Elk Mountain Academy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND MENTORING TO STUDENTS. TO PROVIDE A HEALTHY CHANGE FOR TEENS AND FAMILIES THROUGH ACADEMIC, THERAPEUDIC, EXPERIMENTAL AND 12 STEP EDUCATION. TO GIVE THE STUDENTS THE TOOLS NECESSARY FOR THEM TO LEAD FULFILLING AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES. TO HELP THE STUDENTS ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS, DEVELOP SPIRITUAL AWARENESS, OVERCOME EMOTIONAL OBSTACLES, AND CONQUER ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS. MOST STUDENTS COMPLETE THE PROGRAM WITHIN EIGHTEEN MONTHS.
- Income
- $8.8 million
- Spending
- $7.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 100%
- Employees
- 109
- Highest pay
- $137,268, chairman
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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 32% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
- $6.1 million spent. PROVIDED EDUCATION AND MENTORING TO STUDENTS BY PROVIDING A HEALTHY CHANGE FOR TEENS AND FAMILIES THROUGH ACADEMIC, THERAPEUDIC, EXPERIMENTAL AND 12 STEP EDUCATION.
- $187,279 spent. DEPRECIATION. IN SUPPORT FOR THE 1ST PURPOSE ACCOMPLISHMENT.
- DEPRECIATION. IN SUPPORT FOR THE 1ST PURPOSE ACCOMPLISHMENT.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1996.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.