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Vail Valley Foundation Inc

EIN 74-2215035 · Avon, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VAIL VALLEY FOUNDATION WAS CREATED TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE VAIL VALLEY AND SHOWCASE OUR COMMUNITY TO A GLOBAL AUDIENCE THROUGH ARTS, ATHLETICS, AND EDUCATION.

Income
$39.3 million
Spending
$22.8 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
223
Volunteers
1,164
Highest pay
$414,730, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 114% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    42 of 43 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 May 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 (4)
  1. $3.3 million spent. VAIL VALLEY FOUNDATION HOLDS THE VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL EVERY YEAR. THE FESTIVAL INCLUDES SEVERAL PERFORMANCES BY INTERNATIONAL COUPLES AND ENSEMBLES FROM MAJOR INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES HELD AT THE GERALD R. FORD AMPHITHEATER. THE PERFORMANCES VARY FROM YEAR TO YEAR, BUT FREQUENTLY INCLUDE GUEST ARTISTS FROM THE AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE AND OTHER WORLD-CLASS COMPANIES. THE FESTIVAL PROVIDES EDUCATION AND ENHANCES THE APPRECIATION AND AVAILABILITY OF DANCE IN THE VAIL COMMUNITY.
  2. $7.0 million spent. VAIL VALLEY FOUNDATION HOSTS THE BIRDS OF PREY WORLD CUP INTERNATIONAL ALPINE SKI RACE ANNUALLY. THE RACE CONSISTS OF A WORLD CUP MEN'S SUPER-COMBINED, WORLD CUP MEN'S DOWNHILL, AND A WORLD CUP MEN'S SLALOM COMPETITION. THIS ATHLETIC EVENT ATTRACTS PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD HELPING TO PROMOTE THE TOWN OF VAIL AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE VAIL VALLEY AREA.
  3. $3.0 million spent. VAIL VALLEY FOUNDATION HOLDS THE GOPRO MOUNTAIN GAMES ANNUALLY. THE EVENT IS THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST CELEBRATION OF MOUNTAIN SPORT, SOUL, AND CULTURE AND OCCURS ANNUALLY DURING THE SECOND WEEKEND OF JUNE. PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE ATHLETES FROM AROUND THE WORLD CONVERGE UPON THE MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS OF VAIL TO COMPETE IN EIGHT SPORTS AND TWENTY-ONE DISCIPLINES. IN ADDITION TO THE ATHLETIC EVENTS, THE MOUNTAIN GAMES INCLUDE A MOUNTAIN PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION, INTERACTIVE EXHIBITION AND DEMO AREA, LIVE MUSIC, AND MOUNTAIN LIFESTYLE PARTIES.
  4. $5.4 million spent. VAIL VALLEY FOUNDATION HOSTS AND SPONSORS A VARIETY OF OTHER EVENTS IN THE VAIL VALLEY AREA INCLUDING HOT SUMMER NIGHTS AND SHOW DOWN TOWN. THE EVENTS HELP TO SUPPORT A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, STRENGTHENING FAMILIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, AND KEEPING THE COMMUNITY VITAL AND EXCITING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 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 May 2025.

    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 March 1982.

    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.