Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Rochester Accessible Adventures

EIN 47-5366589 · Rochester, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood87 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To improve the health and wellness of people with disabilities by guiding communities to create a culture of physical accessibility, social inclusion and equitable access in recreation, sports and tourism. (Continued on Sch O.)We address the way our communities strategically and intentionally include people with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.

Income
$299,209
Spending
$200,340
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%
Employees
4
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$56,459, 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: 87 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    12 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, 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 (3)
  1. $126,707 spent. Inclusion Partnerships: RAA implements Inclusion Partnerships with recreation businesses to train them to be able to remove both physical and social barriers so that children and adults with disabilities have equitable access. During 2024, we continued our work with our Inclusion Partners, including a catalyzing contract that has added new Inclusion Partners like Elevator Alley Kayak, Erie Canal Museum, Capt LJ Adventures, Corn Hill Navigation, Genesee Land Trust, and more.Our 2024 efforts resulted in the successful removal of barriers and increased outreach to people with disabilities, including programmatic, operational, and physical barriers.
  2. $7,240 spent. Adaptive Sports Teams: RAA supports the development and sustainability of Adaptive & Inclusive Sports (Teams) and in 2024 continued our WNY Adaptive & Inclusive Collaborative with Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports to address the lack of access to sports across the WNY region. Our adult Sled Hockey team began its season in the Fall and provided clinics for recruiting new players from the community. We continued youth outreach for a new sled hockey program. Our youth inclusive wheelchair basketball, the Rochester Rockets, met weekly in a community R Center for practices, engaging local youth from that community in pre-practice games. RAA also worked with USTA Eastern to provide wheelchair tennis clinics. We also set things in motion to begin wheelchair lacrosse.
  3. $14,080 spent. Education and Outreach: RAA provides Education & Outreach through our Regional Resource Network to connect people with disabilities, health care professionals who provide services to people with disabilities, and our Community Health Inclusion initiatives. Our work is now distributed to 10,560+ people with disabilities, families and providers in our region. We formalized our #WeWillInclude platform for individuals and groups to access a free online Inclusion Ambassador Training, exceeding our 500 milestone with 576 people who have been given access to the training. RAA partnered with Nazareth University Occupational Therapy Students to complete a pilot research project regarding people living with Parkinson's and their participation in pickleball. (Continued on Schedule O.)RAA participated in 17 outreach and education events in 2024 in order to ensure individuals and family members learn about and are directly connected to resources, programs, and opportunities that provide inclusive and accessible experience.We reached many individuals through events, supported programs, and inclusive sports teams. We were in the news 26 times; held our first-ever Pickle Dink & Lob pickleball event; attended a record number - 17 - community outreach events; facilitated our first whitewater rafting event; and expanded our Inclusion Partner outreach from Buffalo to Schuylerville, NY! We jumped from 20 inclusion partners to 26 in 2024. We reached 10,560 people through 125 events with 304.5 hours of engagement. Our volunteers provided 1053.25 hours of support in 2024!

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

  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 2024.

    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 2017.

    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.