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American Alpine Club

EIN 13-1611981 · Golden, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SHARE AND SUPPORT OUR PASSION FOR CLIMBING INFORMATION, KNOWLEDGE, & RESOURCES THAT BENEFIT AND INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS, ADVOCATE FOR & LEAD CLIMBING INTERESTS, PROMOTE CONSERVATION, & FOSTER COMMUNITY & COMPETENCY.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$5.4 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
13.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 60%
Employees
41
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$184,860, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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 September 30, 2025, 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 (5)
  1. $743,416 spent. COMMUNITY RESOURCES: THE AAC SUPPORTS THE CLIMBING COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES GRANTS FOR CLIMBERS, HELPING MEMBERS CLIMB BEYOND THEIR HOME AREA. ALSO, THE AAC OPERATES SEVERAL CAMPGROUNDS FOR CLIMBERS, INCLUDING THE GRAND TETON CLIMBERS' RANCH IN GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WY., AS WELL AS CAMPGROUNDS IN NEW YORK, TEXAS, WEST VIRGINIA, AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. THE AAC ALSO SUPPORTS MEMBERS BY PROVIDING UP TO 300,000 IN RESCUE BENEFITS. IN ADDITION, THE AAC HOSTS LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EVENTS TO BUILD COMMUNITY AMONG CLIMBERS.
  2. $400,062 spent. THROUGH THE AMERICAN ALPINE JOURNAL, DISTRIBUTED IN HARD COPY SINCE 1929 AND NOW ALSO ON-LINE, THE AAC RECORDS NEW CLIMBS AND CLIMBING ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THE AAC'S LIBRARY IN GOLDEN, COLORADO IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST CLIMBING LIBRARIES, INCLUDING BOOKS, GUIDEBOOKS, MAPS, DVDS, AND OTHER RESOURCES.
  3. $2,288 spent. CONSERVATION & ADVOCACY RESOURCES: PROTECTING THE PLACES WE CLIMB HAS BEEN CENTRAL TO THE AAC AND HAS BEEN SINCE THE CLUB'S INCEPTION MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO. AAC PROJECTS CAN BE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. THE AAC IS ALSO ACTIVE INTERNATIONALLY, INCLUDING INITIATIVES IN ASIA AND SOUTH AMERICA.
  4. $2.9 million spent. COMMUNITY RESOURCES: THE AAC SUPPORTS THE CLIMBING COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES GRANTS FOR CLIMBERS, HELPING MEMBERS CLIMB BEYOND THEIR HOME AREA. ALSO, THE AAC OPERATES SEVERAL CAMPGROUNDS FOR CLIMBERS, INCLUDING THE GRAND TETON CLIMBERS' RANCH IN GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WY., AS WELL AS CAMPGROUNDS IN NEW YORK, TEXAS, WEST VIRGINIA, AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. THE AAC ALSO SUPPORTS MEMBERS BY PROVIDING UP TO 300,000 IN RESCUE BENEFITS. IN ADDITION, THE AAC HOSTS LOCAL AND NATIONAL EVENTS TO BUILD COMMUNITY AMONG CLIMBERS.
  5. COMMUNITY RESOURCES: THE AAC SUPPORTS THE CLIMBING COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES GRANTS FOR CLIMBERS, HELPING MEMBERS CLIMB BEYOND THEIR HOME AREA. ALSO, THE AAC OPERATES SEVERAL CAMPGROUNDS FOR CLIMBERS, INCLUDING THE GRAND TETON CLIMBERS' RANCH IN GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WY., AS WELL AS CAMPGROUNDS IN NEW YORK, TEXAS, WEST VIRGINIA, AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. THE AAC ALSO SUPPORTS MEMBERS BY PROVIDING UP TO 300,000 IN RESCUE BENEFITS. IN ADDITION, THE AAC HOSTS LOCAL AND NATIONAL EVENTS TO BUILD COMMUNITY AMONG CLIMBERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 September 2025.

    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 February 1960.

    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.