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North Cascades Institute

EIN 91-1327775 · Sedro Woolley, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The institutes's mission is to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in natures.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$4.7 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
17.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 40%
Employees
83
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$156,892, executive dir.

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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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: 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.4 million spent. North Cascades Environmental Learning Center (the Environmental Learning Center or the Learning Center) is a hub of discovery for all ages in one of the wildest, most biologically diverse landscapes in North America. Opened in 2005 in partnership with the National Park Service and Seattle City Light, the Learning Center is situated on Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park and includes a natural history library, aquatic and terrestrial classrooms, dining hall, amphitheater, overnight accommodations for 92 participants and 14 staff, outdoor learning rooms and access to trails.Conferences and Retreats - Custom educational programs, lodging and meals at the Environmental Learning Center inspire reflection and connection to the natural world as well as to each other. The Institute welcomes conferences, events, retreats, workshops, trainings, reunions and other gatherings. The Institute hosted 14 programs with a range of goals including accessibility for underserved groups, hiking, conservation, school groups and a wedding. In 2024, there were 419 Participants and 1317 Learner Days.Retail Operations - The Institute operates seven retail stores in and around North Cascades National Park and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. In 2024, there were new visitation and sales records as visitors from around the world came to explore and learn about the North Cascades. This partnership reaches a large and diverse audience and fosters deeper connections with nature via educational resources while also helping fund Institute and National Park Service programs.Community Programs - The Institute contributed staff, resources, and educational programming to regional community groups in the Skagit Valley in 2024.Kulshan Creek Neighborhood Youth Program is a year-round educational program that engages young people ages 5-18 from the Mount Vernon, WA neighborhoods of Kulshan Creek, Casa de San Jose and Harrison Apartments. It offers a series of monthly field trips to explore the outdoors and encourages positive social interactions with peers, adult mentors, community members and local organizations. The Institutes contribution served 28 people for 56 learner days.Concrete Summer Learning Adventure is a program for Concrete Elementary students run in partnership with the Concrete School District, Community Health Outreach Program at United General Hospital, Western Washington University and North Cascades National Park. Institute staff worked with an Environmental Science class on a semester-long project to learn the science of composting and aid students in designing more effective composting systems to manage food waste at Concrete High School. We served 17 students over 116 learner days.
  2. $1.3 million spent. Mountain School - This program is an immersive environmental education program for 5th grade classes that has been serving regional schools since 1990. Through hands-on interdisciplinary activities, students are connected to the natural and cultural history of our region, form connections with their classmates and the environment, and sharpen their understanding of their own identities.The 2024 Mountain School season was the first uninterrupted season since 2019. The program served 2,026 participants with a total of 6,078 Learner Days. The Institute implemented several refinements to the curriculum that addressed staff requests and allowed for the streamlining of student experiences during their stay.
  3. $732,131 spent. Youth Leadership - This program engages diverse local teens in multi-day backpacking and canoe-camping trips in North Cascades National Park and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. In addition to outdoor skill development, YLA focuses on leadership skills, team building, and climate change solutions, giving students the knowledge and tools they need to become stewards of the natural world and engage in community advocacy. Beyond backcountry trips, YLA offers additional opportunities for local high school students to engage in outdoor skill-building and climate activism projects. In 2024, the Institute offered nine backcountry trips for 67 participants and served 117 students through related programming, representing 861 total learner days.
  4. $558,541 spent. Adult and Family Education - The Institute's suite of Family Getaways, Base Camp Learning and Lodging, Field Seminars, Online Classes and Skagit Tours continues to bring diverse audiences to the North Cascades to learn, recreate and be inspired. Activities include art and photography classes, birding and mushrooming outings, presentations on wolves and orcas, and guided hikes and boat tours on Diablo Lake. In 2024, there were 8,686 participants and 14,038 Learner Days.Affinity Weekend was an opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds to convene together to explore, rest, reflect, and connect while staying at our campus in the North Cascades National Park. This inaugural program was also an important next step in making our programs more equitable and inclusive. We hosted 46 participants from the community groups Outdoor Asian, Latino Outdoors, and Outdoor Afro.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 December 1986.

    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.