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Backcountry Discovery Routes

EIN 45-2440958 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair60 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SINCE 2010, BACKCOUNTRY DISCOVERY ROUTES HAS INSPIRED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE - SEASONED ADVENTURE RIDERS AND THOSE NEW TO THE SPORT - TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RIDING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES ON PUBLIC LANDS. THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK INCLUDES PROMOTING RIDER EDUCATION AND SAFETY CAMPAIGNS, DRIVING A POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT TO RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND ENCOURAGING RESPONSIBLE MOTORCYCLE TRAVEL IN THE BACKCOUNTRY.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
17.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
5
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$107,962, executive director/vice pr

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (4)
  1. $437,717 spent. ROUTES CREATION AND MANAGEMENT IN 2024 THE BDR ORGANIZATION ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES IN ROUTE CREATION AND MANAGEMENT. OUR MOST NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR 13TH ROUTE, THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BDR (CABDR-NORTH). THIS PROJECT ENTAILED THE CREATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE WATERPROOF MAP, PRODUCTION OF A FEATURE-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY FILM, A NATIONWIDE FILM TOUR AND COMPLETE TRAVEL RESOURCES ONLINE. FURTHERMORE, BDR EXPANDED ITS PORTFOLIO WITH THE CREATION OF TWO SHORTER, BDR-STYLE LOOP ROUTES: THE CHATTAHOOCHEE, GEORGIA BDR-X AND THE BIG BEND, TEXAS, BDR-X. THESE ROUTES OFFER SIMILAR RESOURCES TO OUR MAIN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ROUTE, ENHANCING THE DIVERSITY OF OPTIONS FOR ADVENTURE-SEEKING RIDERS.IN OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE RIDING COMMUNITY, BDR CONTINUED TO ADMINISTER 18 SEPARATE FACEBOOK GROUP PAGES, ENSURING RIDERS HAVE ACCESS TO UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION AND A PLATFORM TO CONNECT WITH FELLOW ENTHUSIASTS AND ASK ROUTE-RELATED QUESTIONS.ALL TOTAL THE ORGANIZATION MANAGES 18 ROUTES, INCLUDING COMPLETE TRAVEL RESOURCES, GPS TRACKS, ROUTE UPDATES, ROUTE COMMUNICATIONS, AND OTHER RIDER INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE ON OUR WEBSITE, WWW.RIDEBDR.COM.TO STRENGTHEN OUR ROUTE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT EFFORTS, BDR HAS BROUGHT ON CO-FOUNDER BRYCE STEVENS AS A PART-TIME ROUTES DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. IN THIS ROLE, BRYCE LEADS STRATEGIC EXPANSION AND PLANNING INITIATIVES AS BDR WORKS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ROUTES AVAILABLE TO THE MOTORCYCLE COMMUNITY EACH YEAR. THIS ADDITION ENHANCES OUR ABILITY TO SCOUT, DESIGN, AND MANAGE HIGH-QUALITY ADVENTURE ROUTES, ENSURING THAT RIDERS HAVE EVEN MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE THE BACKCOUNTRY.
  2. $177,508 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH, BDR MAPS PRODUCTION AND STORE BDR REMAINED COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH, ENGAGING WITH NATIONAL ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE EVENTS AND RALLIES, AND SUPPORTING LOCAL ADV CLUBS AND GROUPS. WE PROVIDED GIVEAWAYS, FREE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATIONS TO PROMOTE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL IN THE BACKCOUNTRY.THIS YEAR, BDR TOOK OVER THE PRODUCTION OF BDR MAPS FROM BUTLER MAPS. IN THE PAST, BDR PROVIDED THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY WHILE BUTLER MAPS HANDLED PRODUCTION, PRINTING, AND RETAINED THE PROFITS. AS OF 2024, BDR HAS TRANSITIONED TO BEING THE SOLE PUBLISHER OF ITS MAPS. THIS SHIFT HAS ALLOWED BDR TO STREAMLINE AND ENHANCE MAP DESIGN, OFFERING MORE VALUE, BETTER RESOURCES, AND AN IMPROVED PRODUCT FOR THE BDR COMMUNITY. ADDITIONALLY, BY RETAINING ALL PROFITS FROM MAP SALES, BDR CAN REINVEST MORE RESOURCES INTO DEVELOPING NEW ROUTES AND EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVENTURE RIDERS.ADDITIONALLY, OUR ONLINE STORE CONTINUED TO OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT ADVENTURE RIDERS.
  3. $31,750 spent. ACCESS & ADVOCACY AS PART OF ITS MISSION TO DRIVE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC IMPACT IN RURAL COMMUNITIES ALONG ITS NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF ROUTES, BDR HAS STEPPED UP TO SUPPORT DAMASCUS, VIRGINIA, THE STARTING POINT OF THE MID-ATLANTIC BDR (MABDR) AND FUTURE TERMINUS OF THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SOUTH-EAST BDR (SEBDR). THROUGH ITS ACCESS & ADVOCACY GRANT PROGRAM, THE BDR BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED A $25,000 CONTRIBUTION TO THE DAMASCUS STRONG FUND, A RELIEF INITIATIVE AIDING THE TOWN'S RECOVERY FROM SEVERE DAMAGE CAUSED BY HURRICANE HELENE. THIS GRANT WILL HELP REPAIR ROADS AND BRIDGES, RESTORE TRAIL SYSTEMS, AND REBUILD THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WHICH RELIES HEAVILY ON OUTDOOR RECREATION TOURISM. BY INVESTING IN THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF GATEWAY COMMUNITIES LIKE DAMASCUS, BDR CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE PLACES THAT MAKE BACKCOUNTRY EXPLORATION POSSIBLE.
  4. $14,937 spent. SAFETY & EDUCATIONBDR PRODUCES AND MANAGES FOUR PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGNS, INCLUDING THE RIDE RIGHT, RIDE RESPECTFULLY, YIELD TO ANIMALS AND THE NEWEST ADDITION - KNOW YOUR LIMITS EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE. THESE EFFORTS WERE SUSTAINED THROUGH THE CREATION OF MULTI-MEDIA CAMPAIGNS INCLUDING PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS (PSAS), DEVELOPMENT OF MARKETING COLLATERAL, AWARENESS VIDEOS, MAGAZINE ADVERTISING, STICKERS AND ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

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 September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2014 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2014.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.