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Washington Trails Association

EIN 91-0900134 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WASHINGTON TRAILS ASSOCIATION IS ON A MISSION TO CONNECT EVERYONE TO THE OUTDOORS AND BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT GIVES BACK TO TRAILS AND PUBLIC LANDS.

Income
$10.8 million
Spending
$8.8 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
12.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
99
Volunteers
2,894
Highest pay
$190,204, chief executive officer (ceo)

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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% 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.

  • 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 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 (4)
  1. $3.9 million spent. DEFENDING WASHINGTON'S WILD AND ICONIC PLACES: EACH YEAR, WTA ENGAGES THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS TO RESTORE AND SUSTAIN TRAILS ACROSS WASHINGTON AND ENSURE THAT ALL OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE AND WELL-MAINTAINED TRAILS. BY PARTNERING WITH LAND MANAGERS, WE EXTEND THE CAPACITY OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND HELP ADDRESS THE BACKLOG OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ON WASHINGTON'S PUBLIC LANDS. IN 2025, WTA IMPROVED NEARLY 300 TRAILS ACROSS THE STATE, WITH THE HELP OF OVER 2,800 VOLUNTEERS.
  2. $1.5 million spent. CONNECTING COMMUNITIES TO TRAILS: WTA IS WASHINGTON'S GO-TO SOURCE FOR HIKING AND TRAIL INFORMATION, PROVIDING FREE, ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES TO EQUIP PEOPLE WITH EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO BE SAFE, INFORMED AND ENGAGED STEWARDS FOR PUBLIC LANDS. IN 2025, OVER 5 MILLION PEOPLE RELIED ON WTA'S ONLINE TOOLS AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO ACCESS HIKING GUIDES, TRIP REPORTS AND TRAIL NEWS. IN 2025, HIKERS CONTRIBUTED 16,200 TRIP REPORTS, OFFERING REAL-TIME TRAIL CONDITIONS FOR RECREATIONALISTS AND VALUABLE DATA FOR LAND MANAGERS TO UNDERSTAND RECREATION TRENDS AND NEEDS. WE ALSO CONDUCT TRAILHEAD OUTREACH EFFORTS TO ENSURE RECREATIONISTS AT POPULAR TRAILS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE INFORMATION THEY NEED FOR A SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE ADVENTURE.
  3. $1.2 million spent. INSPIRING NEXT GENERATION LEADERS: WTA BELIEVES HIKING BENEFITS HEARTS, MINDS, AND BODIES AND THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE TIME OUTSIDE. WE AIM TO SPARK THIS LOVE OF THE OUTDOORS EARLY BY HELPING YOUTH DISCOVER THE WONDERS OF TIME IN NATURE -- ENSURING A NEW GENERATION OF STEWARDS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO REDUCING BARRIERS SO PEOPLE FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS CAN GO OUTDOORS. THROUGH OUR OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM, WTA PROVIDES TRAINING AND RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS AND YOUTH LEADERS TO FACILITATE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
  4. $492,367 spent. BUILDING AN OUTDOORS MOVEMENT: WTA BELIEVES PEOPLE PROTECT THE PLACES THEY LOVE TO HIKE, FROM LOCAL PARKS TO REMOTE WILDERNESS. THROUGH GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY, WE EMPOWER HIKERS TO BECOME CHAMPIONS FOR TRAILS AND PUBLIC LANDS. WTA COLLABORATES WITH FEDERAL AND STATE POLICYMAKERS TO ADVANCE OUTDOOR INTERESTS, INCLUDING FOREST PLANNING, TRAIL FUNDING, WILDERNESS PROTECTION, AND NEW RECREATION PROJECTS. IN 2025, WTA ENABLED MORE THAN 18,000 PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION FOR PUBLIC LANDS THROUGH OUR TRAIL ACTION NETWORK, AND BROUGHT TOGETHER OVER 150 ADVOCATES TO GATHER IN PERSON AT THE STATE CAPITOL FOR WTA'S HIKER RALLY DAY.

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

  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 2025.

    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 September 1980.

    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.