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American Association of Avalanche Professionals

EIN 74-2378891 · Jackson, WY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN AVALANCHE ASSOCIATION PROMOTES PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE IN AVALANCHE SAFETY, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES.

Income
$694,747
Spending
$692,007
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 41%
Employees
4
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$99,773, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 June 30, 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)
  1. $333,331 spent. TECHNICAL INFORMATION, RESEARCH, AND PUBLICATIONS: A3 SHARED TECHNICAL SNOW AND AVALANCHE INFORMATION AND RESEARCH THROUGH PRINTED PUBLICATIONS, DIGITAL PLATFORMS, AND REFERENCE MATERIALS. THIS INCLUDED PUBLICATION OF THE AVALANCHE REVIEW, A TRADE PERIODICAL SERVING THE AVALANCHE INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONALLY. DURING THIS PAST WINTER SEASON, A3 PUBLISHED FOUR ISSUES (OCTOBER, DECEMBER, FEBRUARY, AND APRIL). A3 MAINTAINED AVALANCHE.ORG, WHICH CONNECTS THE PUBLIC TO AVALANCHE SAFETY RESOURCES, INCLUDING LOCAL AND REGIONAL AVALANCHE FORECASTS, A LISTING OF EDUCATION PROVIDERS ALIGNED WITH A3 GUIDELINES, AND AN ONLINE AVALANCHE LIBRARY OF CURATED ARTICLES AND REFERENCE MATERIALS. A3 ALSO CONTINUED ITS TECHNICAL PUBLISHING PROGRAM THROUGH PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF SNOWY TORRENTS, AND THE SNOW WEATHER AND AVALANCHE GUIDELINES. TECHNICAL INFORMATION, RESEARCH, AND PUBLICATIONS: A3 SHARED TECHNICAL SNOW AND AVALANCHE INFORMATION AND RESEARCH THROUGH PRINTED PUBLICATIONS, DIGITAL PLATFORMS, AND REFERENCE MATERIALS. THIS INCLUDED PUBLICATION OF THE AVALANCHE REVIEW, A TRADE PERIODICAL SERVING THE AVALANCHE INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONALLY. DURING THIS PAST WINTER SEASON, A3 PUBLISHED FOUR ISSUES (OCTOBER, DECEMBER, FEBRUARY, AND APRIL). A3 MAINTAINED AVALANCHE.ORG, WHICH CONNECTS THE PUBLIC TO AVALANCHE SAFETY RESOURCES, INCLUDING LOCAL AND REGIONAL AVALANCHE FORECASTS, A LISTING OF EDUCATION PROVIDERS ALIGNED WITH A3 GUIDELINES, AND AN ONLINE AVALANCHE LIBRARY OF CURATED ARTICLES AND REFERENCE MATERIALS. A3 ALSO CONTINUED ITS TECHNICAL PUBLISHING PROGRAM THROUGH PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF SNOWY TORRENTS, AND THE SNOW WEATHER AND AVALANCHE GUIDELINES.
  2. $156,786 spent. PROFESSIONAL AND RECREATIONAL AVALANCHE EDUCATION AND TRAINING: A3 ESTABLISHED, MAINTAINED, AND OVERSAW NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PROFESSIONAL AND RECREATIONAL AVALANCHE EDUCATION TO PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY AND CONSISTENT, HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTION. FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION, A3 COORDINATED PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS DELIVERED THROUGH SIX APPROVED PROVIDERS. DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD, APPROXIMATELY 61 COURSES WERE CONDUCTED, EDUCATING 600+ STUDENTS. A3 ALSO CONDUCTED WORKSHOPS TO PREPARE AND EVALUATE FUTURE PROFESSIONAL COURSE INSTRUCTORS AND REFINED PROGRAM STANDARDS AS NEEDED. FOR RECREATIONAL EDUCATION, A3 MAINTAINED CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTOR STANDARDS FOR RECREATIONAL LEVEL COURSES, AND RECOGNIZED COURSE PROVIDERS AND INSTRUCTORS WHOSE PROGRAMS ALIGNED WITH NATIONAL GUIDELINES. RECOGNIZED COURSES INCLUDE AVALANCHE AWARENESS, RECREATIONAL LEVEL 1, AVALANCHE RESCUE, AND RECEREATIONAL LEVEL 2. PROFESSIONAL AND RECREATIONAL AVALANCHE EDUCATION AND TRAINING: A3 ESTABLISHED, MAINTAINED, AND OVERSAW NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PROFESSIONAL AND RECREATIONAL AVALANCHE EDUCATION TO PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY AND CONSISTENT, HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTION. FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION, A3 COORDINATED PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS DELIVERED THROUGH SIX APPROVED PROVIDERS. DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD, APPROXIMATELY 61 COURSES WERE CONDUCTED, EDUCATING 600+ STUDENTS. A3 ALSO CONDUCTED WORKSHOPS TO PREPARE AND EVALUATE FUTURE PROFESSIONAL COURSE INSTRUCTORS AND REFINED PROGRAM STANDARDS AS NEEDED. FOR RECREATIONAL EDUCATION, A3 MAINTAINED CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTOR STANDARDS FOR RECREATIONAL LEVEL COURSES, AND RECOGNIZED COURSE PROVIDERS AND INSTRUCTORS WHOSE PROGRAMS ALIGNED WITH NATIONAL GUIDELINES. RECOGNIZED COURSES INCLUDE AVALANCHE AWARENESS, RECREATIONAL LEVEL 1, AVALANCHE RESCUE, AND RECEREATIONAL LEVEL 2.
  3. $81,003 spent. GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH: A3 SUPPORTED REGIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS THROUGH THE A3 REGIONAL EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM. A3 ALSO PROVIDED GRANT SUPPORT FOR SNOW AND AVALANCHE RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT ADVANCE SAFETY, EDUCATION, AND SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 1986.

    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.