Oakland Strokes Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Oakland Strokes was founded in the early 1970s by Ed Lickiss as a rowing program for high-school aged girls. Today, the Strokes is a nationally renowned co-ed rowing program boasting a diverse membership of over 180 rowers from more than 35 East Bay middle and high schools
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 7.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 81%
- Employees
- 50
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $104,375, executive dir.
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
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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)
- $1.7 million spent. Over the decades the Strokes have enjoyed many competitive successes, including victories at the Regional and National championships, representation at the World Championships, and invitations to prestigious international rowing events such as Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames in London. Our athletes are frequently academically successful as well as recent Strokes alumni are rowing at Yale, Cal, Princeton, Washington, Dartmouth, Penn, Stanford, Cornell, USC and Michigan as well as many other fine schools. Yet, our most meaningful achievements cant be touted on scoreboard or summed up in a grade point average. While its true that prestigious colleges eagerly seek our rowers, its not just because they are top athletes, or have a perfect 4.0. Colleges seek our rowers because of their depth of character, strength of commitment and passion for excellence. In the end our alumni tell us again and again that the self confidence and lifelong friendships forged during their time with Oakland Strokes are among the most priceless experiences they've had. Our program goals are summarized as follows *Provide excellent coaching and rigorous training in the fundamentals of rowing. *Teach persistence, determination, responsibility and commitment. *Help all team members fulfill their potential and develop the character to thrive with difficult training and competition *Develop a sense of teamwork and shared purpose - the understanding that on a successful crew, everyone works for common goal.
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
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1995.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.