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Thorne Ecological Institute

EIN 84-6029250 · Lafayette, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak36 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THORNE'S MISSION IS TO BUILD EARTH STEWARDSHIP BY CONNECTING YOUTH TO NATURE THROUGH JOYFUL, HANDS-ON, PLACE-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCES.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
-3.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
82
Volunteers
207
Highest pay
$193,282, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 August 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)
  1. $2.6 million spent. CORE PROGRAMS: THORNE ACCOMPLISHES ITS MISSION THROUGH NATURE-BASED EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT PRIMARILY SERVE BOULDER COUNTY YOUTH AND FAMILIES. PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO BUILD EARTH STEWARDSHIP BY CONNECTING CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO NATURE THROUGH JOYFUL, HANDS-ON, PLACE-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCES. SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: THORNE PROVIDES FIELD TRIPS, FIELD DAYS, IN-SCHOOL LESSONS, AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT ACADEMIC LEARNING AND BUILD NATURE CONNECTION THROUGH DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS. FY25 SCFD ATTENDANCE SUPPORT DOCUMENTED QUALIFYING TOUR GROUP/PROGRAM ATTENDANCE FOR FIELD TRIP, FIELD DAY, IN-SCHOOL, AND AFTER- SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. ------ SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE DETAILS ------
  2. SUMMER CAMP: THORNE'S SUMMER CAMP PROVIDES YOUTH WITH OUTDOOR LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN LOCAL GRASSLAND, FOREST, CREEK, AND WETLAND HABITATS WITH EXPERIENCED NATURE MENTORS. IN FY25, SUMMER CAMP SERVED 1,317 CAMPER-SPOT REGISTRATIONS. CAMPER SPOTS MAY REPRESENT WEEKLY, TWO-WEEK, OR SHORTER CAMP REGISTRATIONS AND SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED AS UNIQUE STUDENTS. CAMP PROGRAMMING SUPPORTS CONFIDENCE, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL GROWTH, OUTDOOR SKILLS, ECOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING, AND STEWARDSHIP. EQUITY AND ACCESS / NATURE KIDS: THORNE REDUCES FINANCIAL AND NONFINANCIAL BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS, PARTNER-FUNDED PROGRAMMING, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, TRANSPORTATION, TRANSLATION, AND COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMMING. THROUGH NATURE KIDS/JVENES DE LA NATURALEZA, THORNE SERVES AS PROJECT LEAD FOR A COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE CONNECTING BOULDER COUNTY YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO BACKYARD-TO-BACKCOUNTRY, PRE-K THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, FAMILY-INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND OUTDOOR RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES. IN FY25, THORNE'S EQUITY AND ACCESS INVESTMENT INCLUDED APPROXIMATELY 700,000 IN NKJN-RELATED SCHOLARSHIP AND PROGRAM SUPPORT, INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 270,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND THE STAFFING INFRASTRUCTURE OF A FOUR-PERSON TEAM SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM. LAFAYETTE NATURE CENTER: THE LAFAYETTE NATURE CENTER SUPPORTS THORNE'S MISSION AS A HUB FOR PRESCHOOL, CAMP, COMMUNITY, AND NATURE-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS, HELPING CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPLORE LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS AND BUILD STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE NATURAL WORLD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1957.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.