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Friends of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center Inc

EIN 45-3620186 · Ketchum, ID

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceWeak38 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR ORGANIZATION, FRIENDS OF THE SAWTOOTH NATIONAL FOREST AVALANCHE CENTER SUPPORTS THE SNFAC AND PROMOTES LIFE-SAVING AVALANCHE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL IDAHO. WE DO THIS BY PROVIDING DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE SAWTOOTH NATIONAL FOREST AVALANCHE CENTER AND BY PROVIDING FREE AND LOW COST AVALANCHE EDUCATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Income
$322,118
Spending
$263,591
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
18.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
3
Volunteers
15

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $158,982 spent. AVALANCHE CENTER PROGRAM: THE 108,200 PROVIDED TO THE SAWTOOTH AVALANCHE CENTER SUPPORTED THE PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF DAILY AVALANCHE FORECASTING, A CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY. FUNDS WERE ALLOCATED TO MEET SPECIFIC OPERATIONAL NEEDS OF THE FORECASTERS, ENSURING THEY HAD ESSENTIAL RESOURCES TO PERFORM THEIR JOBS SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY. THIS INCLUDED EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, AND SUPPORT NECESSARY FOR ON-THE-GROUND OBSERVATIONS, DATA ANALYSIS, AND TIMELY COMMUNICATION OF AVALANCHE RISKS, ALL OF WHICH HELP SAFEGUARD LOCAL RESIDENTS AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS DURING THE WINTER SEASON. EDUCATION PROGRAM: THE 27,120 ALLOCATED TO THE EDUCATION PROGRAM FUNDED CLASSROOM AND FIELD-BASED AVALANCHE SAFETY COURSES, EDUCATIONAL TALKS, AND WORKSHOPS. THESE FUNDS COVERED EXPENSES FOR CLASSROOM MATERIALS, SAFETY PRODUCTS, AND PAY FOR QUALIFIED AVALANCHE PROFESSIONALS WHO LED BOTH FORMAL CLASSES AND INFORMAL PRESENTATIONS, AIMING TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND SAFETY IN AVALANCHE-PRONE AREAS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, FRIENDS OF THE SAWTOOTH AVALANCHE CENTER PROVIDED CRITICAL AVALANCHE EDUCATION TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, EMPOWERING THEM WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO MAKE SAFER DECISIONS IN THE BACKCOUNTRY. MARKETING PROGRAM: MARKETING EXPENSES WERE ALLOCATED TO RAISE COMMUNITY AWARENESS ABOUT BOTH OUR EDUCATIONAL CLASSES AND THE DAILY AVALANCHE FORECASTS, WITH A FOCUS ON ENHANCING PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROMOTING AVALANCHE RISK AWARENESS. THROUGH TARGETED OUTREACH, FRIENDS OF THE SAWTOOTH AVALANCHE CENTER INFORMED LOCAL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ABOUT THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP THEM MAKE SAFE CHOICES IN AVALANCHE-PRONE AREAS. THIS EFFORT AIMED TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN AVALANCHE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND TO ENSURE THAT DAILY FORECASTS REACHED A BROAD AUDIENCE ACROSS OUR CITIES AND SURROUNDING RECREATIONAL AREAS. AVALANCHE CENTER PROGRAM: THE 108,200 PROVIDED TO THE SAWTOOTH AVALANCHE CENTER SUPPORTED THE PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF DAILY AVALANCHE FORECASTING, A CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY. FUNDS WERE ALLOCATED TO MEET SPECIFIC OPERATIONAL NEEDS OF THE FORECASTERS, ENSURING THEY HAD ESSENTIAL RESOURCES TO PERFORM THEIR JOBS SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY. THIS INCLUDED EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, AND SUPPORT NECESSARY FOR ON-THE-GROUND OBSERVATIONS, DATA ANALYSIS, AND TIMELY COMMUNICATION OF AVALANCHE RISKS, ALL OF WHICH HELP SAFEGUARD LOCAL RESIDENTS AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS DURING THE WINTER SEASON. EDUCATION PROGRAM: THE 27,120 ALLOCATED TO THE EDUCATION PROGRAM FUNDED CLASSROOM AND FIELD-BASED AVALANCHE SAFETY COURSES, EDUCATIONAL TALKS, AND WORKSHOPS. THESE FUNDS COVERED EXPENSES FOR CLASSROOM MATERIALS, SAFETY PRODUCTS, AND PAY FOR QUALIFIED AVALANCHE PROFESSIONALS WHO LED BOTH FORMAL CLASSES AND INFORMAL PRESENTATIONS, AIMING TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND SAFETY IN AVALANCHE-PRONE AREAS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, FRIENDS OF THE SAWTOOTH AVALANCHE CENTER PROVIDED CRITICAL AVALANCHE EDUCATION TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, EMPOWERING THEM WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO MAKE SAFER DECISIONS IN THE BACKCOUNTRY. MARKETING PROGRAM: MARKETING EXPENSES WERE ALLOCATED TO RAISE COMMUNITY AWARENESS ABOUT BOTH OUR EDUCATIONAL CLASSES AND THE DAILY AVALANCHE FORECASTS, WITH A FOCUS ON ENHANCING PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROMOTING AVALANCHE RISK AWARENESS. THROUGH TARGETED OUTREACH, FRIENDS OF THE SAWTOOTH AVALANCHE CENTER INFORMED LOCAL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ABOUT THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP THEM MAKE SAFE CHOICES IN AVALANCHE-PRONE AREAS. THIS EFFORT AIMED TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN AVALANCHE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND TO ENSURE THAT DAILY FORECASTS REACHED A BROAD AUDIENCE ACROSS OUR CITIES AND SURROUNDING RECREATIONAL AREAS.

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