American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE AND CONDUCT THE WORLD'S FINEST CROSS COUNTRY SKI COMPETITION, TO SERVE AS GOOD STEWARDS OF THE AMERICAN BIRKEBEINER SKI TRAIL AND TO PROMOTE HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.
- Income
- $6.1 million
- Spending
- $4.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- -8.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 51%
- Employees
- 44
- Volunteers
- 2,553
- Highest pay
- $172,416, 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
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% 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
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (4)
- $1.5 million spent. THE 54-KILOMETER AMERICAN BIRKEBEINER, 29-KILOMETER KORTELOPET AND 15-KILOMETER PRINCE HAAKON CROSS COUNTRY SKI RACES AND RELATED EVENTS CONDUCTED IN FEBRUARY EACH YEAR. IN ADDITION TO HANDLING ALL OF THE LOGISTICS FOR SKIERS PRIOR TO AND ON RACE DAY (REGISTRATION, TRANSPORTATION, SECURITY, SANITATION, FOOD, MEDICAL, TIMING, ETC.), THE ORGANIZATION IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE RACE COURSE KNOWN AS THE AMERICAN BIRKEBEINER SKI TRAIL. THIS INCLUDES MOWING, BRUSHING, FALLEN TREE REMOVAL, ETC. DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS AND SNOW GROOMING DURING THE WINTER MONTHS; AND TO PROVIDE ACCESS AMENITIES ON A YEAR-ROUND BASIS...PARKING LOTS, LIGHTS, SHELTERS, SANITATION, SIGNS, ETC. THE 107-KILOMETER TRAIL NETWORK IS UTILITIZED BY SKIERS, HIKERS, RUNNERS AND MOUNTAIN BIKERS AND REQUIRES THE ORGANIZATION TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH BAYFIELD COUNTY, SAWYER COUNTY, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, THE CITY OF HAYWARD AND SEVERAL PRIVATE LANDOWNERS.
- $104,690 spent. THE FAT BIKE BIRKIE IS A MARCH SNOW-BIKE RACE MEANT TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND SHOWCASE THE AMERICAN BIRKEBEINER SKI TRAIL TO A POTENTIALLY NEW AUDIENCE. IT IS THE ONLY DAY OF THE SNOW SEASON WHEN BICYCLES ARE ALLOWED ON THE SKI TRAIL.
- $52,790 spent. THE BIRKIE TRAIL RUN & TREK IS A SEPTEMBER RUNNING/WALKING RACE/TOUR MEANT TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND SHOWCASE THE AMERICAN BIRKEBEINER SKI TRAIL TO A POTENTIALLY NEW AUDIENCE. THERE WERE APPROX 1,000 INDIVIDUALS REGISTERED FOR THIS YEAR'S EVENTS HELD IN SEPTEMBER.
- $1.8 million spent. ALL OTHER OUTDOOR EVENTS, BIKING SKIING AND MULTIUSE TRAIL MAINTENANCEAND PROMOTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLE ACTIVITIES.
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 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 June 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.