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Passes our checks

Bentonville Bella Vista Blazer Association

EIN 71-0785162 · Bentonville, AR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LEAD THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INNOVATIVE REGIONAL RECREATION AND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT PLACES TRAILS AND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE CORE OF AN INCLUSIVE, VIBRANT, AND HEALTHY CULTURE.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$15.7 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
34
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$170,434, chief executive officer

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

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 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 423% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 90% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $10.8 million spent. TRAILBLAZERS ADVANCE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND OUTDOOR RECREATION BY PLANNING, FUNDING, CONSTRUCTING, AND MAINTAINING SHARED USE PAVED AND MULTI-USE SOFT SURFACE TRAILS THROUGHOUT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS AND THE ARKANSAS/MISSISSIPPI DELTA REGION. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF MORE THAN 200 MILES OF TRAIL NETWORK AND MANAGED MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN PROGRESS. TRAILBLAZERS COORDINATED COMMUNITY TRAIL MAINTENANCE VOLUNTEERISM, ENGAGING HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS IN STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES, AND LED OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROMOTING SAFE, EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES. THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH MUNICIPALITIES, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS, TRAILBLAZERS EXPANDED ACCESS TO OUTDOOR SPACES AND STRENGTHENED REGIONAL MOBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY.

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 1997.

    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.