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Uss Cleveland Legacy Foundation

EIN 83-4007897 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 19% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

TO SEND USS CLEVELAND TO THE FLEET WITH THE GREATEST START POSSIBLE, TO SUPPORT THE SHIP AND CREW THROUGHOUT HER SERVICE LIFE, AND TO WELCOME HER HOM TO CLEVELAND AT THE COMPLETION OF HER NAVAL SERVICE.

Income
$421,232
Spending
$656,538
Spent on programs
19%
Reserves
28.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
3

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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 56% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 58% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    19% 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
  1. $122,293 spent. 1.LONE SAILOR PARK: THE MONUMENT WAS FORMALLY PLACED AT THE LAKEFRONT AND INTRODUCED TO THE COMMUNITY IN OCTOBER. THIS WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EVENT OF THE YEAR, FULLY FUNDED THROUGH DONATIONS-TO AND EFFORTS-OF THE BOARD AND SELECT VOLUNTEERS. IT IS INTENDED TO MEMORIALIZE THE SEA SERVICES, AND IN FACT ALL MILITARY BRANCHES, WHILE ENHANCING THE CITY OF CLEVELAND, CUYAHOGA COUNTY AND REALLY ALL OHIO AS WELL AS OUR NATION AT LARGE. OUR LONE SAILOR PARK WOULD GO ON TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN AWARD- WINNING DESIGN. 2.NAVY BALL - OCTOBER, WE ORGANIZED AND "SPONSORED" THE 300 SEAT EVENT AND FUND RAISER AT AVIATOR EVENT CENTER. 3.FUND RAISING - ONGOING DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS CONTINUE 365. SEE OUR GENERAL LEDGER AND FINANCIALS FOR DETAILS. THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH BRINGS OUR MISSION TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BUSINESS AND GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNITIES. STEWARDSHIP OF DONATIONS IS A PARAMOUNT TASK WHICH WE ADMINISTER WITH CONSCIENCE AND DETERMINATION. 4.THE BEGINNING OF A REORGANIZATION THAT MANIFESTED ITSELF IN 2025. THIS IN PREPARATION FOR A BUSY YEAR AND IMPROVING THE OVERALL ADMINISTRATION OF THE FOUNDATION. 5.VARIOUS SMALLER EVENTS THAT RECOGNIZED THE CREW OF LCS-31. THIS IS OUR MISSION, SO ANY AND ALL SUCH GATHERINGS, SMALLER SPONSORSHIPS AND HOSTED EVENTS ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE CREW AND THE COMMAND TRIAD (SHIP'S SKIPPER, XO AND CHIEF OF THE BOAT) 6.REVIEW AND EDIT OUR FOUNDATION BYLAWS. I INTRODUCED THE NEED FOR A "SCRUBBING" OF OUR BYLAWS AFTER FIVE (5) YEARS OF OPERATIONS AS AN APPROPRIATE STEP TO ASSURE WE REMAIN VIGILANT OF CIRCUMSTANCES OVER TIME. RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE AND PRESENTED TO THE THEN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERATION. 7.SCHEDULED BOARD MEETINGS, AND ALSO SPECIAL MEETINGS WHEN REQUIRED, TO MEET OUR EXPECTATIONS AND CADENCE AS SET FORWARD IN OUR BYLAWS. A QUORUM IS ALWAYS MET IN ORDER TO PROCEED. 8.RECRUITMENT AND ONBOARDING OF ADDITIONAL (AND BACKFILL) BOARD MEMBERS. 1.LONE SAILOR PARK: THE MONUMENT WAS FORMALLY PLACED AT THE LAKEFRONT AND INTRODUCED TO THE COMMUNITY IN OCTOBER. THIS WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EVENT OF THE YEAR, FULLY FUNDED THROUGH DONATIONS-TO AND EFFORTS-OF THE BOARD AND SELECT VOLUNTEERS. IT IS INTENDED TO MEMORIALIZE THE SEA SERVICES, AND IN FACT ALL MILITARY BRANCHES, WHILE ENHANCING THE CITY OF CLEVELAND, CUYAHOGA COUNTY AND REALLY ALL OHIO AS WELL AS OUR NATION AT LARGE. OUR LONE SAILOR PARK WOULD GO ON TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN AWARD- WINNING DESIGN. 2.NAVY BALL - OCTOBER, WE ORGANIZED AND "SPONSORED" THE 300 SEAT EVENT AND FUND RAISER AT AVIATOR EVENT CENTER. 3.FUND RAISING - ONGOING DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS CONTINUE 365. SEE OUR GENERAL LEDGER AND FINANCIALS FOR DETAILS. THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH BRINGS OUR MISSION TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BUSINESS AND GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNITIES. STEWARDSHIP OF DONATIONS IS A PARAMOUNT TASK WHICH WE ADMINISTER WITH CONSCIENCE AND DETERMINATION. 4.THE BEGINNING OF A REORGANIZATION THAT MANIFESTED ITSELF IN 2025. THIS IN PREPARATION FOR A BUSY YEAR AND IMPROVING THE OVERALL ADMINISTRATION OF THE FOUNDATION. 5.VARIOUS SMALLER EVENTS THAT RECOGNIZED THE CREW OF LCS-31. THIS IS OUR MISSION, SO ANY AND ALL SUCH GATHERINGS, SMALLER SPONSORSHIPS AND HOSTED EVENTS ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE CREW AND THE COMMAND TRIAD (SHIP'S SKIPPER, XO AND CHIEF OF THE BOAT) 6.REVIEW AND EDIT OUR FOUNDATION BYLAWS. I INTRODUCED THE NEED FOR A "SCRUBBING" OF OUR BYLAWS AFTER FIVE (5) YEARS OF OPERATIONS AS AN APPROPRIATE STEP TO ASSURE WE REMAIN VIGILANT OF CIRCUMSTANCES OVER TIME. RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE AND PRESENTED TO THE THEN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERATION. 7.SCHEDULED BOARD MEETINGS, AND ALSO SPECIAL MEETINGS WHEN REQUIRED, TO MEET OUR EXPECTATIONS AND CADENCE AS SET FORWARD IN OUR BYLAWS. A QUORUM IS ALWAYS MET IN ORDER TO PROCEED. 8.RECRUITMENT AND ONBOARDING OF ADDITIONAL (AND BACKFILL) BOARD MEMBERS.

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 November 6, 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 November 2019.

    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 November 4, 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.