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Experience Camps

EIN 26-2513136 · Westport, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EXPERIENCE CAMPS GIVES GRIEVING CHILDREN EXPERIENCES THAT CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER. OUR FREE, ONE-WEEK, OVERNIGHT SUMMER CAMPS, YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS, AND CONTENT HELP REFRAME THE EXPERIENCE OF GRIEF AND EMPOWER KIDS WITH COPING SKILLS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR LIVES.

Income
$9.2 million
Spending
$5.9 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
13.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
185
Volunteers
773
Highest pay
$174,156, chief executive officer

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 90% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 September 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 (1)
  1. $4.1 million spent. EXPERIENCE CAMPS IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND TEENS GRIEVING THE DEATH OF A PARENT, SIBLING, OR PRIMARY CAREGIVER. WITH OVER 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, IT OFFERS CLINICALLY INFORMED, NO-COST PROGRAMS LIKE SUMMER CAMPS AND DIGITAL INITIATIVES TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE PROCESS GRIEF, BUILD COPING SKILLS, AND REDISCOVER JOY. GROUNDED IN MODERN GRIEF THEORY, ITS CAMP PROGRAMS BLEND PLAY AND REFLECTION, WHILE OLDER TEENS PARTICIPATE IN LEADERSHIP TRAINING TO SUPPORT YOUNGER CAMPERS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO EXTENDS ITS REACH THROUGH VIRTUAL PLATFORMS LIKE YOUTUBE AND TIKTOK, INCLUDING ITS GRIEF SUCKS NETWORK, TO MEET KIDS WHERE THEY ARE. WITH A GROWING SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE AND NATIONAL MEDIA RECOGNITION, IT ADVOCATES FOR A GRIEF-SENSITIVE CULTURE AND POSITIONS CHILDHOOD GRIEF AS A PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITY. PRIORITIZING EQUITY, THE ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON REDUCING THE RACIAL GRIEF GAP BY EXPANDING ACCESS AND REPRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN OF COLOR, WHO ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY CAREGIVER LOSS

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

    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 September 2009.

    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.