Silverton Avalanche School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
See Schedule O
- Income
- $506,700
- Spending
- $434,194
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 98%
- Employees
- 28
- Highest pay
- $53,090, executive dir.
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
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1597% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 42 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
Weak: 21 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
- $420,837 spent. Silverton Avalanche School aspires to equip recreational and professional students with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to make informed decisions in hazardous mountain terrain, thereby aiming to prevent accidents and fatalities. For over six decades, Silverton Avalanche School has provided avalanche and snow science education and safety training. The school also provides Search and rescue training and support services based in the rugged alpine environment of San Juan County Colorado. 2024-2025 School year- Celebrated the organizations 62nd season of continuous operationFacilitated over 60 public trainings and custom courses educating over 7000 studentsProvided curriculum to hundreds more student through the SAS Provider Network22 Professional level certification courses Published our second professional field book18 Recreational level courses 16 Rescue courses- 13 were recreational level and 3 were professional level Leading provider of professional avalanche search and rescue training to ski patrol,backcountry rescue teams and mechanized rescuers. Helicopter training collaborationwith Flight for Life Colorado.2024-2025 School year- Celebrated the organizations 62nd season of continuous operationFacilitated over 60 public trainings and custom courses educating over 7000 studentsProvided curriculum to hundreds more student through the SAS Provider Network22 Professional level certification courses Published our second professional field book18 Recreational level courses 16 Rescue courses- 13 were recreational level and 3 were professional level Leading provider of professional avalanche search and rescue training to ski patrol,backcountry rescue teams and mechanized rescuers. Helicopter training collaborationwith Flight for Life Colorado
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 October 13, 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 April 2002.
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 October 21, 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.