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Reel Recovery Inc

EIN 91-2193394 · Needham, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

REEL RECOVERY IS A NATIONAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT CONDUCTS FREE FLY-FISHING RETREATS FOR MEN IN TREATMENT FOR OR RECOVERY FROM ALL FORMS OF CANCER. THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO HELP MEN IN THE CANCER RECOVERY PROCESS BY INTRODUCING THEM TO THE HEALING POWERS OF THE SPORT OF FLY-FISHING, WHILE PROVIDING A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT TO EXPLORE THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH CANCER, WITH OTHERS WHO SHARE THEIR STORIES.

Income
$647,106
Spending
$712,489
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
2
Volunteers
900
Highest pay
$168,861, executive director/director

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $651,724 spent. REEL RECOVERY HAS ONE PROGRAM, OUR FREE FLY-FISHING RETREAT PROGRAM, WHICH IN 2025 CONSISTED OF 36 RETREATS IN 22 STATES, ARGENTINA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND THE UNITED KINGDOM. THESE RETREATS WERE ATTENDED BY OVER 350 MEN LIVING WITH ALL FORMS OF CANCER, IN ALL STAGES OF TREATMENT AND RECOVERY, RANGING IN AGE FROM 21-87. SINCE OUR INCEPTION IN 2003, WE HAVE NOW CONDUCTED 481 RETREATS SERVING OVER 5,000 MEN. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO FURTHER EXPANSION IN 2026, ADDING NEW RETREATS IN KANSAS AND CONNECTICUT, AND EXPANDING IN MISSOURI, MAINE AND THE UK. ALL RETREATS ARE COMPLETELY FREE TO THE PARTICIPANTS. WE HAVE A DEDICATED AND GROWING GROUP OF 900 + VOLUNTEERS WORLDWIDE WHO ORGANIZE, FUNDRAISE AND IMPLEMENT THE RETREAT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. (SEE SCHEDULE O)

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 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 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 August 2003.

    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.