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Camp Bighorn

EIN 81-0513584 · Plains, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EMBODY THE LOVE OF JESUS AND DEVELOP HONORING LEADERS. OUR VISION IS TO BE THE REGIONAL LEADER IN OUTDOOR MINISTRY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, THOSE IN NEED, AND THE NEXT GENERATION SO THAT ALL PEOPLE WOULD CARE FOR CREATION DEPPLY, SERVE OTHERS SELFLESSLY, AND LOVE GOD ABUNDANTLY.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
21
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$89,200, executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (religion, $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

    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

    9 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, 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. $465,156 spent. YOUTH AND FAMILY SUMMER CAMPS:CAMP BIGHORN'S SUMMER CAMPS SERVE YOUTH AND FAMILIES THROUGH CHRIST-CENTERED OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO DEVELOP CHARACTER, LEADERSHIP, AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION. UTILIZING THE OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT AS A CLASSROOM, PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS WHITEWATER RAFTING, ROCK CLIMBING, HIKING, TEAM-BUILDING INITIATIVES, AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES THAT FOSTER RESILIENCE, RESPONSIBILITY, AND RELATIONAL GROWTH.BIBLICAL TEACHING IS INTEGRATED THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM DAY. CAMPERS PARTICIPATE IN FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS, SMALL GROUPS, AND CHAPEL GATHERINGS THAT CONNECT DAILY EXPERIENCES TO BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES. EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON REFLECTION AND TRANSFERENCE - HELPING PARTICIPANTS APPLY LESSONS LEARNED AT CAMP TO THEIR LIVES AT HOME, SCHOOL, CHURCH, AND COMMUNITY.FAMILY CAMPS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERGENERATIONAL PARTICIPATION, STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS WHILE ENGAGING IN SHARED ADVENTURE AND SPIRITUAL ENCOURAGEMENT. ACROSS ALL SUMMER PROGRAMS, CAMP BIGHORN SEEKS TO EMBODY THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPANTS TOWARD CHRIST-HONORING LEADERSHIP IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES.
  2. $310,104 spent. JOURNEY GAP YEAR PROGRAM: THE JOURNEY PROGRAM IS AN EIGHT-MONTH RESIDENTIAL GAP YEAR EXPERIENCE FOCUSED ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, SPIRITUAL FORMATION, AND ADVENTURE-BASED DISCIPLESHIP. THE PROGRAM INTEGRATES ACADEMIC COURSEWORK, OUTDOOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY LIVING TO CULTIVATE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF GOD, SELF, AND COMMUNITY.JOURNEY INTENTIONALLY PLACES PARTICIPANTS IN A SERIES OF STRUCTURED, GROWTH-ORIENTED ENVIRONMENTS THAT CHALLENGE COMFORT ZONES AND DEVELOP RESILIENCE, HUMILITY, AND LEADERSHIP CAPACITY. STUDENTS ENGAGE IN EXPERIENCES SUCH AS EXTENDED BACKPACKING EXPEDITIONS (INCLUDING A FIVE-DAY GRAND CANYON TRIP), WHITEWATER KAYAKING, ROCK CLIMBING, WILDERNESS LEADERSHIP TRAINING, SERVICE PROJECTS, AND CROSS-CULTURAL MINISTRY EXPERIENCES. PARTICIPANTS ALSO ASSIST IN LEADING CAMP PROGRAMS, GAINING PRACTICAL LEADERSHIP AND MENTORING EXPERIENCE.THROUGH ACADEMIC STUDY, SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES, GUIDED REFLECTION, AND IMMERSIVE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE, JOURNEY SEEKS TO DEVELOP MATURE, CHRIST-CENTERED LEADERS EQUIPPED TO SERVE EFFECTIVELY IN THEIR FUTURE VOCATIONS, CHURCHES, AND COMMUNITIES.
  3. $206,736 spent. RETREAT GROUPS:CAMP BIGHORN HOSTS RETREAT GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, SERVING CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. RETREAT PROGRAMMING UTILIZES THE OUTDOOR SETTING, FACILITATED ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES, AND GROUP-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO SUPPORT SPIRITUAL GROWTH, RELATIONAL HEALTH, AND TEAM DEVELOPMENT.CUSTOMIZED PROGRAMMING MAY INCLUDE HIGH ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES, CHALLENGE COURSES, FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS, WORSHIP GATHERINGS, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EXERCISES. CAMP BIGHORN STAFF WORK ALONGSIDE GROUP LEADERS TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCES THAT INTEGRATE BIBLICAL DISCIPLESHIP PRINCIPLES WITH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. THE GOAL OF RETREAT MINISTRY IS TO CREATE SPACE FOR REFLECTION, RENEWAL, AND STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY WITHIN A CHRIST-CENTERED CONTEXT.
  4. $51,683 spent. VENTURE AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS:THE VENTURE PROGRAM AT CAMP BIGHORN PARTNERS WITH LOCAL YOUTH HOMES, THERAPEUTIC AGENCIES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND CHRIST-CENTERED RELATIONAL EXPERIENCES INTO AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CONTEXT. THROUGH GUIDED ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ROPES COURSES, HIKING, RIVER EXCURSIONS, AND TEAM-BASED CHALLENGES, PARTICIPANTS ARE INVITED TO ENGAGE WITH ONE ANOTHER IN WAYS THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY COMMUNICATION, POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING, AND CRITICAL THINKING IN REAL-WORLD SETTINGS. THE PROGRAM'S DESIGN INTENTIONALLY MOVES BEYOND STEREOTYPES AND INVITES YOUTH TO SEE THEIR IDENTITY, CHOICES, AND RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH A LENS OF DIGNITY, WORTH, AND HOPE AS REVEALED IN THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. BY SITUATING LEARNING IN THE NATURAL WORLD AND COMBINING ADVENTURE WITH INTENTIONAL REFLECTION, VENTURE FOSTERS PERSONAL GROWTH, RESILIENCE, AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS.CAMP BIGHORN OFFERS A VARIETY OF YEAR-ROUND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT EXTEND THE MINISTRY'S MISSION BEYOND TRADITIONAL OVERNIGHT CAMPS AND RETREATS, SERVING CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND DISCIPLESHIP.WILD CHILD: A SPRING SEASONAL PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY-AGED STUDENTS THAT INVITES CHILDREN TO EXPLORE NATURE, BUILD OUTDOOR SKILLS, AND GROW IN CONFIDENCE THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES LIKE FIRE-MAKING, SHELTER-BUILDING, COMPASS USE, AND CAMPFIRE COOKING. THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES OUTDOOR EXPLORATION AS A WAY FOR CHILDREN TO DISCOVER THEIR ABILITIES, CONNECT WITH GOD'S CREATION, AND DEVELOP CURIOSITY AND RESILIENCE.CLIMBING TEAM: DESIGNED FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS, THE CLIMBING TEAM PROVIDES STRUCTURED COACHING IN CLIMBING TECHNIQUES, SAFETY, AND PHYSICAL CHALLENGES WHILE FOSTERING COMMUNITY, TEAMWORK, AND PERSONAL CONFIDENCE. THIS PROGRAM CREATES A FUN, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE CLIMBERS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS CAN GROW PHYSICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND RELATIONALLY.COMMUNITY OUTREACH & OTHER PROGRAMS: IN ADDITION TO WILD CHILD AND THE CLIMBING TEAM, CAMP BIGHORN ENGAGES IN BROADER COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS - INCLUDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS, YOUTH GROUPS, AND SERVICE INITIATIVES - TO PROMOTE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT, OUTDOOR ENGAGEMENT, AND SPIRITUAL ENCOURAGEMENT OUTSIDE OF TRADITIONAL CAMP SESSIONS.

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 November 6, 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 March 2002.

    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 November 4, 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.