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Sierra Nevada Journeys

EIN 01-0881587 · Reno, NV

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO DELIVER INNOVATIVE OUTDOOR SCIENCE BASED EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH TO DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS AND TO INSPIRE NATURAL RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
91
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$179,152, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $3.2 million spent. RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT SIERRA NEVADA JOURNEYS OUTDOOR EDUCATION CAMP: IN 2024, A TOTAL OF 5,767 YOUTH ATTENDED OUR OUTDOOR EDUCATION CAMP. FIFTH AND SIXTH-GRADERS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR PARTICIPATE IN OVERNIGHT OUTDOOR LEARNING. THESE EDUCATION PROGRAMS USE OUTDOOR, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING TO TEACH SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM), AS WELL AS SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING COMPETENCIES. STUDENTS RECEIVED FULL DAYS AND EVENINGS OF HANDS-ON, ENGAGING INSTRUCTION DURING WHICH THEY OBSERVE THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY, COLLECT AND ANALYZE SAMPLES, LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO SOLVE SCIENCE PROBLEMS. ADDITIONALLY, 53% OF STUDENTS FEEL COMFORTABLE IN NATURE AFTER PARTICIPATING IN SIERRA NEVADA JOURNEYS' OVERNIGHT OUTDOOR LEARNING PROGRAM.
  2. $1.4 million spent. CLASSROOMS UNLEASHED FOCUSES ON 1ST - 6TH GRADE STUDENTS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NORTHERN NEVADA. THE PROGRAM BLENDS INNOVATIVE CLASSROOM SCIENCE EDUCATION WITH PRACTICAL, INTERACTIVE FIELD STUDY TO BUILD STEM SKILLS AND CONTENT KNOWLEDGE. SIERRA NEVADA JOURNEYS' SCIENCE EDUCATORS DELIVER A LESSON UNIT IN THE CLASSROOM AND A FIELD SCIENCE EXPERIENCE AT A LOCAL NATURE AREA. STUDENTS WORK INDEPENDENTLY AND AS GROUPS TO MAKE OBSERVATIONS, ANALYZE DATA, AND RECORD CONCLUSIONS IN THEIR SCIENCE NOTEBOOKS. THE CIRRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS STATE SCIENCE STANDARDS AND ELICIT FROM STUDENTS A HIGH LEVEL OF CURIOSITY, ENGAGEMENT, AND ENTHUSIASM FOR SCIENCE LEARNING. 7,375 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN CLASSROOMS UNLEASHED WITH A 28% AVERAGE GAIN SCORE FROM PRE-TO POST-ASSESSMENT.COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: DURING SCHOOL DAYS, EVENINGS, SUMMERS, AND WEEKENDS, SIERRA NEVADA JOURNEYS FACILITATES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS' PROGRAMS FOR MORE THAN 28,000 CHILDREN TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY TO OUTDOOR AND STEM LEARNING. PARTNERS INCLUDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED CLASSROOMS UNLEASHED, FAMILY STEM NIGHTS, CAMPS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, TEEN LEADERSHIP CAMPS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY-FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE: YOUTH DEVELOPMENT NETWORK, UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY, THE CHILDREN'S CABINET, IMPROVE YOUR TOMORROW, AND THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE TRUCKEE MEADOWS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.