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Continental Divide Trail Coalition

EIN 45-5051775 · Golden, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CDTC IS THE LEAD NATIONAL PARTNER WORKING WITH THE USFS IN THE ADMINISTRATION, COMPLETION, PROTECTION, AND VOLUNTEER STEWARDSHIP AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
21
Volunteers
512
Highest pay
$114,037, 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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $547,930 spent. Stewardship - in 2024 CDTC continued work to cooperatively steward the CDT providing 17,305 volunteer hours dedicated to trail stewardship activities. This included supporting 12 volunteer projects, 3 adopter trainings and 338 volunteer Trail Adopters who conducted regular maintenance along the CDT. Success included adding an additional 15 gates to support trail infrastructure across southern New Mexico. It also include continued efforts to participate in over 20 public processes to participate in agency project planning efforts affecting the CDT support of the Partnership for the National Trails System and showcasing the CDT shared stewardship model across the BLM, NPS and USFS. CDTC continued work to build relationships with Tribal Nations through development of trailhead kiosks across the Carson National Forest and work with 5 Tribal fellows across the entire CDT. CDTC continued signage efforts and trail clearing and installed 34 drains, 102 signs and markers placed, 33,301 feet of trail maintained, 3800 pounds of rock removed, 1425 trees cleared, 2 double stringer bridges installed and scouted 71,000 feet of CDT for trail condition needs. Work also included close collaboration with the USFS CDT Program team on a 2025 GAOA project submission for Regions 2,3,and 4 of the USFS.
  2. $621,566 spent. Public Information Outreach and Communication - CDTC hosted CDT Trail Days in Silver City, NM and welcomed over 3500 people to participate in the free and family friendly events. In addition, CDTC supported over 20 public events across the CDT that reached over 4500 people and helped raise awareness about the CDT and cooperative stewardship efforts. This included hosting 8 hikes in the Gila National Forest to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Gila Wilderness designation. In addition, CDTC worked with rural communities across New Mexico to invite first time stewards to the CDTC shared stewardship work through on the ground community stewardship events. CDTC continued to update its website to provide high quality, free online resources for trail information, including releasing a new hiker registration program, and continued work with partners all across the CDT to create broad support for the CDT and CDTC work.
  3. $343,756 spent. Community Engagement - CDTC continued work with all 21 designated gateway communities and began working with new communities seeking designation in MT and NM. In January 2024 Hidalgo County Commissioners officially and unanimously passed a resolution as the 22nd Gateway Community of the CDT. CDTC produced its 2024 small business survey results, and once again participated in events all across the CDT with communities including Leadville CDT Days, the Pinedale Outdoor Festival, Get Outdoors Hidalgo, Lincoln Days, and events in Rawlins, WY and Steamboat Springs, CO. CDTC once again hosted its Gateway Community Summit and supported the PNTS National Trails Workshop in Tucson AZ with presentations and training in many of our programmatic work.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 November 2012.

    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.