Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

California Ultimate Association

EIN 82-2716505 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE AND DEVELOP THE SPORT OF ULTIMATE AT ALL LEVELS WITHIN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND BEYOND.

Income
$630,117
Spending
$649,826
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 87%
Employees
1
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$63,369, 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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

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

  • 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 (4)
  1. $452,372 spent. MASTERS PROGRAMMING - IN NOVEMBER OF 2024, CUA HOSTED THE WFDF 2024 WORLD MASTERS ULTIMATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN IRVINE, CALIFORNIA. THE EVENT FEATURED 66 TEAMS FROM 14 COUNTRIES IN 7 DIFFERENT DIVISIONS. THE SEVEN DAY EVENT SHOWCASED PLAYERS OVER 30 YEARS OLD, INVOLVED A ROBUST EVENT STAFF, AND ACTIVATED OVER 60 VOLUNTEERS FROM THE LOCAL AREA AND ABROAD.
  2. $97,453 spent. ADULT DEVELOPMENT - THIS YEAR WE HOSTED TWO TOURNAMENTS FOR OVER 1,000 AMATEUR ADULT ATHLETES (62 TEAMS). THE FIRST WAS SOCAL SECTIONALS HELD IN NORCO, CALIFORNIA. THE SECOND WAS SOUTHWEST REGIONALS HELD IN TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA. TEAMS COMPETED IN THREE DIVISIONS (MEN'S, MIXED, & WOMEN'S) AT EACH EVENT FOR THE CHANCE TO ADVANCE TO USA ULTIMATE'S CLUB NATIONALS.
  3. $24,295 spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - THIS YEAR WE HOSTED THREE YOUTH EVENTS. WE HOSTED THE OPEN DIVISION I, OPEN DIVISION II, AND GIRLS DIVISION I HIGH SCHOOL STATE ULTIMATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA. WE ALSO WORKED WITH LA84 AND THE PLAY EQUITY FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT THEIR NATIONAL PLAYDAY EVENT IN LOS ANGELES BY RUNNING A BOOTH AND COACHING OVER 1,000 YOUTHS.
  4. $45,579 spent. IN 2024, CALIFORNIA ULTIMATE ASSOCIATION HOSTED SEVERAL ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS. IN PARTICULAR, CUA HOSTED ONE COLLEGE TOURNAMENT, THE SINVITE, HELD IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. THIS EVENT GAVE LOWER TIER A-TEAMS AND B-TEAMS A CHANCE TO COMPETE AGAINST OTHERS IN THE REGION AS THEY FREQUENTLY DON'T GET THE SAME FUNDING AND SUPPORT FROM THEIR UNIVERSITIES. ADDITIONALLY CUA HOSTED A TEAM USA BEACH ULTIMATE TRYOUT ALLOWING PLAYERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO COMPETE FOR A SPOT TO REPRESENT THE COUNTRY AT THE WFDF WORLD BEACH ULTIMATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN PORTUGAL; AND ALLOWING PLAYERS FROM THE GREATER CALIFORNIA AREA A MORE ACCESIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.

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 September 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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: California Apt Association (Sacramento, CA), EIN 95-2829075. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.