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Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions

EIN 43-6005587 · Albuquerque, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COTTONWOOD GULCH CREATES OUTDOOR LEARNING ADVENTURES FOR YOUTH FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS THAT FOSTER PERSONAL GROWTH, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY, AND INSPIRE STEWARDSHIP OF THE NATURAL WORLD.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
61
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$111,951, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (1)
  1. $1.5 million spent. IN 2025, COTTONWOOD GULCH EXPEDITIONS (CGE) SERVED 153 SUMMERTIME TREKKERS ACROSS 10 DIFFERENT TREKS, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 10-PERSON YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS. THROUGHOUT THE CALENDAR YEAR, CGE PARTNERED WITH 30 SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SERVING 1,200 STUDENTS THROUGH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, RESULTING IN OVER 6,000 FIELD DAYS. SIX OF THESE PARTNERS WERE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WORKING WITH UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN NEW MEXICO, AND THE REST WERE SCHOOLS, PRIMARILY FROM NEW MEXICO. CONTINUING PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDED FOREST STEWARDS GUILD, ANCESTRAL LANDS CONSERVATION CORPS, CHIZH FOR CHEII, THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, AND BERNALILLO COUNTY/BACHECHI OPEN SPACE. IN PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING 100TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2026, CGE CONTINUED WORK ON FOUR PROJECTS: REGIONAL RENDEZVOUS EVENTS LEADING TO A BASECAMP CELEBRATION, A 100TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK, HISTORY COLLECTION EFFORTS, AND A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN, "TREKKING INTO THE FUTURE," FOCUSED ON PLANNED GIVING. IN 2025, COTTONWOOD GULCH EXPEDITIONS (CGE) SERVED 153 SUMMERTIME TREKKERS ACROSS 10 DIFFERENT TREKS, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 10-PERSON YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS. THROUGHOUT THE CALENDAR YEAR, CGE PARTNERED WITH 30 SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SERVING 1,200 STUDENTS THROUGH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, RESULTING IN OVER 6,000 FIELD DAYS. SIX OF THESE PARTNERS WERE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WORKING WITH UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN NEW MEXICO, AND THE REST WERE SCHOOLS, PRIMARILY FROM NEW MEXICO. CONTINUING PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDED FOREST STEWARDS GUILD, ANCESTRAL LANDS CONSERVATION CORPS, CHIZH FOR CHEII, THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, AND BERNALILLO COUNTY/BACHECHI OPEN SPACE. IN PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING 100TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2026, CGE CONTINUED WORK ON FOUR PROJECTS: REGIONAL RENDEZVOUS EVENTS LEADING TO A BASECAMP CELEBRATION, A 100TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK, HISTORY COLLECTION EFFORTS, AND A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN, "TREKKING INTO THE FUTURE," FOCUSED ON PLANNED GIVING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 September 2025.

    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 April 1962.

    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.