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Adventure Cycling Association

EIN 23-7427629 · Missoula, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ADVENTURE CYCLING ASSOCIATION INSPIRES, EMPOWERS AND CONNECTS PEOPLE TO TRAVEL BY BICYCLE.

Income
$4.9 million
Spending
$5.4 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 45%
Employees
97
Volunteers
43
Highest pay
$143,674, executive director thru march 2025

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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 220% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 (5)
  1. $1.7 million spent. THE ROUTES AND MAPPING PROGRAM IS THE FLAGSHIP PROGRAM OF ADVENTURE CYCLING WITH THE CREATION OF THE TRANSAMERICA BICYCLE TRAIL. CORE TO ADVENTURE CYCLING'S EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSE IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF USEFUL MATERIALS AND TOOLS FOR DISTRIBUTIONS TO ITS MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC. TO DATE, THE ASSOCIATION HAS CHARTED 52,848 MILES OF BIKE ROUTES, WHICH NOW COMPRISES THE ADVETURE CYCLING ROUTE NETWORK. ADVENTURE CYCLING EXPANDS LOGISTICAL ACCESS BY DESIGNING, DEVOLOPING, AND CURATING RELIABLE AND SAFE BICYCLE TOURING ROUTES. ACCESS TO AND FROM ADVENTURE CYCLING ROUTES IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN GETTING PEOPLE ENGAGED IN BICYCLE TRAVEL. STATES ARE LESS INCLINED TO PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY OF BICYCLE TRAVELERS UNLESS THEY HAVE ROUTES DESIGNATED BY THE STATES. ADVENTURE CYCLING PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) SO THEY DESIGNATE MILES OF U.S. BICYCLE ROUTES SYSTEM (USBRS). THESE DESIGANTED MILES AND ROUTES ARE ELEVATED AND BETTER SITUATED WITHIN THE STATE DOTS TO RECEIVE FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS TO IMPROVE SAFETY FOR CYCLISTS. THE USBRS IS AVAILABLE ON RIDEWITHGPS FOR FREE TO DOWNLOAD SO ANYONE CAN SEE WHAT THOSE ROUTES ARE AND FOLLOW THEM. THE MAPS HAVE EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY, GEOLOGY, AND GEOGRAPHY OF THE AREA THROUGH WHICH THE ROUTE TRAVELS. THE MAPS ALSO CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR BIKE TRAVELERS ALONG THE ROUTE, SUCH AS PLACE TO EAT, BIKE-FRIENDLY LODGING, AND BIKE SHOPS.
  2. $1.5 million spent. THE TOURS PROGRAM CREATES UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR BIKE TRAVEL AND HELPS PARTICIPANTS LEARN SKILLS RELATED TO BIKE TRAVEL, CAMPING, WILDERNESS, TEAM-BUILDING, AND LEADERSHIP. THE GOAL OF THESE TOURS IS TO EDUCATE AND PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO TRAVEL BY BIKE SO THEY HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN AS WELL. THIS INCLUDES BICYCLE EXPEDITION EDUCATIONAL TOURS, BICYCLE TOUR LEADER EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT IN THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING COURSES; AND THE TOUR LEADER MENTORING PROGRAM.
  3. $556,346 spent. ADVENTURE CYCLING PRODUCES A FULL-COLOR MAGAZINE (ADVENTURE CYCLIST) AND OTHER MATERIALS DESIGNED TO INFORM THE MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT BICYCLE TRAVEL AND INSPIRE THEM TO RIDE. OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT ALSO PRODUCES A WEBSITE WITH FREE INFORMATION FOR CYCLISTS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS INCLUDING A LIBRARY OF HOW-TO GUIDES. SHARING STORIES, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND INSPIRATION MAKES BIKE TRAVEL POSSIBLE FOR MORE PEOPLE.
  4. THE MERCHANDISE PROGRAM OFFERS OUR BIKE TOURING MAPS AND BRANDED MERCHANDISE. WE ALSO PRODUCE EDUCATIONAL REFERECE GUIDES TO ASSIST IN PREPARATION FOR TRIPS. THIS PROGRAM BREAKS DOWN THE BARRIER TO ENTRY TO THE ACTIVITY OF BIKE TRAVEL. WE ALSO OFFER FREE ADVICE TO ANY CALLER OR IN-OFFICE VISITOR TO HELP THEM PLAN THEIR OWN PERSON BICYCLE TRIPS.
  5. $414,291 spent. MEMBERSHIP: THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM WORKS WITH CYCLISTS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO BUILD A GREATER COMMUNITY OF BICYCLISTS IN AMERICA. MEMBERSHIP PROMOTES CYCLING BY INSPIRING MORE PEOPLE TO TRAVEL BY BICYCLE. THIS IS DONE THROUGH MEMBERSHIP SOLICITATION, SPECIAL EVENTS, PUBLICATION CREATION, OUTREACH TO LIBRARIES, STATE BICYCLE COORDINATORS, BICYCLE CLUBS, AND BICYCLE SHOPS. THE ORGANIZATION HAS OVER 23,000 MEMBERS. MEMBERSHIP BUILDS COMMUNITY.

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 November 6, 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 January 1975.

    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 November 4, 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.