American Heroes in Action
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
American Heroes in Action provides all expenses paid therapeutic outdoor adventures to combat veterans and injured first responders
- Income
- $190,296
- Spending
- $204,423
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $36,781, president
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: 58 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 29 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Independent board
0 of 251 of 1 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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, 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 (5)
- $13,771 spent. Our annual Back the Blue fishing trip to Alaska sent 6 law enforcement offices on a week-long fishing trip to Juneau, Alaska. Funds were spent on the fishing guide, plus lodging, transportation and meals.
- $11,424 spent. Working with an outfitter from Southern Colorado American Heroes in Action sent 34 Veterans and first responders hunting for turkey, deer and ducks. Funds were spent on the hunting guides, lodging, transportation and meals.
- $9,534 spent. In October, American Heroes in Action sent 4 Veterans on a combination hunting and fishing trip to Adak Island, Alaska. Funds were spent on the Outfitter, transportation, lodging and meals.
- $169,694 spent. Including the top 3 service programs, American Heroes in Action provided a total of 65 adventures for 320 combat Veteran and injured first responder participants in 2025. AHIA paid an additional $126,480 in grants for additional hunting trips, fishing trips, golf, and other outdoor adventures. Total Program Service Accomplishment Expenditures was $161,209. Overall Expenditures was $204,423. This online form would not let me separate other expenditures into column A and column B in Section IX, so I added the extra $43,423 here so I could efile this return in time.
- Part III Line 4d - In 2025, the total expenditures for American Heroes in Action Program Services (outdoor adventures for Veterans and first responders), was $161,209. The top 3 adventures, as a total of program expenditures, are listed under 4a, 4b and 4c. The total of 4a, 4b, and 4c is $34,729. That leaves a balance of $126,480. In 2025 American Heroes in Action hosted a total of 65 adventures for a total of 320 participants. The $126,480 was spent on the remaining 62 outdoor adventures.
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
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.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2018 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2018.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2020.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.