Skys the Limit Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO MAKE WILDERNESS THERAPY, AND NATURE-BASED THERAPY PROGRAMS AFFORDABLE TO FAMILIES OF ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS STRUGGLING WITH ACUTE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. WE BELIEVE IN THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE OUTDOORS TO FOSTER CONNECTIONS, BUILD RESILIENCE, AND SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 10 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $164,616, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 (3)
- $1.5 million spent. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR WILDERNESS THERAPY AND THERAPEUTIC NATURE-BASED PROGRAMS.DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025 (JULY 1, 2024 - JUNE 30, 2025), SKY'S THE LIMIT FUND PROVIDED $1,015,693 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 133 ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS EXPERIENCING ACUTE MENTAL HEALTH CRISES, ENABLING ACCESS TO WILDERNESS THERAPY AND THERAPEUTIC NATURE-BASED TREATMENT PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS SERVE YOUTH AGES 11 AND OLDER WHOSE NEEDS ARE OFTEN UNMET BY TRADITIONAL OUTPATIENT INTERVENTIONS.WITH THE AVERAGE COST OF TREATMENT EXCEEDING $60,000, FINANCIAL BARRIERS PREVENT MANY FAMILIES FROM OBTAINING CRITICAL CARE. STLF BRIDGES THIS GAP THROUGH DONOR-FUNDED GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH 13 THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FEE REDUCTIONS. IN FY25, FAMILIES RECEIVED AN AVERAGE TOTAL SAVINGS OF APPROXIMATELY 33% THROUGH COMBINED SUPPORT.SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 2010, STLF HAS AWARDED MORE THAN $9.5 MILLION IN DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO OVER 1,700 YOUTH. INCLUDING PARTNER PROGRAM DISCOUNTS, TOTAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES EXCEEDS $16 MILLION. IN FY25, STLF RECEIVED 549 INQUIRIES FOR ASSISTANCE, REFLECTING CONTINUED AND GROWING DEMAND FOR SERVICES ADDRESSING SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AMONG ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS.
- SKY'S THE LIMIT FUND COACHING SERVICEIN FY2025, STLF PROVIDED $60,377 IN COACHING SUPPORT TO 46 ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.EACH FAMILY THAT RECEIVES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM SKY'S THE LIMIT FUND IS ALSO ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR OUR COACHING SERVICE FREE OF CHARGE. STLF PROVIDES UP TO 12 HOURS OF COACHING SUPPORT FOR ADOLESCENTS, YOUNG ADULTS, AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AS PARTICIPANTS TRANSITION FROM A WILDERNESS THERAPY OR NATURE-BASED THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM BACK INTO THEIR HOME AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT. THIS SERVICE IS LED BY MASTER-LEVEL THERAPISTS WHO HAVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN WILDERNESS THERAPY, TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT CARE, AND TRADITIONAL THERAPEUTIC CARE WITH YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES.SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2016, THE STLF COACHING SERVICE HAS SUPPORTED NEARLY 400 ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS, ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES.SKY'S THE LIMIT FUND'S COACHING SERVICE HELPS STRENGTHEN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS BY REINFORCING AND BUILDING ON THE SKILLS DEVELOPED DURING THE NATURE-BASED THERAPEUTIC EXPERIENCE. THIS TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT AFTER PROGRAM COMPLETION PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN SUSTAINING LONG-TERM GROWTH AND SUCCESS.STLF CONDUCTS A FOLLOW UP SURVEY WITH EACH FAMILY THAT RECEIVES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THE DATA BELOW REFLECTS THE SURVEY RESULTS RECEIVED FROM FAMILIES FY22-FY25.- 95% OF FAMILIES BELIEVE TREATMENT WAS BENEFICIAL- 100% OF FAMILIES BELIEVE THE STLF COACHING SERVICES WAS BENEFICIAL- 90% OF FAMILIES ARE LIKELY TO RECOMMEND TREAMENT SERVICES
- DURING FY25, SKY'S THE LIMIT FUND PARTNERED WITH 13 WILDERNESS THERAPY AND NATURE-BASED THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS LOCATED ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. PROGRAM PARTNERS ARE SELECTED THROUGH A FORMAL REVIEW AND VETTING PROCESS TO ENSURE ALIGNMENT WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION AND ADHERENCE TO ESTABLISHED STANDARDS OF CARE. PARTNER PROGRAMS ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE LICENSURE AND ACCREDITATION, DEMONSTRATE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY, IMPLEMENT SAFETY PROTOCOLS, AND PROVIDE FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES. IN ADDITION, PARTNER PROGRAMS ARE EXPECTED TO TRACK AND REPORT PARTICIPANT OUTCOMES TO SUPPORT ONGOING EVALUATION AND PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS.THE ORGANIZATION COLLABORATES WITH PROGRAM PARTNERS TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FUNDRAISING EFFORTS. PARTNERS INCLUDE REFERENCES TO SKY'S THE LIMIT FUND ON THEIR WEBSITES AND SHARE ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS, WITH THEIR ALUMNI NETWORKS. A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S REVENUE IS DERIVED FROM INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 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 June 2025.
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 October 2010.
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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