Jim Richmond Backcountry Aviation Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO EXPAND, PRESERVE, AND PROTECT PUBLIC BACKCOUNTRY AVIATION ACCESS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF AVIATORS.
- Income
- $255,310
- Spending
- $297,434
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- -33.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 70%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 9
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
Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 43% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 85% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
- $207,978 spent. EXPANDING PUBLIC AVIATION ACCESS: THE JIM RICHMOND BACKCOUNTRY AVIATION FOUNDATION (JRBAF) WORKED TOWARD ITS MISSION OF PRESERVING AND EXPANDING PUBLIC AVIATION ACCESS BY MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING FACILITIES AT THE FOUNDATION'S FLAGSHIP PROPERTY, THE 45 RANCH, LOCATED IN SOUTHWEST IDAHO. THE 45 RANCH SERVES AS A REMOTE PUBLIC-USE BACKCOUNTRY AIRSTRIP AND RECREATION SITE THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO VAST AREAS OF THE OWYHEE CANYONLANDS. DURING THE TAX YEAR, JRBAF COMPLETED MULTIPLE CAPITAL AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY. IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDED EXPANDING AND WIDENING THE MAIN RUNWAY, CONSTRUCTING NEW PUBLIC RESTROOM FACILITIES, BUILDING A PEDESTRIAN FOOTBRIDGE, AND PURCHASING AND INSTALLING PICNIC TABLES FOR PUBLIC DAY-USE AREAS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO ACQUIRED SIDE-BY-SIDE UTILITY VEHICLES TO ALLOW VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS TO ACCESS MORE REMOTE AREAS OF THE PROPERTY SAFELY. IN ADDITION, SIGNIFICANT CLEANUP AND RESTORATION WORK WAS PERFORMED, INCLUDING HAULING AND PROPERLY DISPOSING OF ACCUMULATED DEBRIS AND RUBBISH FROM HISTORICAL RANCH OPERATIONS. EXISTING HEAVY EQUIPMENT WAS REPAIRED AND NEW EQUIPMENT WAS PURCHASED TO FACILITATE ONGOING MAINTENANCE INCLUDING SEEDING, FERTILIZING, IRRIGATING, AND MOWING THE GRASS RUNWAY, AND TO ENSURE THE DELIVERY AND SAFE STORAGE OF PROPANE, DIESEL, AND GASOLINE REQUIRED FOR OPERATIONS. THESE PROJECTS DIRECTLY SUPPORT JRBAF'S EXEMPT PURPOSE BY IMPROVING THE USABILITY, SAFETY, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF PUBLIC BACKCOUNTRY AIRSTRIPS AND ENSURING THAT REMOTE RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES REMAIN ACCESSIBLE TO PILOTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
- $1,590 spent. HISTORIC PRESERVATION: THE JIM RICHMOND BACKCOUNTRY AVIATION FOUNDATION (JRBAF) ADVANCED ITS MISSION OF PRESERVING AVIATION HERITAGE THROUGH TWO KEY PRESERVATION PROJECTS AT THE 45 RANCH. FIRST, THE FOUNDATION REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO SERVICE A 1956 BULLDOZER THAT WAS ACQUIRED WITH THE 45 RANCH PROPERTY AND HAD BEEN INOPERABLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 YEARS, ALLOWING IT TO BE USED FOR RUNWAY, ROAD, AND CONSERVATION PROJECTS ON THE PROPERTY, PRESERVING BOTH A PIECE OF WORKING HISTORY AND ITS ONGOING UTILITY FOR PUBLIC-BENEFIT IMPROVEMENTS. SECOND, JRBAF BEGAN THE REFURBISHMENT OF A CIRCA 1910 STONE CABIN LOCATED ON THE PROPERTY. THIS STRUCTURE IS ONE OF THE OLDEST SURVIVING BUILDINGS IN THE REMOTE OWYHEE CANYONLANDS AND REPRESENTS THE EARLY SETTLEMENT AND RANCHING HERITAGE OF THE REGION. RESTORATION EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED ON STRUCTURAL STABILIZATION AND HISTORICALLY APPROPRIATE REHABILITATION, ENSURING THE CABIN'S LONG-TERM PRESERVATION AND FUTURE USE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION. THESE PROJECTS FURTHER JRBAF'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE BY PROTECTING AND MAINTAINING HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT ASSETS THAT REFLECT THE CULTURAL AND AVIATION HISTORY OF AMERICA'S BACKCOUNTRY.
- STEWARDSHIP AND CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT: THE JIM RICHMOND BACKCOUNTRY AVIATION FOUNDATION (JRBAF) ADVANCED ITS COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE LAND STEWARDSHIP AND LONG-TERM CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT OF REMOTE AVIATION PROPERTIES. THESE EFFORTS ENSURE THAT BACKCOUNTRY AIRSTRIPS AND THE SURROUNDING NATURAL LANDSCAPES REMAIN HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT. AT THE 45 RANCH, JRBAF IMPLEMENTED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT PROTECT THE PROPERTY'S ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY WHILE SUPPORTING SAFE AVIATION AND RECREATION. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED REMOVING BARBED WIRE FENCES, MAINTAINING WATER SYSTEMS THAT SUPPLY SENSITIVE RIPARIAN AREAS ON THE PROPERTY, CONTROLLING INVASIVE WEEDS, AND COORDINATING USE WITH THE BLM AND THE NATURE CONSERVANCY UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENT GUIDELINES, ENSURING THAT AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE REMAINS COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT. JRBAF'S STEWARDSHIP WORK EMPHASIZES BALANCING PUBLIC ACCESS WITH SOUND ECOLOGICAL AND OPERATIONAL PRINCIPLES. IN DOING SO, THE FOUNDATION SAFEGUARDS THE LONG-TERM PUBLIC BENEFIT OF THESE LANDS WHILE HONORING THEIR NATURAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
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
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 2024.
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 September 2023.
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.