Venture Outdoors Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE REMOVE BARRIERS AND CREATE ACCESS TO OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES. WE ARE A PITTSBURGH-BASED NON-PROFIT CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THE BENEFITS OF GETTING OUTDOORS. SINCE 2001, OUR TEAM OF OUTDOOR EDUCATORS AND VOLUNTEER TRIP LEADERS HAVE GUIDED PEOPLE OF ALL AGES (SEE SCH O) AND STAGES TO HIKE, BIKE, RUN, PADDLE, GEOCACHE, AND MORE. WE BELIEVE THAT TOGETHER WE CAN REMOVE THE BARRIERS THAT STOP PEOPLE FROM CONNECTING TO THE OUTDOORS. WE SERVE THE COMMUNITIES OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA FROM CHILDREN TO YOUNG ADULTS TO SENIORS, INDIVIDUALS TO FAMILIES, AND PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS TO COLLEGE PROGRAMS TO CORPORATE TEAMS. WE FOCUS ON EQUITY WHEN WE PLAN OUR PROGRAMS. WE EVALUATE AND PLAN TO SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS' ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE, TRANSPORTATION NEEDS, CULTURE, SKILL LEVEL, ABILITY, AND INTERESTS.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- -3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 57%
- Employees
- 107
- Volunteers
- 49
- Highest pay
- $110,925, former president and 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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 44% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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)
- $520,268 spent. KAYAK PITTSBURGH OPERATED THREE RENTAL CONCESSIONS ON PITTSBURGH AREA WATERWAYS: AT THE JAMES SHARP MARINA IN SHARPSBURG, THE NORTH PARK BOATHOUSE AND A POPUP AT STEELERS QUAY. OVER 14,400 PEOPLE RENTED KAYAKS, CANOES, STAND UP PADDLE BOARDS, AND PEDAL BOATS TO ENJOY OURLOCAL WATERWAYS.
- $621,433 spent. VENTURE OUTDOORS PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 700 CUSTOM PROGRAMS TO OVER 12,000 PARTICIPANTS INCLUDING SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, SUMMER PROGRAMS, SENIORS, SCOUTS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ADAPTIVE RECREATION USERS PROGRAMS INCLUDING HIKING, BIKING, FISHING, KAYAKING, GEOCACHING, SNOWSHOEING, HORSEBACK RIDING AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.
- $94,951 spent. PUBLIC OUTINGS WERE CONDUCTED WITH OVER 100 EVENTS AND 1,100 PARTICIPANTS, HELPING PARTICIPANTS EXPERIENCE HOW BEING OUTDOORS HELPS GAIN CONFIDENCE WHILE HAVING FUN IN THE OUTDOORS. PROGRAMS INCLUDED HIKING, BIKING, URBAN WALKS, BACKPACKING, PADDLING, SNOWSHOEING, FISHING, GEOCACHING AND FILM FESTIVAL SCREENINGS.
- $312,543 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS CONSIST OF VENTURE OUTDOORS AGAIN AND CORPORATE CUSTOM PROGRAMMING.
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 February 2006.
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.
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.