International Soap Box Derby Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
341141558
IRS 990 coverage
2011–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Akron, OH, USA
Phone
3307338723
Rating
82
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Youth Development Programs

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$837,407
Expenses
$1,285,431
Assets
$2,246,597
Liabilities
$681,331

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

18 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • SCOTT TAYLOR (PRESIDENT & CEO THRU JUNE 2025)

Highest reported compensation

  • SCOTT TAYLOR (PRESIDENT & CEO THRU JUNE 2025): $140,945 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The international soap box derby is a non-profit youth education and leadership development organization whose mission is to inspire the next generation of champions, bring stem education out of the classroom, promote the derby experience, and cultivate lifelong skills and character. Our core values include perseverance, sportsmanship, community, leadership, and collaboration.

What it reported doing in 2024

Stem-based education program: the international soap box derby (isbd) delivers experiential stem education for k12 students through classroom programs, extracurricular activities, and hands-on summer learning. Students apply science, technology, engineering, and math concepts by designing, building, and racing both mini and full-size soap box derby cars. The curriculum aligns with national education standards and emphasizes teamwork, creativity, and real-world problem-solving.key components include the gravity racing challenge (grc) stem team competition and the stem summer camp, both designed to engage students in hands-on learning and racing experiences. The grc takes place in schools, youth organizations, and after-school settings, encouraging group collaboration and innovation through car construction and competition.the stem summer camp is a week-long immersive experience held at derby downs for youth ages 8 to 13. Campers race full-size soap box derby cars daily, participate in stem challenges, and build, decorate, and race their own mini soap box derby cars, which they take home at the end of the program. The camp culminates in a family day celebration, where parents and guests attend a mini car and full-size championship race to cheer on participants.isbd provides educational materials to schools and nonprofits through grants and donations supporting stem education. These programs are intentionally inclusive, prioritizing access for underserved communities. Through these initiatives, isbd fosters early interest in stem careers, engineering concepts, and lifelong learning by making science fun and engaging.

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 95% 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.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. A relatively small share of total spending goes to programs and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 86
  • Transparency & Controls: 94
  • Accountability: 90
  • Sustainability: 26
  • Growth: 0

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 99.5%; rating input score 100
  • Program expense ratio: 57.2%; rating input score 57
  • Fundraising efficiency: $2,832.38 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 99; 99th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -53.5%; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.75; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.3; rating input score 24; 24th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 11%; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -5% per year; rating input score 0; 8th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: -1.2% per year; rating input score 0; 11th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: -0.9% per year; rating input score 0; 15th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 99.5% of revenue deployed · 57.2% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 13 of 13 board members independent · 6 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 5 filed program accomplishments · $736K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $141K · 18 people listed
  • Consistency: 33 of 33 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
  • Filing history: 14 filing years from 2011 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • 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.

  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Program expense ratio scored 57/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 3/100.
  • High — Growth: Program expense growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Independent financial-statement audit not reported.
  • High — Growth: Asset growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 24/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 34/100.