Pacific Traditions Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO FOSTER WORLD PEACE, CULTURAL RESEARCH, AND DOCUMENT TRADITIONAL INITIATIVES OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND EDUCATION IN ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE OF VOYAGING AND HEALTH PRACTICES OF MARITIME CULTURES.
- Income
- $336,418
- Spending
- $289,612
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 18.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $32,500, 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% 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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 51 out of 100.
Independent board
5 of 250 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
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, 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)
- $276,570 spent. All aims were met by the end of year 2 of the Gerda Henkel Stiftung grant program led by Pacific Traditions Society (PTS) and co-led by Holau Vaka Taumako Association (HVTA) of Solomon Islands and Pasana Group (PG) of Papua New Guinea. During 2025 both HVTA and PG completed construction of an ancient design of deep-sea vessel for their voyaging schools, and the process was documented on video. GHS added 25,000.EU to their total grant to meet rising costs of transport and communications, and a supplementary grant by Full Circle met 140,000. USD in costs not covered by the GHS grant. The opening of the Taumako Traditional Culture and Voyaging School was celebrated by the community of HVTA, the leaders of PG and PTS, and other international voyaging school leaders including Mario Benito of Inowon of Polowat, Federated States of Micronesia, Sanakoli John of Pasana Group of Basilaki Island, Papua New Guinea, and Setareki Ledua of Drua Sailing Experience of Fulaga, Fiji, and Pacific Traditions Society staff and supporters Marianne George, Kyle McDonald and Thomas Polacheck. Solomon Islander leaders included the Bishop of Temotu and his party, including a Chief from Tuo Village, Fenualoa Island, Reef Islands. In December, 2025 PTS, Inowon and DSE submitted a proposal to GHS for a grant that would support meeting the same aims during 2026-2028. In May, 2025 HVTA began video documentation of breadfruit fermentation pits and other food security methods by Taumakans, funded by the Endangered Material Knowledge Programme of the British Museum. Throughout 2025 PTS helped HVTA and PG build their own organisational capacities to communicate externally and to administer and seek their own grants and funding sources. During 2025 M. George and H. Wyeth made presentations about PTS, HVTA, and PG projects in California, Australia, London, Hawaiian Islands, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea Saipan, Fiji, and online.
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
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 2025.
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 October 1989.
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.