Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Mt Adams Institute

EIN 45-3308913 · Trout Lake, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO STRENGTHEN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE AND THE NATURAL WORLD THROUGH EDUCATION, SERVICE LEARNING, CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 92%
Employees
88
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$106,780, executive director

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    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 (5)
  1. SUMMER CAMP INSPIRES STUDENTS OF ALL AGES TO PURSUE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL WORLD. SUMMER CAMP ACTIVITIES WERE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED IN 2023 BUT ARE EXPECTED TO RESUME IN 2026.
  2. $136,401 spent. LAND STEWARDS IS A CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING PUBLIC LANDS THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. THE PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY A GRANT FROM THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES (AMERICORPS). IN 2024, 15 PARTICIPANTS SERVED WITH A VARIETY OF PUBLIC AGENCIES SUCH AS CONBOY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST, GIFFORD PINCHOT NATIONAL FOREST AND THE OKANOGAN WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST. THESE AMERICORPS INTERNS SERVED 11,084 HOURS ON A VARIETY OF WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION PROJECTS.
  3. $1.3 million spent. VETSWORK IS A CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR MILITARY VETERANS INTERESTED IN PUBLIC LANDS/NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT CAREERS. THE PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY A GRANT FROM THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES (AMERICORPS) AND PARTNERS SUCH AS THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICES. IN 2024, OVER 45 PARTICIPANTS WERE ENGAGED IN THE PROGRAM IN WASHINGTON, OREGON, MISSOURI, NORTH CAROLINA,ALASKA, MICHIGAN, SOUTH DAKOTA, CALIFORNIA, PENNSYLVANIA, KENTUCKY, GEORGIA AND WEST VIRGINIA. PARTICIPANTS LEARNED NEW SKILLS AND INFORMATION AND BUILT PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS WHILE WORKING ON REAL PROJECTS. THEIR COLLECTIVE IMPACT INCLUDES 53,418 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE, OVER 47,444 ACRES OF PUBLIC LANDS IMPROVED, AND 2,344 MILES OF HIKING TRAILS MAINTAINED OR BUILT, 885 FACILITIES MAINTAINED OR IMPROVED AND 4,326 STUDENTS EDUCATED ON SCIENTIFIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS. 3,082 MILES OF AQUATIC AND RIPARIAN HABITAT IMPROVED, 7,786 VISITOR CONTACTS, 10,650 ANIMALS SURVEYED, 1,500,004 HATCHERY FISH RAISED,3,454 HAZARDOUS TREES REMOVED FROM TRAILS & RECREATION SITES, 770 DRAINAGES CLEARED.
  4. SENSE OF PLACE LECTURE SERIES PROVIDED 11 LECTURES THAT WERE VIEWED BY OVER 9,700 PEOPLE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT PEOPLE'S CONNECTIONS TO THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE.
  5. $58,112 spent. THE INSTITUTE RENTS FACILITY SPACE TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS TO FURTHER THE EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES OF THEIR PROGRAMS. IN 2024, THE AMERICAN CLIMBING ASSOCIATION, CULTURESEED, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON HOSTED CLASSES AT OUR FACILITIES WITH APPROXIMATELY 150 PARTICIPANTS.

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? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    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 November 2012.

    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.