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Frost Valley YMCA

EIN 22-1625176 · Claryville, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FROST VALLEY IS A VALUES DRIVEN ORGANIZATION THAT FOSTERS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR ALL. (CONTINUED SCHEDULE O)

Income
$20.6 million
Spending
$21.4 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 81%
Employees
665
Volunteers
24
Highest pay
$229,826, ceo & president

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: 48 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 60% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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 (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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 (4)
  1. $12.3 million spent. CAMPING SERVICESFROST VALLEY YMCA OFFERS DAY CAMP, TRADITIONAL OVERNIGHT SUMMER CAMP, TEEN AND PRE-TEEN ADVENTURE TRIPS, HORSE CAMPS, FARM CAMP, AND AN ADVENTURE SURVIVAL CAMP, AND THE TOKYO PARTNERSHIP CAMP. CHILDREN AND TEENS GROW EXPONENTIALLY IN A SAFE AND ENGAGING ENVIRONMENT, SPENDING THEIR FIRST NIGHTS AWAY FROM HOME, GAINING SKILLS AS YOUNG LEADERS, AND BONDING WITH NEW FRIENDS. IN KEEPING WITH FROST VALLEY'S MISSION, AS A NONPROFIT SEEKING TO PROVIDE QUALITY OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR ALL, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO OVER 60% OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. THIS ENSURES ALL CHILDREN WHO WANT TO ATTEND CAMP ARE NOT PROHIBITED BECAUSE OF THEIR FAMILIES' FINANCIAL LIMITATIONS. FROM JAN 1, 2024 TO DECEMBER 31, 2024, 4004 DAY AND OVERNIGHT CAMPERS HAD A LIFE-TRANSFORMING EXPERIENCE AT FROST VALLEY.
  2. $3.4 million spent. SCHOOL CONFERENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RETREAT PROGRAMFROST VALLEY YMCA'S STAFF GUIDE STUDENTS FROM PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE TRI-STATE AREA IN BUILDING CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR CLASSMATES, STRENGTHENING THEIR OWN SELF-AWARENESS, AND DEEPENING CONNECTIONS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND OUTSIDE WORLD. OUR SCIENCE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE DIRECT ENGAGEMENT, STIMULATE CURIOSITY AND WONDER, AND INCREASE SCIENCE LITERACY AND CRITICAL THINKING. OUR TEAM-BUILDING CURRICULUM EMPHASIZES THE VALUE OF WORKING TOGETHER WHILE RECOGNIZING INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS WITHIN THE STRENGTH OF THE ENTIRE GROUP. FROM JAN 1, 2024 TO DECEMBER 31, 2024, FROST VALLEY PROVIDED AN IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND/OR TEAM BUILDING EXPERIENCE FOR OVER 8,000 PARTICIPANTS.
  3. $2.9 million spent. GROUPS AND FAMILY AND TEAM RETREAT PROGRAMFROST VALLEY YMCA'S STAFF PROVIDE FAMILY AND TEAM BUILDING PROGRAMS PREDOMINANTLY ON WEEKENDS THROUGH THE YEAR. FAMILIES CAN PARTICIPATE AND NATURE BASED PROGRAMMING. BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND JUNE, FROST VALLEY HOSTS, FAMILIES, SCOUT TROOPS, Y GUIDES, RELIGIOUS GROUPS, NONPROFITS, AND CORPORATIONS THAT FLOCK TO FROST VALLEY FOR TEAM BUILDING AND IMMERSION IN NATURE. FROST VALLEY IS HOME TO A MODEL FOREST, A 672-PANEL SOLAR ARRAY, A RAPTOR CENTER, A MAPLE SUGARING HOUSE, AND IS PART OF THE NEW YORK CITY WATERSHED. FAMILIES COME TO FROST VALLEY YEAR AFTER YEAR, SOME FOR AS MANY AS 50 YEARS RUNNING, TO UNPLUG FROM TECHNOLOGY AND CONNECT ON A DEEPER LEVEL WITH EACH OTHER, STAYING FOR A WEEKEND OR ONE OF OUR WEEK-LONG FAMILY CAMPS. FROM JANUARY 1, 2024 TO DECEMBER 31, 2024, FROST VALLEY HOSTED 12,000 PARTICIPANTS IN ITS RETREAT PROGRAMS.
  4. $235,100 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS

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 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 December 2024.

    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 April 1959.

    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.