American Canoe Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION PROMOTING ALL ASPECTS OF PADDLING SAFETY, EDUCATION, INSTRUCTION, STEWARDSHIP, AND COMPETITION.
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 6.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 55%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 1,000
- Highest pay
- $115,755, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 September 30, 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 (3)
- $683,392 spent. MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT: WE SUPPORT OUR 15,000 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS AND 300 AFFILIATED PADDLING ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS IN MANY WAYS INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF INSURANCE, ORGANIZING EVENTS AND RACES, AND SUPPORTING STEWARDING AND PUBLIC POLICY EFFORTS ON ISSUES THAT PADDLERS CARE ABOUT.
- $281,801 spent. SAFETY EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTION: ACA IS RECOGNIZED AROUND THE WORLD AS THE PREEMINENT SOURCE OF PADDLING EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTION FOR THE FULL RANGE OF PADDLERS FROM RECREATIONAL THROUGH MASTERY LEVEL. OUR PROGRAMS HELP ADVANCE THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR A SAFE EXPERIENCE WHILE KAYACKING, CANOEING, STANDUP PADDLEBOARDING, RAFTING AND SURF KAYAKING. AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF OUR SEI EFFORT IS THE ADMINISTRATION OF PADDLING SAFETY-RELATED GRANTS FROM THE US COAST GUARD.
- $1.1 million spent. COMPETITION: IN 2017, ACA WAS GRANTED NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY STATUS BY THE UNITED STATES OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE FOR THE DISCIPLINES OF CANOE SPRINT, SLALOM AND PARACANOE. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE DEVOTED FINANCIAL AND STAFF RESOURCES TO MANAGING TEAM SELECTIONS, ADMINISTERING TEAM PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTING TEAMS WHEN THEY COMPETE NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 November 6, 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 September 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 September 1972.
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 November 4, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: American Bar Association (Chicago, IL), EIN 36-0723150. 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.