Appalachian Mountain Club
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Since 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club has promoted the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region. We are the nation's oldest outdoor recreation and conservation organization.
- Income
- $43.6 million
- Spending
- $41.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 22.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 46%
- Employees
- 859
- Volunteers
- 5,000
- Highest pay
- $395,471, president & 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
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 22.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 21 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $15.4 million spent. Outdoor Program Centers - The Appalachian Mountain Club (the AMC) manages more than 40 outdoor program centers and backcountry facilities, including lodges, mountain huts, full-service camps, cabins, shelters and campgrounds. These AMC facilities serve as a base for 4-season recreational activities, nature and environmental education courses, programs, scientific research, outdoor artistic pursuits, and other conservation-related activities. Visitors and overnight guests enjoy a broad range of walk-on programs, guided naturalist activities, outdoor recreational safety and skill building workshops, and backcountry activities to choose from. AMC facilities *Refer to Schedule O, Page 46 for Continuation*Outdoor Program Centers (Continued):are managed to reduce environmental impact by providing environmentally sensitive septic systems, composting, public drinking water, and overnight accommodations (some near treeline and in sensitive alpine areas) in areas where camping would have severe effects on the alpine plant life. The AMC facilities provide information and education on the local environment, recreational opportunities, outdoor safety, trails, and emergency shelter. The AMC staff also participates in search-and-rescue efforts throughout the White Mountains of NH and other regions. In 2024, the AMC provided 102,356 overnight guest accommodations at its facilities and information and other services to more than 2 million visitors.
- $1.1 million spent. Membership - The Appalachian Mountain Club (the AMC) members provide the grassroots network through which the AMC delivers its programming on a local level throughout our 12 state and district regions. The more than 400,000 members, advocates and supporters of the AMC provide a base of volunteers for trail projects, local clean-up and conservation projects, outdoor education and safety instruction. These members and volunteers organize and lead thousands of recreational outings and provide the local governance structure for the 11 local AMC chapters. Member dues and participation in the above mentioned activities provide a critical base of support for carrying out the AMC mission.
- $3.9 million spent. Conservation Research and Policy - The Appalachian Mountain Club (the AMC) actively fosters the protection, enjoyment and understanding of the outdoors. The AMC's Research and Policy Program conducts analyses of natural ecosystems to guide our efforts to protect natural and recreational resources from Maine to Virginia. This includes studying changes in land cover and land use and the impact of these changes on ecological and recreational resources; monitoring air quality and climate change impacts on Northeastern mountain ecosystems; analyzing in-stream flow criteria and hydroelectric dam operation impacts on river ecosystems and recreational resources; developing methods to reduce recreational user impacts on the region's*Refer to Schedule O, Pages 46-47 for Continuation*Conservation Research and Policy (Continued):mountains and trails; and studying the benefits and impacts of different transportation options and energy sources, including renewable energy, on the ecosystems of concern to the AMC. Achievements are exemplified by the development and successful implementation of the recovery plan for an alpine plant formerly listed on the federal endangered species list, publication of a national award winning "Ecological Atlas of the Upper Androscoggin Watershed", adoption by states of elements of AMC's wind power and solar siting guidelines and AMC's successful citizen science mountain monitoring program, Northeast Alpine Flower Watch and Flower and Fauna of the White Mountain National Forest.The AMC's Research and Policy program also works with conservation partners and local communities to build grassroots support for priority conservation projects. The Research and Policy Program participates in and comments on formal resource management programs and decisions at the local, state, and federal level; consults with industry and landowners to find equitable solutions to environmental problems; advocates for state and federal land protection, clean air, climate and energy policies, and trails funding, and facilitates member and public participation in local, state and federal environmental issues and policy. AMC's strategy for land conservation in the 100-Mile Wilderness region in Maine includes addressing regional ecological and economic needs through outdoor recreation, resource protection, sustainable forestry and community partnerships.
- $11.0 million spent. 1. Education Program - The Appalachian Mountain Club (the AMC) works with approximately 30,000 young people each year through guided and self-guided programs designed to make the outdoors and the environment accessible and meaningful to people from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Our programs serve participants from Maine to New Jersey and include day and overnight school programs (grades K-12), walk-on activities offered to families coming through the AMC's huts and lodges, weekend long skill-based trainings, to one to three-week outdoor summer adventures. Across programs, hands-on experiences teach participants how to enjoy the outdoors through skills-building and improved understanding of the natural world as well as how to minimize their impact on the environment. 2. Trails Program - The AMC staff and more than 5,000 volunteers are engaged in on-the-ground recreation management and trail maintenance on 1,823 miles of trails, including more than 300 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in five states. Many of these trails are on public lands, including the White Mountain National Forest, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Acadia National Park, and state parks throughout the region. The AMC offers a broad range of trail volunteer opportunities, including an adopt-a-trail program, teen trail crew programs, and volunteer vacations for adults interested in giving back through trail stewardship, amoung others. 3. Publications/Communications - The AMC encourages safe and responsible outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship through a variety of publications, including the Outdoors Bulletin, semi-annual Appalachia journal (the nation's longest running journal on mountaineering and conservation), and numerous retail books, maps, and field guides. Each publication stresses safety and stewardship and encourages volunteerism. Our website (www.outdoors.org) serves as an online resource for members and non-members seeking the latest information on outdoor adventures, lodging and program opportunities, backcountry conditions, volunteer opportunities, and outdoors skill-building.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1934.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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