Uncharted Shores Academy
Uncharted Shores Academy shows strong growth but incurred a deficit in 2023 with a notable increase in liabilities.
EIN: 208281038 · Crescent City, CA · NTEE: B20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Uncharted Shores Academy Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Uncharted Shores Academy directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Uncharted Shores Academy
Uncharted Shores Academy (EIN: 208281038) is a nonprofit organization based in Crescent City, CA, classified under NTEE code B20. The organization reported total revenue of $4.4M and total assets of $3.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Uncharted Shores Academy's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Uncharted Shores Academy with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Uncharted Shores Academy allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that the organization's top leadership either serves on a volunteer basis or is compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size ($3.6M+ in revenue).
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Uncharted Shores Academy's IRS 990 filings:
- Expenses ($3,717,545) exceeded revenue ($3,638,446) in 2023, resulting in a deficit.
- Significant increase in liabilities from $295,631 in 2022 to $1,217,091 in 2023, warranting further investigation.
- Consistent 0% officer compensation for an organization with over $3 million in revenue is unusual and may obscure actual leadership compensation.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Uncharted Shores Academy:
- Consistent and strong revenue growth over the past decade, from $709,817 in 2014 to $3,638,446 in 2023.
- Substantial asset growth, increasing from $223,061 in 2014 to $3,093,558 in 2023.
- Reported 0% officer compensation across all filings, suggesting a highly mission-focused or volunteer-driven leadership.
- Healthy asset-to-liability ratio in 2023 ($3,093,558 assets vs. $1,217,091 liabilities), indicating financial solvency despite increased liabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions about Uncharted Shores Academy
Is Uncharted Shores Academy a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Uncharted Shores Academy (EIN: 208281038) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 3 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Uncharted Shores Academy spend its money?
Uncharted Shores Academy directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Uncharted Shores Academy tax-deductible?
Uncharted Shores Academy is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 208281038). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Uncharted Shores Academy a good charity?
Based on the available data, Uncharted Shores Academy appears to be a financially growing organization with a strong commitment to its mission, evidenced by its consistent revenue and asset growth, and reported 0% officer compensation. However, the deficit in 2023 and the significant increase in liabilities require further scrutiny to fully assess its long-term financial health.
What caused the significant increase in liabilities in 2023?
The IRS 990 data shows liabilities increased from $295,631 in 2022 to $1,217,091 in 2023. Without access to the full Form 990, the specific reasons for this nearly four-fold increase cannot be determined, but it could be due to new debt, deferred revenue, or other obligations.
How does Uncharted Shores Academy sustain operations with 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests a unique operational model, possibly relying heavily on volunteer leadership or compensating executives through non-officer roles, which would require reviewing the full 990 to understand the compensation structure for key personnel.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Uncharted Shores Academy showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Uncharted Shores Academy's revenue has grown by 349.9%, moving from $809K to $3.6M. Total assets increased by 872% over the same period, from $318K to $3.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 379.1%, from $776K to $3.7M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Uncharted Shores Academy reported a deficit of $79K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1.2M in liabilities against $3.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 39.3%), resulting in net assets of $1.9M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $3.6M | $3.7M | $3.1M | $1.2M | — | — |
| 2022 | $3.1M | $2.7M | $2.5M | $296K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $3.2M | $2.4M | $2.0M | $220K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $2.6M | $2.2M | $1.2M | $242K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $2.3M | $2.3M | $1.1M | $481K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.8M | $1.7M | $749K | $61K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.4M | $1.3M | $612K | $34K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $1.3M | $1.1M | $577K | $94K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $907K | $848K | $342K | $81K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $710K | $711K | $223K | $22K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $701K | $638K | $279K | $77K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $745K | $759K | $289K | $150K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $809K | $776K | $318K | $165K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $3.6M, expenses of $3.7M, and assets of $3.1M (revenue +17.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $3.1M, expenses of $2.7M, and assets of $2.5M (revenue -1.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $3.2M, expenses of $2.4M, and assets of $2.0M (revenue +22.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $2.2M, and assets of $1.2M (revenue +11.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $2.3M, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $1.1M (revenue +25.9% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $1.7M, and assets of $749K (revenue +35.2% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $612K (revenue +2.0% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $577K (revenue +46.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $907K, expenses of $848K, and assets of $342K (revenue +27.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $710K, expenses of $711K, and assets of $223K (revenue +1.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $701K, expenses of $638K, and assets of $279K (revenue -5.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $745K, expenses of $759K, and assets of $289K (revenue -7.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $809K, expenses of $776K, and assets of $318K.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Uncharted Shores Academy is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.