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Walking Mountains

EIN 84-1436731 · Avon, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO AWAKEN A SENSE OF WONDER AND INSPIRE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH NATURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION.

Income
$5.8 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
95
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$190,394, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 31 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $952,518 spent. SUSTAINABILITY & STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS:A RESOURCE AND EDUCATION HUB TO INSPIRE ACTION FROM LOCAL TO GLOBAL. SPECIFIC PROGRAM AREAS INCLUDE: ENERGY SMART COLORADO (ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLES), ZERO WASTE (EVENTS OUTREACH), ACTIVELY GREEN (SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION), ECO-SCHOOLS (SUSTAINABILITY IN K-12 SCHOOLS) AND THE ANNUAL SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY FILM SERIES. INTERNSHIPS SUPPORT FULL-TIME STAFF WORKING IN THESE AREAS. THESE PROGRAMS DIVERTED 66,000 POUNDS OF WASTE FROM THE LANDFILL.
  2. $330,687 spent. YOUTH PROGRAMS:FIELD SCIENCE PROGRAMS: THE HEART AND SOUL OF WALKING MOUNTAINS YOUTH PROGRAMMING. INCREASING SCIENCE LITERACY, PROMOTING SYSTEMS THINKING AND CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE WHILE FOSTERING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. SERVED 6,263 K-12 STUDENTS AND PRE-SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN IN EAGLE COUNTY THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL AND STANDARDS-BASED FIELD SCIENCE PROGRAMS, ALL FOR FREE.
  3. $698,231 spent. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS:ENGAGING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VISITORS OF ALL AGES THROUGH YEAR-ROUND EXPERIENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES, INTEGRATED FACILITIES, AND THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT. WALKING MOUNTAINS INTERACTED WITH 36,729 PEOPLE THIS PAST YEAR AT OUR SCIENCE CENTER, THE NATURE DISCOVERY CENTER, THE VAIL NATURE CENTER, AND OTHER LOCATIONS WHERE VISITORS LEARN ABOUT LOCAL PLANTS, ANIMALS AND THE ECOLOGY OF THE AREA. A VARIETY OF LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS AND FIELD PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR ADULTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 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 April 1998.

    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.