High Fives Nonprofit Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HIGH FIVES NON-PROFIT FOUNDATION FOCUSES ON PREVENTING LIFE-CHANGING INJURIES AND PROVIDES RESOURCES AND HOPE IF THEY HAPPEN.
- Income
- $5.7 million
- Spending
- $4.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $200,716, ceo
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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $4.1 million spent. EMPOWEMENT FUND: THE EMPOWERMENT FUND PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND EQUIPMENT TO LIFE-CHANGING INJURY SURVIVORS IN THE FORM OF BOARD-APPROVED GRANTS FOR ADAPTIVE SPORTS EQUIPMENT, HOME/VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS, THE HIGH FIVES HEALING NETWORK, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, AND EMERGENCY CARE/INJURY EXPENSES. LIFE-CHANGING INJURIES INCLUDE SPINAL CORD INJURIES (SCI), TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES (TBI), AMPUTATIONS, OR OTHER MOBILITY-LIMITING INJURIES. SINCE 2009, THE FOUNDATION HAS DISBURSED NEARLY 11 MILLION IN EMPOWERMENT FUNDING TO OVER 1,000 TRAUMATIC INJURY SURVIVORS IN 47 STATES AND TERRITORIES PLUS CANADA. IN THESE 16 YEARS, WE'VE PROVIDED 384 ADAPTIVE BIKES, 157 FULL SETS OF SKIING EQUIPMENT, AND 54 SURF/KITEBOARDS TO HIGH FIVES ATHLETES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA, ENABLING SURVIVORS TO REDISCOVER THEIR IDENTITY THROUGH SPORT. MILITARY TO THE MOUNTAIN: MILITARY TO THE MOUNTAINS (M2M) IS AN ADAPTIVE WINTER SPORTS CAMP OF HIGH FIVES FOUNDATION THAT INTRODUCES 30+ VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS ANNUALLY TO THE HEALING EFFECTS OF SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING AT RENOWNED RESORTS IN THE WESTERN U.S. THE PROGRAM INITIATES WITH NINE WEEKS OF INTENSIVE TRAINING AT THE ADAPTIVE TRAINING FOUNDATION IN TEXAS OR THROUGH CITY OF RENO PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT FOLLOWED BY A WEEK OF ADAPTIVE WINTER SPORTS AT PALISADES TAHOE IN CALIFORNIA OR SOLITUDE MOUNTAIN RESORT IN UTAH. M2M TELLS THE STORIES OF U.S. VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WHO CHOOSE TO EMBRACE GOAL SETTING AND ATHLETICISM AS A WAY TO ENJOY LIFE AND ALL OF ITS CHALLENGES. THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS 100% FREE FOR PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING TRAVEL, LODGING, MEALS, LIFT TICKETS, LESSONS/COACHING, ADAPTIVE SPORTING EQUIPMENT RENTALS, SAFETY GEAR, WINTER SPORTS APPAREL, AND MORE), DEMONSTRATES OUR DEEP SENSE OF APPRECIATION FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND WHO HAVE SUSTAINED LIFE- CHANGING INJURIES. 250 VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE PARTICIPATED SINCE THIS PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2015. ADAPTIVE CAMPS: HIGH FIVES FOUNDATION HOSTS 50-60 ADAPTIVE SPORTS CAMPS EACH YEAR IN WHICH WE TAKE SMALL GROUPS OF ADAPTIVE ATHLETES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, FROM SKI RESORTS IN VERMONT TO MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS OF NEVADA TO BEACHES ON MAUI, TO HONE THEIR SKILLS IN FIVE MAIN PILLARS OF SPORT: FLY FISHING, MOTOR-FED SPORTS, MOUNTAIN BIKING, SKIING/SNOWBOARDING, AND SURFING. SINCE ESTABLISHMENT, WE'VE HOSTED 236 ADAPTIVE SPORTS CAMPS WITH OVER 750 INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING A NEW SPORT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND 1,650 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS. DONATED SERVICES: HIGH FIVES RECEIVED DONATED SERVICES TOTALING 23,780. 250 WAS FOR SERVICES RELATED TO ADAPTIVE CAMPS AND 23,530 WAS FOR LEGAL SERVICES RELATED TO MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL ADMINISTRATION. NEITHER THE INCOME NOR THE EXPENSES WERE INCLUDED IN THE AMOUNTS REPORTED AS REVENUE, EXPENSES, OR GRANTS ON THE TAX RETURN. EMPOWEMENT FUND: THE EMPOWERMENT FUND PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND EQUIPMENT TO LIFE-CHANGING INJURY SURVIVORS IN THE FORM OF BOARD-APPROVED GRANTS FOR ADAPTIVE SPORTS EQUIPMENT, HOME/VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS, THE HIGH FIVES HEALING NETWORK, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, AND EMERGENCY CARE/INJURY EXPENSES. LIFE-CHANGING INJURIES INCLUDE SPINAL CORD INJURIES (SCI), TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES (TBI), AMPUTATIONS, OR OTHER MOBILITY-LIMITING INJURIES. SINCE 2009, THE FOUNDATION HAS DISBURSED NEARLY 11 MILLION IN EMPOWERMENT FUNDING TO OVER 1,000 TRAUMATIC INJURY SURVIVORS IN 47 STATES AND TERRITORIES PLUS CANADA. IN THESE 16 YEARS, WE'VE PROVIDED 384 ADAPTIVE BIKES, 157 FULL SETS OF SKIING EQUIPMENT, AND 54 SURF/KITEBOARDS TO HIGH FIVES ATHLETES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA, ENABLING SURVIVORS TO REDISCOVER THEIR IDENTITY THROUGH SPORT. MILITARY TO THE MOUNTAIN: MILITARY TO THE MOUNTAINS (M2M) IS AN ADAPTIVE WINTER SPORTS CAMP OF HIGH FIVES FOUNDATION THAT INTRODUCES 30+ VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS ANNUALLY TO THE HEALING EFFECTS OF SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING AT RENOWNED RESORTS IN THE WESTERN U.S. THE PROGRAM INITIATES WITH NINE WEEKS OF INTENSIVE TRAINING AT THE ADAPTIVE TRAINING FOUNDATION IN TEXAS OR THROUGH CITY OF RENO PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT FOLLOWED BY A WEEK OF ADAPTIVE WINTER SPORTS AT PALISADES TAHOE IN CALIFORNIA OR SOLITUDE MOUNTAIN RESORT IN UTAH. M2M TELLS THE STORIES OF U.S. VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WHO CHOOSE TO EMBRACE GOAL SETTING AND ATHLETICISM AS A WAY TO ENJOY LIFE AND ALL OF ITS CHALLENGES. THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS 100% FREE FOR PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING TRAVEL, LODGING, MEALS, LIFT TICKETS, LESSONS/COACHING, ADAPTIVE SPORTING EQUIPMENT RENTALS, SAFETY GEAR, WINTER SPORTS APPAREL, AND MORE), DEMONSTRATES OUR DEEP SENSE OF APPRECIATION FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND WHO HAVE SUSTAINED LIFE- CHANGING INJURIES. 250 VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE PARTICIPATED SINCE THIS PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2015. ADAPTIVE CAMPS: HIGH FIVES FOUNDATION HOSTS 50-60 ADAPTIVE SPORTS CAMPS EACH YEAR IN WHICH WE TAKE SMALL GROUPS OF ADAPTIVE ATHLETES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, FROM SKI RESORTS IN VERMONT TO MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS OF NEVADA TO BEACHES ON MAUI, TO HONE THEIR SKILLS IN FIVE MAIN PILLARS OF SPORT: FLY FISHING, MOTOR-FED SPORTS, MOUNTAIN BIKING, SKIING/SNOWBOARDING, AND SURFING. SINCE ESTABLISHMENT, WE'VE HOSTED 236 ADAPTIVE SPORTS CAMPS WITH OVER 750 INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING A NEW SPORT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND 1,650 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS. DONATED SERVICES: HIGH FIVES RECEIVED DONATED SERVICES TOTALING 23,780. 250 WAS FOR SERVICES RELATED TO ADAPTIVE CAMPS AND 23,530 WAS FOR LEGAL SERVICES RELATED TO MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL ADMINISTRATION. NEITHER THE INCOME NOR THE EXPENSES WERE INCLUDED IN THE AMOUNTS REPORTED AS REVENUE, EXPENSES, OR GRANTS ON THE TAX RETURN.
- $320,742 spent. C.R. JOHNSON HEALING CENTER: THE C.R. JOHNSON (CRJ) HEALING CENTER IS A 10,000 SQUARE FOOT, 100% ACCESSIBLE GYM, WORKSPACE, AND WELLNESS FACILITY LOCATED WITHIN HIGH FIVES HEADQUARTERS IN TRUCKEE, CA, OFFERING VITAL RESOURCES FOR LOCAL ATHLETES AND VETERANS WITH LIFE-CHANGING INJURIES TO PROGRESS THROUGH THEIR RECOVERY. WE OFFER HEALING THERAPIES SUCH AS ACUPUNCTURE, CHIROPRACTIC, COLD PLUNGING, INFRARED SAUNA, MASSAGE, NEUROKINETIC PILATES, RESTORATIVE STRETCHING, PERSONAL TRAINING, AND PHYSICAL THERAPY. WE'VE HAD OVER 57,300 VISITS TO THE CRJ HEALING CENTER SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 2010 AND HAVE PROVIDED NEARLY 13,000 FREE WORKOUTS SESSIONS.
- $38,292 spent. B.A.S.I.C.S.: OUR B.A.S.I.C.S. (BEING AWARE AND SAFE IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS) PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO ENGAGE YOUNG ATHLETES TO PROMOTE SMART DECISION-MAKING IN THE MOUNTAINS. IN THE FORM OF SHORT, PSA-STYLE VIDEOS, THIS NATIONAL SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION (NSAA)-APPROVED, FREE ONLINE SERIES IS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE FROM SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN TO INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. THIS PROGRAM HAS MORE THAN 801,000 VIEWS, AND OUR 2025 CAMPAIGN COVERS THE IMPORTANT TOPIC OF DEEP SNOW SAFETY.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2010.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.
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