Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Association Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
264831602
IRS 990 coverage
2020–2025
Forms available
Form 990 2025
Location
Buffalo, NY, USA
Phone
7168661619
Rating
81
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Swimming & Other Water Recreation

Reported finances

Revenue
$269,311
Expenses
$290,673
Assets
$3,388,138
Liabilities
$686,891

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

16 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • Kris Arcuri (President)
  • Brian Casey (Vice President)
  • John Hart (Vice President)

People named in this filing

  • Melinda Sanderson (Director)
  • Eileen Flaherty (Director)
  • Lisa DeMarco (Director)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The mission of the Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Association is to advance the sport of rowing in Western New York through superior scholastic coaching, facilities and safe access on the Buffalo River. The Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Association provides expanded, equitable and universal access to the sport of rowing for the community and practices ecological stewardship of the waterfront and local water resources on which crews rely

What it reported doing in 2025

The BSRA continues to offer Programs, services and access to the Buffalo River for rowing and other water activity to the community. A Major ramp and dock upgrade project was completed this year which will allow for Adaptive rowing and improved access to the river.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

STRONG - The filed numbers largely add up and a large share of available resources goes toward mission work. Expenses are high relative to revenue and some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 68
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 94
  • Sustainability: 46
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 68.4%; rating input score 68
  • Program expense ratio: 63.3%; rating input score 63
  • Fundraising efficiency: $84.84 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 6 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 86
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -7.9%; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 11.66; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.2; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 12.3% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 10.8% per year; rating input score 100; 71st percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 3.4% per year; rating input score 100; 37th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 68.4% of revenue deployed · 63.3% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 16 of 16 board members independent · 6 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $184K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 16 people listed
  • Consistency: 25 of 25 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 5 filing years from 2020 to 2025
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 21/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Independent financial-statement audit not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 16/100.