Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Colorado High-Country Educational Treks Inc

EIN 81-2679227 · Lakewood, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO LEVERAGE THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE OUTDOORS AS A CATALYST FOR PERSONAL GROWTH, HEALING, AND CONNECTION FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS FACING LIFES CHALLENGES.

Income
$635,037
Spending
$542,176
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
6
Highest pay
$100,343, executive di

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 61% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 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 (1)
  1. $459,446 spent. COLORADO TREKS CONTINUED THE "I AM NATURE" SCHOOL PROGRAM AT 2 DPS PROGRAM SITES. WE HAD TWO PROGRAM ASSISTANTS WORK PART TIME TO DELIVER PROGRAMMING, AS WELL AS A HUNTING/FISHING GUIDE VOLUNTEER. WE LAUNCHED OUR ADULT AND FAMILY PROGRAM, "MOUNTAIN MEDICINE", AND TOOK GROUPS OF ADULTS AND FAMILIES TO THE BACK-COUNTRY, AS WELL AS GROUPS OF ELDERS ON MONTHLY EXCURSIONS. WE CONTINUED OUR PROGRAM MODEL OF INDIVIDUAL CHECK-INS WITH EACH STUDENT ON A WEEKLY BASIS, IN ORDER TO MONITOR PROGRESS TOWARDS INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP GOALS. WE HAD OUR SECOND FAMILY RANCH DAY, WHERE FLAT TOP PARTICIPANTS COULD BRING THEIR WHOLE FAMILY TO EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH AND RIDING HORSES, AND OTHER RANCH ACTIVITIES. ALL EVENTS FOR "I AM NATURE- AND "MOUNTAIN MEDICINE" ARE 100% FREE FOR PARTICIPANTS. WE CELEBRATED THE 5TH YEAR OF OUR BIPOC ON THE ROCK PROGRAM, SERVING 60 PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES. EACH PARTICIPANT HAD ACCESS TO FREE ENTRY TO A STATE PARK, FREE GEAR USE, AND FREE ROCK CLIMBING INSTRUCTION AT EACH EVENT. COLORADO TREKS CONTINUED THE "I AM NATURE" SCHOOL PROGRAM AT 2 DPS PROGRAM SITES. WE HAD TWO PROGRAM ASSISTANTS WORK PART TIME TO DELIVER PROGRAMMING, AS WELL AS A HUNTING/FISHING GUIDE VOLUNTEER. WE LAUNCHED OUR ADULT AND FAMILY PROGRAM, "MOUNTAIN MEDICINE", AND TOOK GROUPS OF ADULTS AND FAMILIES TO THE BACK-COUNTRY, AS WELL AS GROUPS OF ELDERS ON MONTHLY EXCURSIONS. WE CONTINUED OUR PROGRAM MODEL OF INDIVIDUAL CHECK-INS WITH EACH STUDENT ON A WEEKLY BASIS, IN ORDER TO MONITOR PROGRESS TOWARDS INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP GOALS. WE HAD OUR SECOND FAMILY RANCH DAY, WHERE FLAT TOP PARTICIPANTS COULD BRING THEIR WHOLE FAMILY TO EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH AND RIDING HORSES, AND OTHER RANCH ACTIVITIES. ALL EVENTS FOR "I AM NATURE- AND "MOUNTAIN MEDICINE" ARE 100% FREE FOR PARTICIPANTS. WE CELEBRATED THE 5TH YEAR OF OUR BIPOC ON THE ROCK PROGRAM, SERVING 60 PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES. EACH PARTICIPANT HAD ACCESS TO FREE ENTRY TO A STATE PARK, FREE GEAR USE, AND FREE ROCK CLIMBING INSTRUCTION AT EACH EVENT.

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 November 2016.

    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.