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Passes our checks

Altar Fly Fishing

EIN 84-3052840 · Lombard, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ALTAR FLY FISHING MERGES THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND FLY FISHING IN RETREATS. RETREATS ARE OPEN TO ANYONE WHO IS CURIOUS ABOUT ALTAR'S MISSION AND MINISTRY, SEEKING TO READ THE WATERS OF LIFE AND CREATE NEW INTENTIONALITY IN YOUR DAILY RHYTHMS, AND DESIRE HAVING SPACE TO DECOMPRESS, REFRESH, AND SHARE IN A FISHING ADVENTURE. THE RETREATS HELP TO DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF A THRIVING LIFE, JOIN IN MEANINGFUL, LIFE-SHAPING CONVERSATIONS, AND ENJOY GREAT FOOD AS YOU EXPERIENCE THE ART AND BEAUTY OF FLY FISHING.ALTAR RETREATS CREATE ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE REFRESHING AND GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL. ON EACH RETREAT WE INCORPORATE A COMBINATION OF TEACHING, SPIRITUAL PRACTICES, SOLITUDE AND REFLECTION, MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS AND PROCESSING, AND FLY FISHING (WHICH HELPS KEEP US HUMBLE WHILE EXPERIENCING THE POWER OF GOD'S CREATION). ADD TO ALL THIS GOOD FOOD, CAMPFIRES, AND TIME FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION, YOU HAVE A FULL AND LIFE-SHAPING EXPERIENCE.

Income
$679,017
Spending
$538,548
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
4
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$75,000, president

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    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, 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 (1)
  1. $382,325 spent. RETREATS - FLY FISHING EVENTS

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

  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 2025.

    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 February 2020.

    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.

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.