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Apparent Winds

EIN 87-4332088 · Mount Pleasant, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

APPARENT WIND IS A GLOBAL EXPEDITION DEDICATED TO COLLECTING AND SHARING STORIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION WHILE CONDUCTING MARINE RESEARCH ABOARD SAILING VESSEL.

Income
$186,695
Spending
$205,898
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$29,167, 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: 58 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% 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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $190,520 spent. IN 2024 APPARENT WINDS HAD ONE OF ITS MOST PIVOTAL YEARS TO DATE. WE STARTED THE YEAR FILMING AND COLLECTING STORIES OF PEOPLE FROM THE LOWCOUNTRY REGION OF SOUTH CAROLINA WHO ARE PROTECTING THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE. THESE STORIES INCLUDE INDIGENOUS LEADERS, FISHERMEN AND WOMEN, SCIENTIST AND LAWMAKERS. ALL STORIES WERE THEN PRODUCED INTO SHORT EPISODES AND ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. WHILE IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WE ALSO CONDUCTEDOUR FINAL REFIT ABOARD RESILIENCE, PREPARING HER FOR SERVICE AROUND THE WORLD. THIS REFIT INCLUDED THE INSTALLATION OF A TRAWL ARM FOR MICRO PLASTICS RESEARC AS WELL AS AN A FRAME FOR DEPLOYMENT OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT FROM THE BOAT. IN MAY OF 2024 RESILIENCE WAS FINALLY LAUNCHED JUST IN TIME FOR AN EXPEDITION TO THE HUDSON CANNON. THIS EXPEDITION AVAILABLE TO VIEW ON YOU TUBE ENDED UP BEING A MAJOR SUCCESS AS WE MADE BREAKTHROUGH DISCOVERIES ABOUT THE MIGRATION AND FEDING PATTERNS OF THE HIGHLY ENDANGERED NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT

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 April 2022.

    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.