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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: March 2026 Expires: March 2028

Civil Air Patrol

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
(877) 227-9142
105 South Hansell Street
Maxwell AFB,, AL, 36112
http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com
📄 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

Civil Air Patrol meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"Volunteers serving America’s communities, saving lives, and shaping futures."

Year, State Incorporated:
1941, AL

Civil Air Patrol (CAP) reports that its emergency services conducts 90% of inland search and rescue missions in the U.S., as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and other agencies. The organization also furnishes disaster-relief photography and support to local, state, and national agencies. CAP's aerospace education program educates adults, cadets, and members and the community on the importance of aerospace. The organization develops, publishes, and distributes national academic standards‐based science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) aerospace education curricula affecting more than 500,000 K-12 students nationwide. It reports generating interest in STEM careers through aviation-, space-, and technology-focused activities and CAP STEM Kits associated with astronomy, flight simulations, model and remote-control aircraft, robotics, rocketry, weather, hydraulic engineering, and computer programming. CAP provides educators with over 40 free educational programs and products as well as services that include teacher orientation flights. CAP also provides aerospace support for educational conferences and workshops. CAP cadet programs, according to the organization, attracts over 34,000 members ages 12-20 for participation. CAP also educates youth in leadership, aerospace, physical fitness, and character development. The organization reports that it also enriches school curricula through after‐school programs, offers orientation flights in powered and glider aircraft as well as flight training, and provides activities and competitions for cadets. CAP makes opportunities for community involvement available through color guard/drill team and emergency service missions and challenges youth to be ambassadors for a drug‐free lifestyle. CAP reports that it exposes thousands of cadets to cyber defense careers through CyberPatriot, the Air Force Association’s National Youth Cyber Security Competition.

For the year ended September 30, 2024, Civil Air Patrol's program expenses were:

Emergency services $39,808,367
Cadet programs $17,266,138
Aerospace education and training $7,217,152
Communication maintenance $2,813,851
Counterdrug $1,288,424
Drug demand reduction $317,277
Total Program Expenses $68,711,209

Chief Executive
John W. Desmarais, Sr., Chief Operating Officer

Compensation*
$204,562

Chair of the Board
Lt. Gen. Kirk Pierce, Retired, USAF

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Retired U.S. Air Force

Board Size
11

Paid Staff Size
182

*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Telephone appeals, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Membership appeals, Membership appeals

Fundraising costs were 7% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $107,456,664, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

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 Civil Air Patrol's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2024.

Source of Funds
Government appropriations and grants $73,127,482
Governmental contributions $16,704,181
In-kind contributions $11,974,151
Other program revenue $5,077,081
Contributions $4,450,865
Membership dues $3,426,890
Other $1,730,950
Fundraising $1,199,985
Registration fees and events $1,048,557
Interest income $443,099
Investment income $310,703
Sales of materials, supplies and surplius property $154,815
Publications and advertising $14,278
Total Income $119,663,037

Programs: 68% Fundraising: 7% Administrative: 24%

Total Income $119,663,037
Total expenses: $100,560,997
  Program expenses $68,711,209
  Fundraising expenses $7,299,081
  Administrative expenses $24,339,174
  Other expenses $211,533
Income in Excess of Expenses $19,102,040
Beginning Net Assets $211,622,869
Other Changes In Net Assets $4,420,068
Ending Net Assets $235,144,977
Total Liabilities $17,316,540
Total Assets $252,461,517

Note 1: In the above financial section, "other changes in net assets" represents net unrealized and realized gain on investments ($2,529,997) and gain on disposition of property and equipment ($1,890,071).

Note 2: In the above financial section, "other expenses" represents strategic communications.

Note 3: For the year ended September 30, 2024, CAP reported in-kind donations totaling $11,974,151 including contributed equipment and facilities and utilities ($9,061,975), contributed flying ($2,816,531) and contributed equipment and other assets ($95,645). 

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.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance