Association of Polar Tour Guides
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
To provide an internationally recognized process of performance testing and qualification for guides across all platforms of polar guiding.
- Income
- $124,774
- Spending
- $123,454
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- $107,261 spent. *Continued working with the scope of a non-profit professional industry association*83 New Certified Guides through the Polar Tourism Guides Association: 9 new Polar Guides (Aspirant), 29 new Polar Guides, 19 new Senior Polar Guides, 24 new Provisional Assessors, and 2 new Senior Assessors*PTGA Members 701 Senior Polar Guides 287 Polar Guides 269 Polar Guide (Aspirant)- 88 Provisional and Full Assessors 66 Senior Assessors - 6*Continued operations in the Arctic and Antarctic regions *PTGA attended international IAATO meeting in Providence, Rhode Island in September 2024 and in Cascais, Portugal in April 2025*PTGA working in collaboration with Trade Associations AECO and IAATO to plan for an international meeting of polar field staff next year in March 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal *Ran 2 Assessor Training Courses internationally *Sarah Merusi continues as the Executive Director and Graham Charles as the Program Director. Alex Hansen remains in the role of Area of Responsibility Manager.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(6) business league.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending April 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.