Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Catamount Trail Association

EIN 22-2528441 · Burlington, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong97 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CATAMOUNT TRAIL ASSOCIATION IS A PASSIONATE GROUP OF BACKCOUNTRY SKIERS AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS. WE'VE BEEN BREAKING TRAIL SINCE 1984, CREATING NORTH AMERICA'S LONGEST BACKCOUNTRY SKI TRAIL AND PIONEERING INNOVATIVE RECREATION PROJECTS THROUGHOUT VERMONT. OUR MISSION IS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO VERMONT'S BACKCOUNTRY BECAUSE WE BELIEVE DAYS SPENT IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH FRIENDS ARE POWERFUL, AND THAT THOSE EXPERIENCES SHOULD BE OPEN TO EVERYONE. WE ARE ADVOCATES, VOLUNTEERS, SUPPORTERS, AND TRAILBLAZERS WORKING TO STEWARD THE CATAMOUNT TRAIL, MANAGE BACKCOUNTRY SKI TERRAIN, PERMANENTLY PROTECT MOUNTAIN LANDS, AND EXPAND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SKIING. BY BUILDING TRAILS, COMMUNITY, AND OPPORTUNITY WE CONNECT PEOPLE TO VERMONT'S MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE.

Income
$476,269
Spending
$469,448
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
12.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
4
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$72,402, executive di

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

Financial health

Strong: 97 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 83 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 April 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 (3)
  1. $202,756 spent. TRAIL/TERRAIN DEVELOPMENT, MAINTENANCE, AND PROTECTION: THE CATAMOUNT TRAIL ASSOCIATION DEVELOPS, MANAGES, AND CONSERVES THE CATAMOUNT TRAIL, A PUBLIC-ACCESS SKI TRAIL. THE CATAMOUNT TRAIL AND RELATED TRAILS AND TERRAIN ARE UNIQUE RESOURCES FOR RECREATION AND IMPORTANT CONSERVATION AND ECONOMIC ASSETS FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE STATE OF VERMONT. THE CTA BUILDS PARTNERSHIPS TO SUPPORT TRAILS AND TERRAIN AND FOSTERS AWARENESS AND STEWARDSHIP OF VERMONT'S DIVERSE LANDSCAPES THROUGH PROMOTION AND USE OF THE BACKCOUNTRY. CTA ALSO ADVOCATES USE OF TRAILS AND TERRAIN FOR THE RECREATIONAL, ECONOMIC, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND HEALTH BENEFITS THEY PROVIDE.
  2. $83,713 spent. YOUTH EDUCATION: THE CATAMOUNT TRAIL ASSOCIATION ADMINISTERS SKI CUBS, A PROGRAM FOCUSED ON INTRODUCING YOUTH TO CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING AS A MEANS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES FOR VERMONT FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. SKI CUBS COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS TO SERVE PARTICIPANTS WITH LIMITED RESOURCES AND LIMITED ACCESS TO WINTER SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES. THIS PROGRAM EMPOWERS VERMONT YOUTH TO ENJOY AN ACTIVE, OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE DURING THE WINTER AND DEVELOP A LIFELONG AFFINITY FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION AND NATURAL AREAS WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
  3. $48,163 spent. EVENTS: CATAMOUNT TRAIL ASSOCIATION EVENTS EXIST TO INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO THE SPORT OF BACKCOUNTRY SKIING, TO CONNECT USERS AND GROW THE BACKCOUNTRY COMMUNITY, AND TO PROMOTE USE OF THE CATAMOUNT TRAIL AND OUR CHAPTER MANAGED ZONES. THE WINTER FUNDRAISING EVENT TRANSITIONED TO AN IN PERSON EVENT CALLED THE CATGUT. IT WAS PREVIOUSLY AN ASYNCHRONOUS EVENT. FOR A SECOND SEASON, RACE TO THE TOP WAS SOMEWHAT MODIFIED WITH THE RACE TAKING PLACE, BUT NO EVENTS AFTERWARDS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 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 April 2025.

    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 October 1985.

    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.