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Adirondack Mountain Club Inc

EIN 15-0586270 · Lake Placid, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ADK IS THE ONLY NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN NEW YORK STATE DEDICATED TO THE CONSERVATION, PRESERVATION, AND RESPONSIBLE RECREATIONAL USE OF THE NEW YORK STATE FOREST PRESERVE AND OTHER PARKS, WILD LANDS, AND WATERS VITAL TO OUR MEMBERS AND CHAPTERS.

Income
$5.6 million
Spending
$5.6 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
-2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 38%
Employees
0
Volunteers
1,000
Highest pay
$114,400, interim 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: 49 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    0 of 0 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 (3)
  1. $1.0 million spent. VISITOR CENTERS:ADK'S TWO VISITOR CENTERS, THE HIGH PEAKS INFORMATION CENTER (HPIC) AND CASCADE WELCOME CENTER ARE YEAR-ROUND RESOURCES FOR RECREATIONISTS, PROVIDING TRIP PLANNING, WEATHER REPORTS, TRAIL CONDITIONS, MAPS, AND GEAR FOR RENT OR PURCHASE TO ENSURE SAFE, ENJOYABLE ADVENTURES. THE HPIC PROVIDES ESSENTIAL PREVENTATIVE SEARCH AND RESCUE (PSAR) EDUCATION TO HELP AVOID RESCUES BY AN ALREADY OVERSTRESSED FOREST RANGER FORCE. THE HPIC ALSO PROVIDES BATHROOM FACILITIES, WHICH REDUCE BOTH PRESSURE ON BACKCOUNTRY PRIVIES AND THE IMPACTS OF IMPROPERLY DISPOSED HUMAN WASTE. WHEN HIKERS ARE LOST OR INJURED, THE HPIC IS A BASE FOR NYS FOREST RANGERS.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OFOR MANY OF THE 100,000 VISITORS TO ADK'S PROPERTY, THEIR INTERACTION WITH ADK STAFF AT THE HPIC IS THEIR ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH A KNOWLEDGEABLE AUTHORITY ON THE ADIRONDACK PARK. THE CASCADE WELCOME CENTER IS LOCATED ON RTE 73, OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE OF LAKE PLACID. IT ATTRACTS BOTH NOVICE AND EXPERIENCED RECREATORS SEEKING INFORMATION OR USE THE FACILITY'S TRAILS. IT IS ALSO A PLACE WHERE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT FOUND A PARKING SPACE AT THE BUSY TRAILHEAD AT THE HPIC CAN REGROUP AND GET HELP FINDING ANOTHER ADVENTURE. THE CASCADE WELCOME CENTER ALSO HOSTS COMMUNITY EVENTS, PROVIDES A YEAR-ROUND FRONT COUNTRY TRAIL EXPERIENCE, PUBLIC RESTROOMS, AND GUIDANCE TO OTHER EVENTS AND SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY.
  2. $1.4 million spent. HOSPITALITY:ADK PROVIDES UNIQUE LODGING EXPERIENCES AT THE ADIRONDACK LOJ, HEART LAKE WILDERNESS CAMPGROUND AND CABINS, AND JOHNS BROOK PROPERTY. THESE FACILITIES ARE TUCKED AWAY IN THE HIGH PEAKS WILDERNESS AREA, ONE OF THE WILDEST AND MOST REMOTE PLACES IN THE NORTHEAST. PROVIDING A VARIETY OF LODGING OPTIONS, INCLUDING THOSE FULLY ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL PERSONS, ACCOMPLISHES ADK'S MISSION OF RESPONSIBLE RECREATION. THESE FURTHER REDUCE PRESSURE ON THE BACKCOUNTRY OF THE HIGH PEAKS WILDERNESS AND PROVIDE ACCESS FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE DEVELOPED THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING.
  3. $1.8 million spent. EDUCATION:ADK PROVIDES EDUCATION PROGRAMMING AND EXPERIENCES FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. ADK'S SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAM WORKS WITH FOURTH GRADERS FROM TWELVE ADIRONDACK ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO TRANSFORM STUDENT LIVES BY BRINGING THEM TO THE OUTDOORS AND THE OUTDOORS TO THEIR CLASSROOM. OUR PROGRAM HAS THREE COMPONENTS: CLASSROOM VISITS, JOURNALS, AND FIELD VISITS. ALL ARE DESIGNED IN CONJUNCTION WITH TEACHERS TO HELP MEET CLASSROOM GOALS AND ARE ALIGNED WITH NEW YORK STATE LEARNING STANDARDS. THIS PROGRAM IS DONOR AND GRANT FUNDED AND OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE TO SCHOOLS. ADK'S OUTDOOR SKILLS WORKSHOPS AND GUIDED HIKES TEACH RESPONSIBLE RECREATION AND SKILLS TO HELP RECREATIONISTS MEET THEIR GOALS. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OALL PROGRAMS TEACH LEAVE NO TRACE OUTDOOR SKILLS AND ETHICS AND SAFE BACKCOUNTRY TRAVEL. ALL PROGRAMS ARE LED BY NYS LICENSED GUIDES. ADK IS ONE OF TEN NATIONAL PROVIDERS OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF LEAVE NO TRACE TRAINING.

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 November 1958.

    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.