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Keystone Science School Inc

EIN 46-1735364 · Keystone, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WITH THE OUTDOORS AS BACKDROP FOR LEARNING, KEYSTONE SCIENCE SCHOOL INSPIRES CURIOSITY AND CRITICAL THINKING THROUGH THE LENS OF SCIENCE TO CHANGE LIVES AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
109
Volunteers
70
Highest pay
$166,683, executive director (from jan.)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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 (3)
  1. $1.7 million spent. KEYSTONE SCIENCE SCHOOL'S SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS PROVIDE DIVERSE, HIGH-QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT COMBINE SCIENCE EDUCATION, OUTDOOR ADVENTURE, AND TRADITIONAL CAMP ACTIVITIES. THROUGH DAY CAMPS, OVERNIGHT CAMPS, AND TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, LEADERSHIP ABILITIES, AND A LIFELONG APPRECIATION FOR LEARNING. TO ENSURE FINANCIAL ACCESSIBILITY, KSS OFFERS A ROBUST SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FUNDED BY GENEROUS DONORS, REMOVING ECONOMIC BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION. ADDITIONALLY, KSS SUPPORTS LOCAL WORKING FAMILIES BY OFFERING FULL-DAY CAMP OPTIONS FOR K-8 STUDENTS DURING SCHOOL BREAKS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE SUMMIT DAY CAMP AND PATHFINDERS PROGRAMS PROVIDE SLIDING-SCALE TUITION DISCOUNTS EXCLUSIVELY FOR SUMMIT SCHOOL DISTRICT (SSD) STUDENTS, ENSURING BROAD ACCESSIBILITY. THESE PROGRAMS INTEGRATE OUTDOOR EDUCATION, STEM INSTRUCTION, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND LITERACY ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO MITIGATE SUMMER LEARNING LOSS, REINFORCING KSS'S COMMITMENT TO EDUCATIONAL EQUITY AND COMMUNITY IMPACT.IN 2025 1,500 YOUTH ATTENDED OVER 2,400 ENROLLMENTS OVER THE SUMMER. NEARLY 280 OF THOSE ENROLLMENTS WERE PROVIDED AT A DISCOUNTED RATE FOR SSD FAMILIES.
  2. $837,507 spent. KEYSTONE SCIENCE SCHOOL'S SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAMS BRING SCIENCE AND OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP TO LIFE THROUGH HANDS-ON LEARNING IN NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS. WE WORK WITH SCHOOLS AND OTHER SIMILAR GROUPS OFFERING OVERNIGHT AND DAY PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS UTILIZE LOCAL TRAILS AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AS OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS, OFFERING HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT REINFORCE SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES. SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS INCLUDE GIRLS IN STEM, H2O OUTDOORS, 3RD GRADE MOUNTAIN ECOLOGY, AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, EACH PROVIDING DEEPER EXPLORATION INTO SCIENCE, LEADERSHIP, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IN 2025, 2,314 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN OUR SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAMS, GAINING A GREATER CONNECTION TO SCIENCE AND THE OUTDOORS.
  3. $304,420 spent. ADVENTURE PROGRAMS ALLOW SUMMER STUDENTS TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS, GROW OUTDOOR LIVING SKILLS, AND LEARN ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD THROUGH CAMPING-BASED EXPLORATION. WHILE ON ADVENTURE TRIPS, OUR STUDENTS DEVELOP COMPETENCE, CONFIDENCE, AND CAPABILITY THROUGH OUR LEADERSHIP CURRICULUM, OUTDOOR LIVING SKILLS LESSONS, AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SPORTS INSTRUCTION. WHILE IN THE OUTDOORS, PARTICIPANTS GET A FIRST-HAND LOOK AT THE UNIQUE GEOLOGY, ECOLOGY, WEATHER, AND WATERSHEDS OF THE MOUNTAIN REGION AND ARE INSPIRED TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES AND BUILD ADVANCED OUTDOOR SKILLS AMONG THEIR PEERS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IN 2025, MORE THAN 148 YOUTHS ATTENDED ADVENTURE PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 August 2013.

    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.