Grand Canyon Youth
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Grand Canyon Youth (GCY) offers educational outdoor expeditions that connect young people (ages 10 19) to the transformative power of the rivers and canyons of the Southwest. GCY has served over 14,000 youth in the 28 years since its founding in 1998. Expeditions typically run from March through October, take place on eight sections of river in Utah and Arizona, including Grand Canyon, and range from 1 18 days long. The GCY warehouse & offices are located in Flagstaff, Arizona.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 100
- Volunteers
- 160
- Highest pay
- $91,937, 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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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)
- $1.5 million spent. During 2025, GCY facilitated 61 expeditions, serving 846 youth participants from across the country who spent 4,037 days outdoors. This represents a 3% increase in youth user days over the prior year. GCY continues to be one of the most affordable programs of its kind, charging up to two-thirds less than other river trips. Participants typically pay only 25-40% of the actual cost of operating the programs; the rest is funded by grants, contributions & special events. Additionally, in 2025 over $134,000 of direct financial aid was awarded to 423 youth participants, to help ensure cost is not a deterrent to participating. GCY strives to connect underrepresented and underserved youth to the river, including Indigenous youth, survivors of trauma, refugee youth, and youth who would otherwise never have such an opportunity. The focus of GCY's programs continues to be the educational & community service curriculum, while valuing the teachable moments that occur along the river, where learning is not an abstract concept for youth but something concrete & hands-on. During 2025, participants engaged in over 16,000 hours of community service, were encouraged to earn a portion of the cost of their trip, and participated in educational projects related to the cultural or natural history of the Southwest. A "community science" project is included on nearly every expedition. GCY is proud of and grateful for its collaborative relationships with the U.S. Department of the Interior (Bureau of Land Management, Grand Canyon National Park & the U.S. Geological Survey), Native American Tribes, supportive commercial river outfitters, various nonprofit organizations and dozens of schools and youth groups.In service to our mission and values, GCY would like to acknowledge that we are located on, and visit, the ancestral homelands of the Din (Navajo), Havasu Baaja (Havasupai), Hoputuh Shi-ni-mu (Hopi), Hwal-Pai (Hualapai), Dilzhee (Western Apache), Wipukpa (Yavapai), Nuciu (Ute), and Numa (Paiute) Peoples, past and present. We recognize with gratitude the people who have stewarded these lands since time immemorial and the vibrant Native communities who make their home here today.
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 November 6, 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 May 2001.
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 November 4, 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.