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Outdoor Lab Foundation

EIN 20-0293537 · Golden, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR AN ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OUTDOOR LAB PROGRAM.

Income
$837,584
Spending
$759,657
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
18.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
4
Volunteers
142
Highest pay
$130,123, executive di

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 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 June 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 (1)
  1. $619,239 spent. OVER THE PAST YEAR WE SERVED 35 MIDDLE SCHOOLS, TAUGHT 260 CORE CLASSES, AND RECRUITED 1,040 HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS. IN TOTAL, WE SERVED OVER 4,200 STUDENTS BY CONNECTING THEM - OFTEN FOR THE FIRST TIME - TO THE OUTDOORS. IN TOTAL, STUDENTS HIKED OVER 33,600 MILES AND BE ENGAGED IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OVER 16,800 PROGRAM DAYS. MOREOVER, WE ARE PROUD OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE SIX FOLLOWING PROGRAM AREAS AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES: THE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WE ENSURE THE FEES TO ATTEND OUTDOOR LAB ARE AS LOW OR NO COST TO AS MANY STUDENTS AS POSSIBLE IN THE DISTRICT. AN INABILITY TO PAY TUITION SHOULD NOT BE A BARRIER FOR CHILDREN TO HAVE A TRANSFORMATIVE TIME IN THE OUTDOORS. WE DELIVERED 175,000 IN TUITION ASSISTANCE GRANTS TO 36 MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN FY 25. THE INTERN PROGRAM WE PROVIDED 20,000 IN STIPENDS TO SUPPORT OUR INTERNS IN FY 25. INTERNS ARE THE "BOOTS ON THE GROUND", THE "GLUE", THE "POINT GUARDS" OF OUTDOOR LAB. THEY SUPPORT TEACHERS, ORGANIZE CLASSES, TRAIN HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS, AND PROVIDE UNTOLD SUPPORT TO OUTDOOR LAB PRINCIPALS AND SITE STAFF. THE HIGH SCHOOL LEADER PROGRAM - OUTDOOR LAB LEANS ON THE VOLUNTEER SUPPORT OF 1,040 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EACH YEAR. THEY LEAD CLASSES, MOVE STUDENTS THROUGH THEIR LEARNING CENTERS, AND SERVE AS CARING YOUNG ADULT MENTORS TO OUR 6TH GRADERS. IN TOTAL, THEY CONTRIBUTED OVER 88,400 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE TO OUTDOOR LAB AND JEFFCO NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS. WE SUPPORTED HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS WITH 6,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THEIR STALWART SERVICE AS OUTDOOR LAB LEADERS IN FY25. THE SITE SUPPORT PROGRAM THE FOUNDATION WORKS TO ENSURE THAT NURSES AND AIDS HAVE THE OUTERWEAR AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO KEEP EVERY STUDENT SAFE, WARM, DRY, AND FEELING WELCOME ON SITE. WE ALSO PURCHASE MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES FOR TEACHERS TO IMPART LESSONS IN THE FIELD. LASTLY, WE PAID OVER 25,000 FOR IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, SO THAT OUR CAMPUSES REMAIN ATTRACTIVE AND ENGAGING VENUES FOR LEARNING. GEAR LIBRARY EXPANSION WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO FILL THE SHELVES OF BOTH SITES WITH LIGHTLY-USED OR NEW GEAR AND OUTERWEAR STUDENTS NEED TO STAY WARM, DRY, AND FEELING SAFE WHILE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND AWAY FROM HOME. IN FY 25 WE GARNERED HUNDREDS OF COATS, HATS, GLOVES, BOOTS, AND OTHER CRITICAL PIECES OF OUTERWEAR SO THAT BOTH CAMPUSES HAD A FULLY STOCKED GEAR LIBRARY. IN TOTAL, WE GAVE 9,866 OF IN-KIND OUTERWEAR TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH APPROPRIATE CLOTHING FOR THE ELEMENTS. OVER THE PAST YEAR WE SERVED 35 MIDDLE SCHOOLS, TAUGHT 260 CORE CLASSES, AND RECRUITED 1,040 HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS. IN TOTAL, WE SERVED OVER 4,200 STUDENTS BY CONNECTING THEM - OFTEN FOR THE FIRST TIME - TO THE OUTDOORS. IN TOTAL, STUDENTS HIKED OVER 33,600 MILES AND BE ENGAGED IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OVER 16,800 PROGRAM DAYS. MOREOVER, WE ARE PROUD OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE SIX FOLLOWING PROGRAM AREAS AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES: THE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WE ENSURE THE FEES TO ATTEND OUTDOOR LAB ARE AS LOW OR NO COST TO AS MANY STUDENTS AS POSSIBLE IN THE DISTRICT. AN INABILITY TO PAY TUITION SHOULD NOT BE A BARRIER FOR CHILDREN TO HAVE A TRANSFORMATIVE TIME IN THE OUTDOORS. WE DELIVERED 175,000 IN TUITION ASSISTANCE GRANTS TO 36 MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN FY 25. THE INTERN PROGRAM WE PROVIDED 20,000 IN STIPENDS TO SUPPORT OUR INTERNS IN FY 25. INTERNS ARE THE "BOOTS ON THE GROUND", THE "GLUE", THE "POINT GUARDS" OF OUTDOOR LAB. THEY SUPPORT TEACHERS, ORGANIZE CLASSES, TRAIN HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS, AND PROVIDE UNTOLD SUPPORT TO OUTDOOR LAB PRINCIPALS AND SITE STAFF. THE HIGH SCHOOL LEADER PROGRAM - OUTDOOR LAB LEANS ON THE VOLUNTEER SUPPORT OF 1,040 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EACH YEAR. THEY LEAD CLASSES, MOVE STUDENTS THROUGH THEIR LEARNING CENTERS, AND SERVE AS CARING YOUNG ADULT MENTORS TO OUR 6TH GRADERS. IN TOTAL, THEY CONTRIBUTED OVER 88,400 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE TO OUTDOOR LAB AND JEFFCO NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS. WE SUPPORTED HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS WITH 6,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THEIR STALWART SERVICE AS OUTDOOR LAB LEADERS IN FY25. THE SITE SUPPORT PROGRAM THE FOUNDATION WORKS TO ENSURE THAT NURSES AND AIDS HAVE THE OUTERWEAR AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO KEEP EVERY STUDENT SAFE, WARM, DRY, AND FEELING WELCOME ON SITE. WE ALSO PURCHASE MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES FOR TEACHERS TO IMPART LESSONS IN THE FIELD. LASTLY, WE PAID OVER 25,000 FOR IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, SO THAT OUR CAMPUSES REMAIN ATTRACTIVE AND ENGAGING VENUES FOR LEARNING. GEAR LIBRARY EXPANSION WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO FILL THE SHELVES OF BOTH SITES WITH LIGHTLY-USED OR NEW GEAR AND OUTERWEAR STUDENTS NEED TO STAY WARM, DRY, AND FEELING SAFE WHILE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND AWAY FROM HOME. IN FY 25 WE GARNERED HUNDREDS OF COATS, HATS, GLOVES, BOOTS, AND OTHER CRITICAL PIECES OF OUTERWEAR SO THAT BOTH CAMPUSES HAD A FULLY STOCKED GEAR LIBRARY. IN TOTAL, WE GAVE 9,866 OF IN-KIND OUTERWEAR TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH APPROPRIATE CLOTHING FOR THE ELEMENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 June 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 2005.

    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.