Bainbridge-Ometepe Sister Islands Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
We encourage mutual understanding, education, friendship, and cultural exchanges between the Sister Islands of Bainbridge Island, WA (USA) and Ometepe Island (Nicaragua). Out of friendship, we help communities on Ometepe, primarily in the areas of education, health, and meeting general community needs.
- Income
- $149,727
- Spending
- $185,044
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 22.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 70
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
Good: 80 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 22.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% 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: 62 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $92,321 spent. Education: We support students in college with scholarships, and we support learning for special needs students, including blind, deaf, and mobility-challenged people. In its 32nd year, college scholarships helped over 60 students who graduated from Ometepe high schools to study in Nicaraguan universities. Students are selected and monitored by committees in the 9 communities on Ometepe which have high schools and receive stipends of up to $95 a month to assist them with the costs of their university education. Funding is also provided for college seniors and graduate students to complete the additional work required for a degree and certificate in their chosen fields. We fund an interpreter for deaf students, and with her help, we teach sign language to deaf students. We fund technology that helps blind people, and teach them braille and mobility strategies. For all students, but particularly for those challenged by mobility issues, we fund costs for transportation for them to access what is offered. In the field of mental health, we fund the salary of a full-time psychologist to educate, support, and give therapy to combat sexual and domestic violence, and suicide, all of which are significant problems on Ometepe. We also pay for her transportation and other costs associated with her efforts. We also support extra-academic needs (clothing, school supplies) for students to attend a class for those who have had their education delayed to the point where they are too old to be with their peers.
- $43,073 spent. Travel: A major component of our mission is to promote understanding between the two cultures, and travel is a necessary factor in that understanding. Each year we have a delegation of high school students go to Ometepe to live and work in communities there. Also, two staff members from the Ometepe office have visas to allow them to travel to Bainbridge. We also supported the travel costs of an adult from Bainbridge Island who lived on Ometepe for 8 months helping in our office with our programs and with communication back to the board. All of those connections happened in 2024
- $24,262 spent. Community support: For coffee growers on Ometepe: Production of coffee on Ometepe, which we buy, import, roast, and sell in the US, was significantly impacted by fungal disease over the last several years. We continue to support spraying, fertilization, and introduction of new plants to try to increase the size of the coffee crop. We fund a full-time agronomist to support these efforts. For community needs and projects: These are brought to our office on Ometepe by community members, and approved and funded if they show value to the community and community willingness to engage with us in the success of their projects, usually through their labor.
- $16,184 spent. These expenses are associated with the Ometepe office. The office screens, coordinates, and monitors all of BOSIA's activities and funding requests on Ometepe. Included in this expense is the salary of the general manager of BOSIA's efforts and presence on Ometepe. Other office expenses include utilities payments, rent, supplies, and other such expenses. Also included here are monthly stipends for a Bainbridge resident to help in the office.
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
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 December 2024.
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 1993.
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.
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.