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Big City Mountaineers Inc

EIN 65-0200163 · Arvada, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Big City Mountaineers provides transformative experiences through connections to nature that strengthen life skills and build community for youth from disinvested communities.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
16
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$114,457, executive dir.

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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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. $1.0 million spent. BIG CITY MOUNTAINEERS PROVIDES FREE, FULLY OUTFITTED AND PROFESSIONALLY LED, WILDERNESS MENTORING PADDLING EXPEDITIONS, BACKPACKING TRIPS, AND OVERNIGHT CAMPS FOR YOUTH FROM UNFAIRLY MARGINALIZED AND DISINVESTED COMMUNITIES. OUR MODEL REMOVES MATERIAL AND SOCIAL BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. WE OUTFIT OUR STUDENTS FROM HEAD TO TOE TO ENSURE THEY ARE WARM, DRY, AND SAFE. MANY OF OUR STUDENTS DO NOT SEE THEMSELVES IN POPULAR REPRESENTATIONS OF OUTDOOR CULTURE SO WE PROVIDE A COMMUNITY OF PEERS WITH WHOM THEY CAN SHARE THESE EXPERIENCES, WHILE SURROUNDING THEM WITH CARING ADULT MENTORS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT. WE STRIVE TO INCREASE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW NATURAL SPACES ARE CONNECTED TO THEIR LIVES BACK HOME AND CAN SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR GREATER PERSONAL WELLBEING AND HAPPINESS. OUR EXPEDITIONS PROVIDE A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUTH TO DEVELOP TEAMWORK, AN INCREASED SENSE OF SELF, AN UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR PLACE IN THE WORLD, A PASSION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING, AND A COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1990.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.