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Trails and Open Space Coalition

EIN 84-1156471 · Colorado Spgs, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE PROVIDE A VOICE TO THE USERS OF OUR OUTDOOR SPACES IN THE PIKESPEAK REGION BY COMMUNICATING A COLLECTIVE VISION, FOSTERING FRIENDSGROUPS, AND PUBLICLY ADVOCATING FOR TRAILS AND OPEN SPACES. WEIDENTIFY OPEN SPACE, TRAILS AND PARKS PRIORITIES TOGETHER WITH CITIZENS AND PARTNERS, AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALSWORK WITH THOSE CITIZENS AND PARTNERS TO FIND LAND WITH CONSERVATIONVALUES WORTH PRESERVING AND WORK TO GET IT PROTECTED FOREVER HELP LOCALGOVERNMENTS TO MAKE THEIR TRAILS, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLANS AREALITY DEVELOP PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO BENEFIT TRAILS, PARKSAND OPEN SPACE INFORM THE PUBLIC, GOVERNMENT, AND BUSINESSES ABOUTRECREATION AND TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES; AND ABOUT THE ECONOMIC,TOURISM, HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS AND EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS OFTRAILS, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE HOST EVENTS, GUIDED HIKES AND OUTINGSENCOURAGE, COORDINATE AND SUPPORT TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE VOLUNTEERISM,COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, AND MEMBERSHIP

Income
$464,370
Spending
$447,526
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
9.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
6
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$76,296, executive dir.

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.6 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 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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

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. $389,429 spent. In 2024 we again invested staff time in our crew leader training program to improve outcomes for friends groups across the region. We also continued to train new volunteer Trail Ambassadors for our busier trailheads to provide safety information to users and protect the resource. Our Get out Get Healthy program in Southeast Colorado Springs is connecting residents with local parks and trails through guided walks and bike-rides.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1991.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.