Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Tonto Recreation Alliance Inc

EIN 26-4342310 · Tempe, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE TONTO RECREATION ALLIANCE TRAL IS AN ARIZONA NON-PROFIT 501c3 VOLUNTEER GROUP WORKING TO KEEP TRAILS AND ROADS IN THE TONTO NATIONAL FOREST OPEN FOR OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE OHV RECREATION. WE ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE OHV RECREATION, VOLUNTEER TRAIL WORK, COOPERATION AMONG DIFFERENT USER GROUPS, AND WE PROVIDE PUBLIC EDUCATION ABOUT OHV ISSUES.

Income
$246,291
Spending
$293,670
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 87%
Employees
5
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$40,468, president executive director

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

Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $242,692 spent. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, TONTO RECREATION ALLIANCE TRAL CONTINUED ITS WORK TO HELP THE TONTO NATIONAL FOREST MANAGE OHV RECREATION IN THE FOREST. WE MONITOR THE 3,000 MILES OF OHV TRAILS ON A ROTATION OF 2-3 YEARS FOR TRAIL ISSUES AND TRAIL MARKING. IN 2024, WE INSPECTED 896 MILES OF TRAILS AND REPLACED 259 FIBERGLASS TRAIL MARKERS, MAKING THE TONTO ONE OF THE BEST-MARKED TRAIL SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY. WE ALSO HOLD FREQUENT VOLUNTEER WORKDAYS TO COMPLETE TRAIL REPAIRS, TRASH CLEANUPS, AND BRUSH REMOVAL. IN 2024, WE HAD 75 VOLUNTEER WORKDAYS, TOTALING 5,749 VOLUNTEER HOURS. TRAL CREATES AND INSTALLS TRAIL MAPS ON STAGING AREA KIOSKS AND IN STANDALONE FORM AROUND THE FOREST, INCREASING OUR INSTALLED MAP BASE TO 67 LOCATIONS.

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 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 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 March 2010.

    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.