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Arizona Trail Association

EIN 86-0762149 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO COORDINATE THE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, AND PROMOTION OF THE ARIZONA TRAIL FOR RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES OF NONMOTORIZED TRAIL USERS.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
18
Volunteers
1,700
Highest pay
$100,487, executive director

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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $1.1 million spent. WORKED WITH OVER 1,700 VOLUNTEERS WHO CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN 18,700 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE. RECRUITED AND TRAINED 8 NEW SEGMENT STEWARDS AND 2 NEW REGIONAL STEWARDS FOR A TOTAL OF 156 STATEWIDE. HOSTED 95 SINGLE AND MULTI-DAY VOLUNTEER TRAIL WORK EVENTS, WHICH INCLUDED 9 TRAIL SKILLS INSTITUTE CLASSES. 18 VOLUNTEER SAWYERS CLEARED OVER 100 TREES ON THE AZT. FINALIZED 20 MILES OF TRAIL REROUTES, WHICH REMOVED THE TRAIL FROM ROADS AND OTHER UNSUSTAINABLE AREAS TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM ACT. INSTALLED 2 STEEL GATES AND 10 ROLLOVER GATES. INSTALLED 4 HIGHWAY SIGNS, 2 FOREST ROAD SIGNS, 2 NEW TRAILHEAD SIGNS, 19 STEEL NAVIGATIONAL SIGNS, AND 1 INTERPRETIVE SIGN ON THE TRAIL. UPDATED 31 TRAIL AND TRAILHEAD SIGNS TO COMPLEMENT NEW TRAIL CONSTRUCTION ALONG AN UPDATED PASSAGE. FACILITATED 9 VETERANS WORK WEEKENDS, ENGAGING 114 MILITARY-AFFILIATED VOLUNTEERS. ENGAGED OVER 680 YOUTH IN TRAIL EXPLORATION AND MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES. SERVED 77 GIRLS IN THE MOUNTAIN BIKING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG WOMEN, INTRODUCING THEM TO TRAIL MAINTENANCE.

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 2024.

    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 1994.

    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.