Colorado Chautauqua Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PRESERVE, PERPETUATE, AND IMPROVE THE SITE AND SPIRIT OF THE HISTORIC CHAUTAUQUA BY ENHANCING ITS COMMUNITY AND VALUES THROUGH CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCES.
- Income
- $11.1 million
- Spending
- $9.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 80%
- Employees
- 157
- Volunteers
- 205
- Highest pay
- $364,269, ceo
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: 71 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $5.4 million spent. CULTURAL RESIDENCY: FORMED IN 1901, THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA ASSOCIATION IS STEWARD OF THE HISTORIC COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA. THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA WAS FOUNDED IN 1898 AND IS ONE OF A FEW SURVIVING PERMANENT CAMPUSES FROM THE HEIGHT OF THE CHAUTAUQUA MOVEMENT OF THE LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURIES. THE BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS ARE NATIONAL AND LOCAL TREASURES, BOTH HISTORICALLY AND CULTURALLY. THE ROLLING 40-ACRE CAMPUS, NESTLED IN THE FOOTHILLS WEST OF BOULDER, IS DESIGNATED A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK AND IS INCLUDED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA IS A LIVING, ORGANIC VILLAGE OF COTTAGES AND LODGES WHERE VISITORS CAN STAY OVERNIGHT OR A SEASON TO HAVE HISTORIC AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES.OVER THE AGES, THE SHARING OF A MEAL HAS FORGED BONDS AMONG PEOPLE IN WAYS NO OTHER SOCIAL INTERACTION HAS. THE CHAUTAUQUA DINING HALL, BUILT IN 1898, IS OPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS AND GUESTS MEALS IN A BEAUTIFUL, HISTORIC SETTING. THE AMBIANCE OF THE COMMUNITY DINING ROOM AND THE MAGNIFICENCE OF THE VIEW FROM THE EXPANSIVE COLUMNED PORCH COMBINE TO MAKE EVERY DINING EXPERIENCE A TREASURED MEMORY.
- $2.5 million spent. CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: EXPOSURE TO CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC DIVERSITY, AND IN FACT, DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT ITSELF, IS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CHAUTAUQUA EXPERIENCE. CHAUTAUQUA BRINGS AN ECLECTIC MIX OF DIVERSE MUSIC PERFORMANCES AND SPEAKERS YEAR AROUND. THE SILENT FILM SERIES BRINGS THE BEST FROM THIS HISTORIC AGE WITH LIVE ACCOMPANYING MUSIC "JUST LIKE THE OLD DAYS." THE LECTURE SERIES EXTENDS AN INVITATION TO RESIDENTS/VISITORS TO EXPLORE AND DEBATE ISSUES RELEVANT TO OUR LIVES AND COMMUNITY. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE FAMILY PROGRAMS. ALSO, THE COLORADO MUSIC FESTIVAL (CMF), AN UNRELATED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, HOLDS ITS ANNUAL SUMMER FESTIVAL AT THE CHAUTAUQUA SITE. SINCE 1979, CMF HAS PRODUCED A SUMMER CLASSICAL MUSIC SERIES.
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
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 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 January 1954.
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.
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