Passes our checks

Trailhead Childrens Museum

EIN 26-2162713 · Crested Butte, CO

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

What it says it does

TO OFFER AN ENGAGING AND DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT THAT INSPIRES CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO EXPLORE,CREATE, AND LEARN TOGETHER THROUGH DISCOVERY AND PLAY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
10 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 2% 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 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
7 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15
Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8
Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15
Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$132,339 spent. ART EDUCATION PROGRAMS-ART AND PLAY BASED EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-11. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE FULL DAY ART CAMPS, HALF DAY ART CAMPS, AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES AND SPECIALIZED WORKSHOPS. PROGRAMS OCCUR DURING SCHOOL BREAKS AND AFTER SCHOOL. PROGRAMS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO DEVELOP PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, COGNITIVELY, AND SOCIALLY THROUGH ART, PLAY, AND EXPERIENCE AND EXPLORE THEIR ARTISTIC CURIOSITIES AND INTERESTS.
$128,321 spent. MANAGEMENT OF CHILDRENS MUSEUM SPACE: THE TRAILHEAD CHILDRENS MUSEUM SPACE IS OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK TO THE PUBLIC, AND PROVIDES AN ENGAGING ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO EXPLORE,CREATE, AND PLAY TOGETHER. THE MUSEUM SPACE INCLUDES EXHIBITS DESIGNED TO INSPIRE PLAY OF ALL KINDS-CREATIVE, PHYSICAL, IMAGINATIVE, SENSORY, COLLABORATIVE, AND ART AND SCIENCE BASED AND SUPPORTS THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
$6,353 spent. COMMUNITY EVENTS: PUBLIC ART AND PLAY BASED EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE LOCAL COMMNITY, THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATIVE PLAY, ART ACTIVITIES, AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCES. THE TRAILHEAD BOTH HOSTS ITS OWN SIGNATURE ART AND PLAY EVENTS, AND CONTRIBUTES CHILDRENS ARTS PROGRAMMING TO OTHER ORGANIZATION EXISTING EVENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 November 6, 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 December 2008.
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 November 4, 2026.

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