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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: July 2026 Expires: July 2028

Work Vessels for Vets

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
(860) 536-4418
PO Box 215
West Mystic, CT, 06388
https://www.workvesselsforveterans.org
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Work Vessels for Vets meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
Our Mission: Equipping Americas returning veterans with donations of equipment, vessels, tools or vehicles to start a business or pursue career education.  

Year, State Incorporated:
2008, CT

Also Known As:
Work Vessels for Vets, Inc.

By matching corporate and individual donations with veterans who demonstrate a viable business plan, Work Vessels for Veterans, Inc. provides a Hand Up” to America's veterans including adaptive equipment in the form of fishing vessels, vans, vehicles, laptops, trucks, tool sets, tractors, trailers, farmland, fencing, furniture and more.  Work Vessels for Vets, Inc. divides its mission into three programs:                                                                                                          

1. Equipping Veteran-Owned Small Businesses - This WVFV program provides critical new or used equipment (adapted to accommodate injuries if needed) to returning veterans who are starting a non-farming business.  

2.  Equipping Injured Veteran-Farmers - This WVFV program provides agricultural equipment (tractors, fencing, farm equipment) to America's veterans who are starting farms or ranches.  Working closely with the Farmer Veteran Coalition and AgrAbility chapters around the country, Work Vessels for Vets identifies needed farm equipment and any modifications required to adapt equipment for combat injuries.  

3. Equipping Nonprofit Programs that serve veterans - Knowing that start-up” nonprofits need equipment too,  WVFV awards equipment to equine therapy programs and veteran training programs, boats for therapeutic fishing programs, electronics to programs for vets with PTSD, and other vessels” for nonprofits to help meet their missions to give back to fellow veterans.  

For the year ended December 31, 2024, Work Vessels for Vets's program expenses were:

Programs $212,573
Total Program Expenses $212,573

Chief Executive
John Niekrash, President/Founder

Chair of the Board
John Niekrash

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Retired

Board Size
10

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Work Vessels for Vets's IRS Form 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Source of Funds
Contributions and grants $177,231
Other Revenue $42,286
Total Income $219,517

Programs: 94% Fundraising: 3% Administrative: 3%

Total Income $219,517
Total expenses: $226,027
  Program expenses $212,573
  Fundraising expenses $5,849
  Administrative expenses $7,605
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-6,510
Beginning Net Assets $169,019
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $162,509
Total Liabilities $0
Total Assets $162,509

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

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Report completed by:
BBB Foundation of Metropolitan New York