Tidewater Wooden Boat Workshop

What it reported doing in 2025

During 2025, twbw served a total of 163 hampton roads youths ages 10 -24. They participated in our unique boatbuilding activities as part of our after-school, during-school-time, and summer camp programs. During the winter and spring trimesters, our students constructed two 16-foot canoes they were able to paddle on local waters at the conclusion of the spring program. In june 2025, three students successfully completed twbw's pre- apprentice program for disconnected youth, ages 17 -24. During this 24-week program, they were taught carpentry and other employment skills while building a 12-foot rowboat and completing other carpentry projects. During the summer of 2025, 71 kids participated in our week-long nautical skills camps. In july 2025, twbw was informed by the norfolk redevelopment and housing authority that we had to vacate the workshop space they had been donating to us (rent and utility free) since 2015. Despite our best efforts, we were unable to find a new location that was affordable and suitable for our programs. On september 8, 2025, twbw's board of directors voted to discontinue programming and begin the process of dissolving the corporation. This was carried out by the twbw staff throughout the fall of 2025 in accordance with applicable Virginia law and federal tax law governing 501(c)(3) organizations. Since 2015, nearly 1,800 youth experienced the unique satisfaction of turning a pile of lumber into a beautiful boat they then got to row or sail on local waterways. While doing so, they learned and experienced so much: self-confidence, self-esteem, patience, leadership, communication skills, problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and a host of other valuable life skills. We are hopeful the spirit of our workshop will live on in the skills shared, the friendships made, and the opportunities opened for young people in hampton roads.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 61.4%; rating input score 61
• Fundraising efficiency: $10.33 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.3%; rating input score 92; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 72.7%; rating input score 73; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 87.5%; rating input score 88; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 4 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -70.1%; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: Limited
• Officer compensation ratio: 14.1%; rating input score 24; 24th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.6% per year; rating input score 100; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1.3% per year; rating input score 100; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -3.9% per year; rating input score 0; 11th percentile among comparable filings