Pacific Crest Trail Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL ASSOCIATION'S MISSION IS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL AS AN INSPIRATIONAL OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE, TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE PCT, AND TO CONSERVE THE TRAIL.
- Income
- $5.6 million
- Spending
- $5.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 5.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 42
- Volunteers
- 1,013
- Highest pay
- $198,074, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 34 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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, 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)
- $407,523 spent. TRAIL AND LAND MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION:IN 2025, THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL ASSOCIATION (PCTA) PARTNERED WITH LAND TRUSTS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO EVALUATE ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES FROM PRIVATE OWNERS THAT OWN LAND INCLUDING OR ADJACENT TO THE PCT. THE PCTA WORKED WITH PARTNERS ON THE ACQUISITION OF 3,325 ACRES OF FORESTLAND IN THE CASTLE CRAGS AND TRINITY ALPS WILDERNESSES. PCTA ACQUIRED 1.3 ACRES ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF WHITEWATER, CALIFORNIA. IN ADDITION, PCTA ADVOCATED FOR LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND SUPPORT FOR THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT.IN 2025, 532 MILES OF THE PCT WERE CLOSED BECAUSE OF FIRES. WITH 194 TRAIL MILES BURNED, PCTA ASSISTED THE FOREST SERVICE TO DEVELOP EXTENSIVE RESTORATION PLANS.PCTA ALSO MONITORED OR RESPONDED TO ONGOING THREATS OR LAND MANAGEMENT PROJECTS AND PLANNING EFFORTS ALONG THE TRAIL, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: - TRAILWIDE-TIMBER HARVESTING, FUELS REDUCTION, REFORESTATION, HAZARD TREE REMOVAL, INVASIVE PLANT ERADICATION, WATERSHED, MEADOW, AND FIRE RESTORATION, ILLEGAL AND INCOMPATIBLE USES, COMMERCIAL AND COMPETITIVE EVENTS, HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, BRIDGE INSTALLATIONS, TRAIL NETWORK DEVELOPMENTS AND EXPANSIONS, ILLEGAL MOTORIZED AND MECHANIZED USE, PUBLIC LAND TRANSFERS, IMPACTS FROM INCREASED RECREATIONAL USE, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT INVENTORY, ASSESSMENT, AND MONITORING, TRAVEL MANAGEMENT AND OVER-SNOW VEHICLE PLANNING; REPEAL OF PERTINENT AGENCY REGULATIONS, PROPOSED REPEAL OF THE "ROADLESS RULE; - CALIFORNIA-DAM REAUTHORIZATION, ENDANGERED SPECIES, OPTIMAL LOCATION REVIEW; LARGE-SCALE (FOREST WIDE) PRESCRIBED FIRE PROPOSALS; - OREGON-PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY ADVOCACY FOR THE BRIDGE OF THE GODS; POWER STATION CONDUCTOR REPLACEMENT;- WASHINGTON-GRIZZLY BEAR REINTRODUCTION IN THE NORTH CASCADES; VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROJECTS; NORTH CASCADES BACKCOUNTRY CAMP MODIFICATIONS ALONG THE PCT; TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPMENT/ENHANCEMENT PROJECT. OUR 2025 PROTECTION ACTIVITIES ALSO INCLUDED "HIKE THE HILL" MEETINGS TO TALK WITH FEDERAL AGENCY LEADERS AND CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES AND THEIR STAFF IN WASHINGTON, D.C. TO ADVOCATE FOR FEDERAL TRAIL MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONS, AND LAND ACQUISITION FUNDING FOR THE PCT.
- $2.4 million spent. TRAIL MAINTENANCE:EACH YEAR THE PCTA BRINGS TOGETHER AGENCY PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS WITH SHARED VALUES AND SERVES AS A LIASON BETWEEN PEOPLE AND PUBLIC LANDS. VOLUNTEERS AND CORPS CREW MEMBERS PERFORM THE HARD, PHYSICAL LABOR OF PERFORMING ANNUAL AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND RECONSTRUCTION ON THE PCT, GIVING HIKERS AND HORSEBACK RIDERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF WILD AND SCENIC LANDS WHILE TRAVELING ON SAFE AND PASSABLE TRAIL. PCTA VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 56,844 SERVICE HOURS IN 2025, AN IN-KIND VALUE OF $2 MILLION. THESE HOURS INCLUDED:- 1,140 MILES OF TRAIL MAINTENANCE- 21 MILES OF TRAIL RECONSTRUCTION- 50 VOLUNTEER TRAINING EVENTSTRAIL SKILLS COLLEGE - RECRUITING AND EDUCATING VOLUNTEERSPCTA'S COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ACTIVELY SUPPORT AND INVOLVE OUR VOLUNTEERS IN CARRYING OUT SAFE AND TOP-NOTCH WORK ON THE TRAIL. LED BY SEASONED STAFF, AGENCY PARTNERS, AND VOLUNTEER LEADERS WELL-VERSED IN TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND LEADERSHIP, THE PCTA'S TRAINING EVENTS PROVIDE AN ENGAGING PLATFORM FOR VOLUNTEERS TO LEARN THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF TRAIL DESIGN, RECONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND UPKEEP. ADDITIONAL TRAINING EVENTS FOCUS ON EVALUATING AND CERTIFYING VOLUNTEER SAWYERS UNDER THE NATIONAL SAW PROGRAM AND PROVIDING WILDERNESS FIRST AID AND CPR CERTIFICATIONS. - 2 TRAIL SKILLS COLLEGE WEEKENDS- 8 SAW TRAINING WEEKENDS- 32 CLASSES- 173 VOLUNTEERS- 176 SAW CERTIFICATION REGISTRANTS- 26.5K HOURS CONTRIBUTED BY FIRST-TIME VOLUNTEERSGREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS ACTTHE GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS ACT PRESENTED A DISTINCT OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE BACKLOG IN OUR NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS, MONUMENTS, AND OTHER PUBLIC LANDS. IN 2025, THE PCTA SUCCESSFULLY ORGANIZED 105 GAOA-FUNDED TRAIL PROJECTS ACROSS NATIONAL FORESTS IN REGIONS 4, 5, AND 6.
- $929,902 spent. TRAIL PROMOTION AND EDUCATION:THROUGH OUR PRINT AND ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS AND PERSONAL OUTREACH,- WE PROMOTE THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL AS A RECREATION SPACE FOR EVERYONE- PROMOTE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF THE TRAIL BY EDUCATING TRAIL USERS IN LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES, AS WELL AS INFORMING TRAIL USERS ABOUT TRAIL CLOSURES AND THE IMPACTS FROM WILDFIRE- MOBILIZE VOLUNTEERS TO MAINTAIN THE TRAIL- KEEP OUR MEMBERS AND ELECTED LEADERS INFORMED OF PROGRAMS AND ISSUES FACING THE TRAIL - INTRODUCE NEW AUDIENCES TO THE RICHNESS OF THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL EXPERIENCEIN 2025, PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDED: - PUBLISHING THREE ISSUES (31,200 COPIES) OF THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL COMMUNICATOR MAGAZINE, AND DISTRIBUTING IT TO MEMBERS, PARTNERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS; - PUBLISHING AN ANNUAL CALENDAR; - PUBLISHING TWELVE REGULAR ISSUES OF TRAIL DIRT, THE PCTA'S ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER;- PUBLISHING DOZENS OF BLOG AND HUNDREDS OF SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS & STORIESTHE PCTA ALSO ...- RESPONDED TO 5,297 INQUIRIES FROM TRAIL USERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC;- ISSUED 4,998 LONG-DISTANCE PERMITS AND 2,656 SECTION HIKE PERMITS;- GARNERED ALMOST FIVE MILLION WEBSITE VISITS;- ENGAGED 326,000 SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 2025.
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 August 1989.
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.
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.