Passes our checks

Color My Outdoors

EIN 87-1339442 · Asheville, NC

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

What it says it does

TO CHANGE THE OUTDOOR NARRATIVE TO BE INCLUSIVE AND REPRESENTATIVE OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.

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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, under $250k).

Reserves
4 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20
It owes 56% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 411% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, under $250k).

Independent board
18 of 25
4 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15
Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8
Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7
Reports no 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10
Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)

$32,234 spent. CHANGING PERCEPTION: RESHAPING NARRATIVES IN THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY TO CELEBRATE THE STORIES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, BREAKING DOWN STEREOTYPES AND BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE CULTURE.
$15,628 spent. CULTIVATING LEADERS: NURTURING EMERGING OUTDOOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS OF COLOR THROUGH TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
$37,134 spent. COLLABORATING TOWARD CHANGE: DRIVING SYSTEMIC TRANSFORMATION BY CONNECTING ORGANIZATIONS, SHARING RESOURCES, AND SUPPORTING DIVERSE-LED BUSINESSES TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE OUTDOOR CULTURE.
$8,150 spent. BUILDING SKILLS & CONFIDENCE: EMPOWERING ADULTS TO ENGAGE WITH THE OUTDOORS THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, EQUIPPING THEM WITH SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE TO SHARE NATURE WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES.
$14,519 spent. FISCAL SPONSORSHIP FOR TWO ORGANIZATIONS: RIDING IN COLOR + VET SPACE

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

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 March 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 2022.
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.