Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Tailwinds Academy of Aviation

EIN 93-2010057 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TAILWINDS ACADEMY OF AVIATION (THE ACADEMY) IS PROVIDING CAREER-ORIENTED FLIGHT TRAINING TO UNDERSERVED AND UNDERPRIVILEGED STUDENTS AND ADULTS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA. (CONTINUED ON SCH O).THE SERVICES INCLUDE: - OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE, NO-COST FLIGHT TRAINING TO ELIGIBLE PHILADELPHIA STUDENTS. - REMOVAL OF FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO AVIATION CAREERS FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH. - PARTNER WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS TO INTRODUCE STUDENTS TO AVIATION OPPORTUNITIES. - INVEST IN EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY'S ASPIRING

Income
$807,164
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
5
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$60,500, secretary/director of operations

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 177% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 167% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 11 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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. $784,227 spent. THE ACADEMY PROVIDED CAREER-ORIENTED FLIGHT TRAINING TO UNDERSERVED AND UNDERPRIVILEGED STUDENTS AND ADULTS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA. THE SERVICES INCLUDED: - OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE, NO-COST FLIGHT TRAINING TO ELIGIBLE PHILADELPHIA STUDENTS. - REMOVAL OF FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO AVIATION CAREERS FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH. - PARTNERING WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS TO INTRODUCE STUDENTS TO AVIATION OPPORTUNITIES. - INVESTING IN EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY'S ASPIRING PILOTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 July 2024.

    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.