zone. We serve as what the US Department of Labor classifies as a Transitional Employer. We employ individuals who are unable to be employed by normal Employers. We employ individuals who have recently been released from prison we also employ Combat Veterans and others in the community who have PTSD and or Traumatic Brain Injuries or other issues that prohibit them from being able to transition into the Community. We have 2 Manager Level Staff working at The Landing Zone which includes a Restaurant Manager and an Operations General Manager. These two individuals provide training and guidance regarding Food Service work and general Business operations such as machinery repair cleaning and maintenance. We provide employment training and coaching and mentoring to insure that the individual learns about coming to work on time. Notifying with proper notice if unable to come in. Attitude while working and responsibility for completing assigned tasks.
- $149,754 spent. The proceeds from operation of the Landing Zone are also used to provide Assistance Non-Employment to help pay for food or Housing expenses Providing Legal Assistance or funds to pay for Legal Fees and Court Costs Funds to help with Auto Repair or other types of Transportation costs. Providing Recreation Services to the Community - Youth Bowling Handicapped Recreation Home School Public School Recreation. The VETS INC Board of Directors includes an Attorney and business managers or have served in the Military. All are well qualified to provide guidance and Counselling for individuals in need. In addition Volunteers from other Community Businesses come to an area within The Landing Zone that has been dedicated as The Captain Robert Bradley DUSTOFF CENTER in honor of a hometown hero who was a Medivac Dustoff pilot in Vietnam. The Dustoff Center is a place where Professionals or Teachers and Coaches provide classes for individuals in need on Personal Finances such as preparing a budget or keeping a checking account balanced Legal Services such as dealing with a PPO or how to place a PPO or dealing with DUI or Bankruptcy or Bad Credit ratings or VA or Social Security claims assistance. In addition we provided Grants to Community Organizations including Providing Financial Assistance for the VFW Family Movie nights Providing Bowling Recreational equipment to every elementary school in Gaylord and providing use of The Landing Zone as the home Bowling Center for Gaylord High School Boys and Girls Bowling Teams and Serving as a State of Michigan High School Athletic Association Northern Michigan Regional Bowling Center and providing Recreational Bowling activities for Handicapped individuals through Crossroads Industries.
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 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 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.
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.