Is Guiding Wave Foundation Legitimate? Verify the Records
Answer first
What to know
Official records identify Guiding Wave Foundation, Inc. as an active Florida not-for-profit corporation, an IRS-listed public charity, and a registered Florida charitable organization. Those records verify legal and registration facts, not completed placements or audited campaign results.
An original Guiding Wave editorial illustration of independently checking a charity before giving.Independent verification guide
A complete answer for this decision
Official records identify Guiding Wave Foundation, Inc. as an active Florida not-for-profit corporation, an IRS-listed public charity, and a registered Florida charitable organization. Those records verify legal and registration facts, not completed placements or audited campaign results.
Florida corporate record
The Florida Division of Corporations record lists document N25000009673, filed August 4, 2025, with active status. It also lists the principal address in Las Vegas, Nevada; Northwest Florida is the stated service area.
Federal charity record
EIN 39-3802017 appears in the IRS Business Master File and Publication 78 with public-charity classification. IRS records support organization and contribution-eligibility checks, not a personal tax outcome.
Florida solicitation registration
Florida Check-A-Charity lists registration CH81115 with an expiration date of November 5, 2026. The record must be rechecked before that date and does not substitute for reviewing campaign terms.
Step by step
What to do next
1
Search the Florida Division of Corporations record by legal name or document N25000009673.
2
Search IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and compare EIN 39-3802017.
3
Check Florida registration CH81115 and its November 5, 2026 expiration.
4
Review fund-use, selection, privacy, and processor information before deciding to give.
Questions and objections
Answers before you act
What do the public records prove?
They support the organization's legal existence, federal charity listing, and current Florida solicitation registration as described on this page.
What do the records not prove?
They do not prove a completed student placement, applied match, audited campaign result, school relationship, or guaranteed student outcome.
Why is a Las Vegas address in the corporate record?
The Florida record lists that location as the principal address. Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are the stated program service area, not the registered principal address.
Is the donation processor independently verified by Guiding Wave?
Givebutter publishes its own security information. Guiding Wave attributes those platform statements to Givebutter and does not present them as an independent certification.
Checking out a charity before giving is smart, and Guiding Wave Foundation encourages it. Here is exactly what the organization is, how to verify it, and where your money goes.
Guiding Wave Foundation, Inc. is an active Florida not-for-profit corporation and IRS-listed public charity. Its stated service area is separate from the principal address in the Florida corporate record.
How to Verify Any Charity
Use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search to confirm 501(c)(3) status and the Florida Department of Agriculture's Check-A-Charity tool to review state registration. Email info@guidingwave.org to request our EIN or documentation directly.
Where the Money Goes
For the current campaign, 100% of public donations to the fund go to student camp tuition, transportation, and essentials. Administrative costs are covered separately by the foundation.
Secure Donation Processing
Online donations use Givebutter. Givebutter states that payments use its PCI-compliant processing partner and that Givebutter does not store donor card information.
A Defined, Local Campaign
The current first-party campaign proposes week-long educational overnight-camp access for local middle school students, subject to fundraising, selection, safeguards, and program readiness.
Contact and Transparency
Website contact mailing address: Guiding Wave Foundation, P.O. Box 104, Gulf Breeze, FL 32562. The Florida corporate record lists Las Vegas, Nevada as the principal address. Email info@guidingwave.org with any question. Campaign math, donation-use policy, and reporting commitments are published on the impact page.
Double Your Impact
Help a local student get to camp.
Every public donation to this fund supports student camp tuition, transportation, and essentials. Donations are matched dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000.
