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High Five Adventure Learning Center Inc

EIN 03-0363893 · Brattleboro, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DEDICATED TO HELPING INDIVIDUALS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES USE EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION AS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR IMPROVING THE WAY THEY LIVE, LEARN, AND WORK TOGETHER.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 77%
Employees
41
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$126,404, executive director

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

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 48% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $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

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $1.2 million spent. CHALLENGE COURSE SERVICES: CHALLENGE COURSE SERVICES PROVIDES THE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT THAT SUPPORT ADVENTURE PROGRAMMING. WE DESIGN, INSTALL, INSPECT AND REPAIR CHALLENGE COURSES OF ALL SIZES, PROVIDE ONGOING CONSULTING SERVICES TO THESE PROGRAMS, AND PARTNER WITH OUR CUSTOMERS TO INTEGRATE ALL OF HIGH 5'S SERVICES IN WAYS THAT SCHOOLS, YOUTH AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, CAMPS, ETC., CAN AFFORD.
  2. $633,743 spent. TRAINING AND TEAM DEVELOPMENT: THE TRAINING AND TEAM DEVELOPMENT TEAM TEACHES INDIVIDUALS, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITIES FROM ACROSS THE NORTHEAST HOW TO IMPROVE PROBLEM-SOLVING AND CONFLICT-RESOLUTION SKILLS, INCREASE TEAM COMMUNICATION AND PERFORMANCE, CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF COOPERATION, TRUST AND ENCOURAGEMENT, AND DISCOVER AND EFFECTIVELY CAPITALIZE ON GROUP RESOURCES. THROUGH OUR TECHNICAL AND FACILITATION TRAININGS AND OUR ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM, HUNDREDS OF TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF, SOCIAL SERVICE WORKERS, CAMP STAFF, MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND MANY OTHERS TRAIN WITH US EACH YEAR TO GUIDE THEIR OWN ADVENTURE PROGRAMS, LEARN AND IMPROVE THEIR CHALLENGE COURSE TECHNICAL SKILLS AND DEVELOP THEIR OWN FACILITATION SKILLS AND STYLE. WE GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OTHER PEOPLES' LIVES.
  3. $335,538 spent. EDGE OF LEADERSHIP: THE EDGE OF LEADERSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES ADVENTURE-BASED YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THROUGH WORK PERFORMED IN SCHOOLS AND ON OUR BRATTLEBORO CAMPUS AND CHALLENGE COURSE. OUR FOUR EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATORS WITH 65 YEARS OF COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE GUIDE STUDENTS IN GRADES 5 THROUGH 12, AND THEIR TEACHERS, TO DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS, INCREASE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, WORK COLLABORATIVELY IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM, MANAGE PROJECTS WHILE GUIDING AND LEADING OTHERS, AND OPEN DOORS TO IMPROVING SCHOOL CULTURE AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. IN 2015 EOL LAUNCHED A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO APPLY THE EOL MODEL SYSTEM-WIDE IN THE KEENE, NH SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE DELIVER OURPROGRAMS TO ALL 5TH, 6TH, 7TH AND 8TH GRADERS IN THE CLASSROOM THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND STUDENTS VISIT OUR LOCATION AND CHALLENGE COURSE EACH SEMESTER. HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TRAINING IN THE SUMMER AT HIGH 5 AND THEN IDENTIFY A PARTICULAR ISSUE TO WORK ON AND IMPROVE IN THEIR SCHOOL, WITH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING THAT INCLUDES TEACHERS. TOTAL SERVED DURING THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR: 175+ STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS. SINCE 2011, THOUSANDS OF YOUTH AND ADULTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN EOL AT SITES THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2000.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.