Passes our checks

Arches Alaska

EIN 82-4502294 · Homer, AK

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

What it says it does

See Schedule O

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

Reserves
28 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 7.5 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 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
100% 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

Weak: 21 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

Independent board
5 of 25
0 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15
Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 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 December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$901,819 spent. Salmonfest is A.R.C.H.E.S. primary endeavor, a music festival entering its 13th year that garners a crowd of over 8,000 people each August in the Kenai Peninsula village of Ninilchik. Salmonfest is a celebration of salmon that also serves as a major awareness raising event and a rallying cry for the preservation of Bristol Bay that is again under threat by the proposed Pebble Mine. Producing a large scale music festival consumes the vast majority of A.R.C.H.E.S. annual budget, but the organization strives to make as many donations to Alaskan organizations working on initiatives that fall within the purview of A.R.C.H.E.S. mission.
$267,286 spent. Special events are supported from time to time to raise awareness of related conservation concerns.
$13,157 spent. Alices Music Series is a series of music showcases featuring groups that have been popular at Salmonfest in the past, as well as testing the reception of bands being considered for the upcoming Salmonfest.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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.
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? 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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
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.