Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

True North Youth Program

EIN 46-4789197 · Telluride, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceWeak46 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Our MISSION: True North inspires individual determination and teaches self-advocacy by providing year round positive youth development programs for teens in our rural San Miguel region who have limited access to resources, opportunities, and support.

Income
$370,086
Spending
$393,192
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
13.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
11
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$113,491, executive director

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

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (1)
  1. $326,894 spent. True North Youth Program's 2025 highlights showcase a comprehensive array of offerings, with 48 programs delivered and 414 total participations, including free access for students across three school districts and homeschoolers. Throughout the school year, True North provided weekly academic tutoring (Base Camp) to 38 students, offered 28 sessions within the Telluride High School AVID program focusing on 11th and 12th graders, and delivered weekly in-school support in the Nucla Senior Seminar and the Norwood Tech Building. Key program areas included extensive college and career preparation, emphasizing career exploration, resume building, cover letter writing, interview preparation, and connections to apprenticeships. The program supported college applications, visited regional college campuses, and awarded 11 new scholarships to graduating seniors, while continuing to support 23 college students from previous years. Through its Jobs Connect 2025 program, True North partnered with 14 businesses from Telluride to Naturita to secure summer jobs for local teens, also providing scholarships for Trades School. True North's Trading Post, located in the Norwood schools' tech building, offered teens a wealth of donated goods, including clothes (even prom dresses), mountain bikes, snowboards, shoes, games, and free winter coats. Additional programming featured 12 day trips utilizing the new Red Van for regional experiences and higher education campus tours, 5 outdoor education programs (river trip, Nordic skiing, hiking, outdoor leadership), 6 arts programs fostering creative expression and appreciation, and 4 service-learning programs emphasizing community engagement and environmental stewardship. Collaborations were significant, with 13 programs involving 6 different organizations, expanding reach, sharing resources, and strengthening community ties. The program delivered 43 school-year programs for consistent academic support and 5 intensive summer programs. True North met diverse youth needs through a broad and balanced range of programming, demonstrating strong community engagement and continued growth through partnerships and expanded offerings.

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 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 2025.

    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 July 2014.

    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.