Adventure Risk Challenge
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To empower underserved youth through transformational literacy, leadership, and outdoor experiences
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 67%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $107,138, interim 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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 38% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $291,822 spent. ARC's Summer Courses for Tahoe-Truckee youth integrate wilderness expeditions and academic basecamps. Based in Yosemite and Tahoe, these courses facilitate the development of essential leadership and academic skills in alternative classroom settings and on outdoor adventures. Rigorous activities require physical and mental commitment and interpersonal collaboration, while building an ethos for healthy lifestyles, personal empowerment, and environmental stewardship. Challenging leadership and life-skills training focuses on self-management, goal setting, personal responsibility, teamwork, communication, and resilience. Literacy sessions develop skills in critical thinking, reading comprehension, writing, and public speaking. After participating, ARC youth respond more positively to statements including, "I am developing good health habits", and "I deal with frustration in positive ways." They also show a statistically significant increase in all four of the internal asset categories on Search Institute's Developmental Assets Profile (DAP), with the largest increases in Positive Self Identity and Positive Values.
- $235,129 spent. ARC's Summer Courses for Central Valley youth integrate wilderness expeditions and academic basecamps. Based in Yosemite and Tahoe, these courses facilitate the development of essential leadership and academic skills in alternative classroom settings and on outdoor adventures. Rigorous activities require physical and mental commitment and interpersonal collaboration, while building an ethos for healthy lifestyles, personal empowerment, and environmental stewardship. Challenging leadership and life-skills training focuses on self-management, goal setting, personal responsibility, teamwork, communication, and resilience. Literacy sessions develop skills in critical thinking, reading comprehension, writing, and public speaking. After participating, ARC youth respond more positively to statements including, "I am developing good health habits", and "I deal with frustration in positive ways." They also show a statistically significant increase in all four of the internal asset categories on Search Institute's Developmental Assets Profile (DAP), with the largest increases in Positive Self Identity and Positive Values.
- $258,475 spent. The academic year Community Leadership Program of ARC in the Tahoe-Truckee region is an immersive, multi-year program progression that increases access to four goals areas - literacy development, outdoor experiences, leadership development, and community building - for rural, low-income and English Learner high school students. The academic-year program is embedded in two high schools in the region, offering thousands of participant program hours of outdoor and leadership instruction each year. The program is unique and impactful because: (1) ARC staff have long-term relationships with students, and they find belonging within ARC, among their peers and the adult staff members; and (2) The curriculum integrates literacy development (especially writing and public speaking) into the more traditional aspects of outdoor education (recreational activities and leadership development).
- $222,340 spent. The academic year Community Leadership Program of ARC in the Central Valley region is an immersive, multi-year program progression that increases access to four goals areas - literacy development, outdoor experiences, leadership development, and community building - for rural, low-income and English Learner high school students. The academic-year program is embedded in two high schools in the region, offering thousands of participant program hours of outdoor and leadership instruction each year. The program is unique and impactful because: (1) ARC staff have long-term relationships with students, and they find belonging within ARC, among their peers and the adult staff members; and (2) The curriculum integrates literacy development (especially writing and public speaking) into the more traditional aspects of outdoor education (recreational activities and leadership development).
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2015.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.