Adventure Crew
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF ADVENTURE CREW IS TO CONNECT CITY TEENS TO NATURE AND EACH OTHER THROUGH ENGAGING OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. THROUGH ADVENTURE CREW, CITY TEENS DEVELOP THE COURAGEOUS SPIRIT TO STEP OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE AND DISCOVER NEW WORLDS OUTSIDE IN NATURE, AND INSIDE THEMSELVES. FOR 11 YEARS, ADVENTURE CREW HAS BEEN WORKING TO REMOVE THE BARRIERS MANY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FACE IN EXPERIENCING THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND SOCIAL WELLBEING GAINED FROM TIME SPENT IN NATURE AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES. THIS FISCAL YEAR, OVER 700 CREW TEENS TOOK ON FUN, NEW CHALLENGES THROUGH OUR 4-TIERED PROGRESSIVE PROGRAM FRAMEWORK, THE "CREW PATHWAYS". AT EACH LEVEL, STUDENTS EXPERIENCE THE PEACE, BEAUTY, AND INVIGORATION OF NATURAL SPACES, REDEFINING THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OUTDOORS AS A TRANSFORMATIONAL RESOURCE AND A PLACE OF INCLUSION AND BELONGING.
- Income
- $895,789
- Spending
- $844,079
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 4.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 46%
- Employees
- 27
- Volunteers
- 405
- Highest pay
- $88,000, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 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 August 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)
- $442,758 spent. SCHOOL-BASED OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PROGRAMDURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, ADVENTURE CREW PARTNERED WITH 21 CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND 6 PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NORTHERN KNETUCKY TO ENGAGE OVER 900 UNIQUE STUDENTS IN GRADES 7-12, PROVIDING OUTDOOR ADVENTURES FOR CITY TEENS AT NO COST. OUR ADVENTURES INCLUDE KAYAKING AND CANOEING, HIKING, ROPES COURSES, SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING, ICE AND ROLLER SKATING, ROCK CLIMBING, CAMPING, AND CYCLING ON NATURAL AND PAVED TRAILS. SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS ALSO PROVIDE HANDS-ON LEARNING IN ENV. SCIENCE, CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGY, AND INTRODUCTION TO CAREER PATHWAYS ACROSS THE OUTDOOR REC AND ENVIRONMENTAL SECTORS.
- $115,090 spent. IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, ADVENTURE CREW PRODUCED THE 24TH YEAR OF THE OHIO RIVER PADDLEFEST, HELD THE FIRST SATURDAY IN AUGUST. PADDLEFEST IS THE NATION'S LARGEST PADDLING EVENT AND AN OPEN-TO-THE-PUBLIC COMMUNITY PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO THE OHIO RIVER AND OUTDOOR RECREATION. THIS YEAR, JUST OVER 1,650 KAYAKERS, CANOEERS, AND STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDERS REGISTERED TO PARTICIPATE. ADVENTURE CREW YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN PADDLEFEST AS VOLUNTEERS AND PADDLERS, DIRECTLY CONNECTING THE EVENT TO ADVENTURE CREW'S MISSION OF EXPANDING OUTDOOR ACCESS FOR CITY TEENS. THE EVENING BEFORE PADDLEFEST, ADVENTURE CREW HOSTED THE OUTDOORS FOR ALL EXPO, A FREE-ADMISSION COMMUNITY GATHERING FEATURING 70 VENDORS FROM THE OUTDOOR RECREATION, RETAIL, NONPROFIT, AND GOVERNMENT SECTORS, ALONG WITH LIVE MUSIC, FOOD, AND DRINKS.IN LATE AUGUST OF EACH YEAR, ADVENTURE CREW HOSTS THE BILL KEATING, JR. GREAT OHIO RIVER SWIM, AN OPEN-TO-THE-PUBLIC COMMUNITY PROGRAM THAT BRINGS TOGETHER OPEN-WATER SWIMMERS ON THE OHIO RIVER. THIS YEAR, 220 SWIMMERS PARTICIPATED, CROSSING THE OHIO RIVER AND BACK, WITH THE OPTION TO ENTER THE "DOUBLE DIP", AN ADDITIONAL 2.5-MILE SWIM ALONG THE OHIO BANK BEFORE ENTERING THE MAIN COURSE. PROCEEDS SUPPORT ADVENTURE CREW'S SWIMMING PROGRAMS AND BROADER OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING FOR CITY TEENS.
- ADVENTURE CREW HELD THE 24TH YEAR OF THE OHIO RIVER PADDLEFEST, THE NATION'S LARGEST PADDLING EVENT WITH OVER 1,800 KAYAKERS, CANOERS, AND STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDERS. CREW STUDENTS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN PADDLEFEST AS VOLUNTEERS AND PADDLERS. THE DAY BEFORE PADDLEFEST, ADVENTURE CREW HOSTS THE OUTDOORS FOR ALL EXPO, WITH 80 VENDORS FROM OUTDOOR REC, RETAIL, NONPROFIT AND GOVERNMENT SECTORS, WITH LIVE MUSIC, FOOD, AND DRINKS. ADVENTURE CREW ALSO HOSTED THE BILL KEATING JR. GREAT OHIO RIVER SWIM FOR 250 SWIMMERS TO COMPLETE AN OPEN-WATER SWIM ACROSS THE OHIO RIVER TO KENTUCKY AND BACK, RAISING FUNDS FOR OUR SWIM PROGRAM AND OTHER OUTDOOR ADVENTURES FOR YOUTH. ADVENTURE CREW ALSO HOSTED A RANGE OF FUNDRAISING EVENTS, INCLUDING OUR SIGNATURE FALL EVENT, SUMMITS & HORIZONS, THE OUTDOOR GEAR SALE, NO MAN'S LAND FILM FESTIVAL, ONLINE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS, RAFFLES, AND AUCTIONS, AND DIRECT MAIL CAMPAIGNS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 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 August 2025.
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 August 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.