voted for: ice, pain, guns, rapists, racists, THE 1%%, ANTI-VAXXERS, DEPORTATIONS, DIVISION, TRUMP

Poseidon’s Parade - Rockaway Beach, New York

Fun in the Sun, Finances in the Dark

For years, Poseidon’s Parade has dazzled New York City’s Rockaway Beach, but never filed a single IRS return.

“Where does all the money go?”

What the Public Doesn’t See

Ever wonder how a charity proves it’s really spending your money where it says it does?

Every nonprofit in America has a responsibility: file an annual Form 990 with the IRS. This isn’t just red tape. It’s the backbone of nonprofit accountability. A Form 990 shows revenues, expenses, leadership pay, and program spending.

The IRS publishes these returns in a public database called TEOS, the Tax Exempt Organization Search. Think of TEOS as Google for charities.

Search for “Poseidons Parade” its EIN “81-3221643“ or its’ alias “Poseidons Foundation”? 

Nothing.

Not one return.

Not one disclosure.

Where Does the Money Go?

Poseidon’s Parade isn’t just a parade. It’s a brand. It’s a fundraiser. It’s a party with a price tag.

Registration fees, sponsorships, donated money and gifts, and splashy events like Poseidon’s Prom all bring in revenue. 

Yet, for a decade, there’s been no public accounting of what came in, where it went, or how much,if any, went back into the community.

“Ten years, zero answers.”

The Words vs. The Paper Trail

From the official Poseidon’s Parade, Registration Page: “All fees go towards supporting the parade operations.”

From The Wave (2019): “Every penny goes back into making the parade bigger and better each year.”

From Queens Chronicle (2020): “We rely on community support and sponsorships… it’s what keeps Poseidon's Parade free for the public.”

IRS Crackdown and Quiet Comeback

• 2016 IRS grants Poseidon’s Parade 501(c)(3) status
• May 15, 2021 IRS automatically revokes Poseidon’s Parade’s 501(c)(3) status for non-filing
• August 2021 Revocation of Poseidon’s Parade’s 501(c)(3) status publicly posted
• June 19, 2025 IRS reinstates Poseidon’s Parade’s 501(c)(3) status(aka Poseidons Foundation)
• As of September 2025, Poseidon’s Parade’s last ten years of 501(c)(3) filings have not been submitted.

Why It Matters

Form 990s aren’t optional paperwork, they’re how the public sees whether a nonprofit lives up to its mission. Without them, supporters are left in the dark. 

For a decade,Poseidon’s Parade has given Rockaway Beach a show on the boardwalk, but silence on the books.

The Road Ahead

"The clock is ticking."

Poseidon’s Parade (aka Poseidons Foundation) must back-file nearly a decade of missing returns and, for the first time ever, submit a decade’s worth of post-reinstatement Form 990 returns.

Back-filed returns are past due and the return for the standard calendar year is due May 15, 2026.

Hopefully their delinquent filings will give the public the first-ever glimpse into how this nonprofit and its organizers actually handles its money.

Bottom Line

Poseidon’s Parade has dazzled Rockaway Beach, New York with costumes and color. But behind the sparkle lies a troubling void: no filings, no disclosures, no accountability.

Until the numbers are on the record, one question will shadow every float, every fundraiser, every promise:

“Where did all the money go?”

Fact-Check Sources

• IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS): https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/
• Poseidons Parade Official Site: https://www.poseidonsparade.com
• The Wave: https://www.rockawave.com
• Queens Chronicle: https://www.qchron.com

For inquiries regarding the registration status of a charitable organization, please call the Charities Bureau at 212-416-8401 or Charities.Bureau@ag.ny.gov

https://www.charitiesnys.com/RegistrySearch/search_charities.jsp

Poseidon’s Parade’s email:

Hello@PoseidonsParade.com

Example email to request the Poseidon’s Parade’s last three years of tax filings:

Subject: Public Right to Know – Request for IRS Filings

[Date]

Dear Officers of Poseidon's Parade (aka Poseidons Foundation),

The community has marched in your parades and bought tickets to your fundraisers. But when it comes to your finances, the public has been left in the dark.

Here’s the law: IRS Code §6104(d) requires every 501(c)(3) nonprofit to make certain documents available to anyone who asks. That includes:

• Your three most recent Form 990 annual returns (990, 990-EZ, or 990-N acknowledgments)

• Your IRS Form 1023/1023-EZ application for exemption

• Your IRS determination letter granting 501(c)(3) status

And the rule is crystal clear: when requested in writing, you must provide these documents within 30 days.

Accordingly, I am requesting digital copies of the above documents. Please provide them by email reply to this message no later than [30 days from email sent].

Refusal to comply may result in penalties of $20 per day, up to $10,000 for returns and $5,000 for the exemption application. Transparency is not optional, it’s federal law.

The public deserves answers. Sunshine isn’t just for parades, it’s for accountability.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Email]