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The Access Fund

EIN 94-3131165 · Boulder, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ACCESS FUND IS TO LEAD AND INSPIRE THE CLIMBING COMMUNITY TOWARD SUSTAINABLE ACCESS AND CONSERVATION OF THE CLIMBING ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
10.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
35
Volunteers
723
Highest pay
$155,716, interim exec

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 88 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 June 30, 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 (5)
  1. $897,736 spent. STEWARDSHIP AND CONSERVATION: ACCESS FUND PARTNERS WITH LAND MANAGERS AND LOCAL CLIMBING ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY AND ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AT CLIMBING AREAS. OUR ACCESS FUND CONSERVATION TEAMS TRAVEL THE COUNTRY ASSESSING CLIMBING AREA CONSERVATION NEEDS, WORKING WITH LOCALS TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS, AND PROVIDING STEWARDSHIP BEST PRACTICES. ADDITIONALLY, THE ACCESS FUND HELPS ORGANIZE VOLUNTEER EVENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. OUR STEWARDSHIP VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, ADOPT A CRAG, UNITES LOCAL CLIMBING COMMUNITIES IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH LAND MANAGERS TO CONSERVE THEIR LOCAL CLIMBING AREAS.
  2. $681,564 spent. CLIMBING MANAGEMENT POLICY - ACCESS FUND WORKS WITH LEGISLATORS, MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION, STATE AGENCIES, TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, AND OFFICIALS FROM THE US FOREST SERVICE, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AND BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT CLIMBERS' INTERESTS ARE REPRESENTED IN PUBLIC LAND PLANNING. WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH THESE OFFICIALS TO EDUCATE AND ADVOCATE FOR MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES THAT BALANCE CLIMBING ACCESS WITH RESOURCE CONSERVATION, RESPONSIBLE PLACEMENT AND REPLACEMENT OF FIXED ANCHORS, SUSTAINABLE CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF CLIMBING AREAS, AND RECOGNITION OF THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF CLIMBING. ACCESS FUND ALSO WORKS WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL LAND MANAGERS ON CLIMBING MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND STEWARDSHIP OF CLIMBING AREAS.
  3. $499,486 spent. LOCAL SUPPORT AND MOBILIZATION - ACCESS FUND WORKS TO EMPOWER LOCAL ADVOCATES TO JOIN TOGETHER AND FORM LOCAL CLIMBING ORGANIZATIONS. ACCESS FUND SUPPORTS THESE LOCAL GROUPS WITH GRANTS, ONE-ON-ONE GUIDANCE WHEN AN ACCESS ISSUE OCCURS, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS, AND CONSULTING ON POLITICAL, LEGAL, AND REGULATORY ISSUES. THE ACCESS FUND REGULARLY HOSTS CONFERENCES AND SUMMITS, WHICH BRING TOGETHER LAND MANAGERS AND CLIMBERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES IN CLIMBING STEWARDSHIP, LAND CONSERVATION, POLICY, LOCAL SUPPORT AND MOBILIZATION, AND VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT.
  4. $179,426 spent. LAND ACQUISITION AND PROTECTION - THE ACCESS FUND CLIMBING CONSERVATION LOAN PROGRAM IS THE FIRST-EVER REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES LOCAL CLIMBING ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER AGENCIES WITH THE FUNDS AND EXPERTISE TO ACT QUICKLY TO SAVE THREATENED CLIMBING AREAS. IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, ACCESS FUND WILL HOLD ENDANGERED PROPERTY ON BEHALF OF THE CLIMBING COMMUNITY. AS OF 06/30/25, ACCESS FUND OWNED ONE PROPERTY IN FEE; LEASED TWO PROPERTIES; HELD CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON TEN PROPERTIES; AND MANAGED THREE PROPERTIES UNDER CONTRACT. EDUCATION THE ACCESS FUND ADVANCES CLIMBER EDUCATION THROUGH THE LENS OF MINIMUM IMPACT BEHAVIORS SO THAT CLIMBERS BECOME BETTER STEWARDS OF THE NATIONS CLIMBING RESOURCES. THROUGH THE CLIMBER STEWARD PROGRAM, SOCIAL MEDIA OUTREACH, PRINT PUBLICATIONS, AND THE VERTICAL TIMES NEWSLETTER, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES UP-TO-DATE NEWS ON POLICY, AREA REPORTS, EVENTS, ACTION ALERTS, GRANTS, AND MORE. RISK MANAGEMENT AND LANDOWNER SUPPORT THE ACCESS FUND WORKS WITH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LANDOWNERS ON TOOLS AND STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE BOTH REAL AND PERCEIVED RISKS OF CLIMBINGGIVING THEM THE CONFIDENCE AND PROTECTIONS THEY NEED TO OPEN THEIR LAND TO PUBLIC ACCESS. THE ACCESS FUND WORKS TO STRENGTHEN STATE RECREATIONAL USE STATUTES AND HELPS LANDOWNERS IMPLEMENT WAIVER SYSTEMS AND OTHER TYPES OF ACCESS AGREEMENTS TO MITIGATE RISKS.
  5. LAND ACQUISITION AND PROTECTION - THE ACCESS FUND CLIMBING CONSERVATION LOAN PROGRAM IS THE FIRST-EVER REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES LOCAL CLIMBING ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER AGENCIES WITH THE FUNDS AND EXPERTISE TO ACT QUICKLY TO SAVE THREATENED CLIMBING AREAS. IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, ACCESS FUND WILL HOLD ENDANGERED PROPERTY ON BEHALF OF THE CLIMBING COMMUNITY. AS OF 06/30/25, ACCESS FUND OWNED ONE PROPERTY IN FEE; LEASED TWO PROPERTIES; HELD CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON TEN PROPERTIES; AND MANAGED THREE PROPERTIES UNDER CONTRACT. EDUCATION THE ACCESS FUND ADVANCES CLIMBER EDUCATION THROUGH THE LENS OF MINIMUM IMPACT BEHAVIORS SO THAT CLIMBERS BECOME BETTER STEWARDS OF THE NATIONS CLIMBING RESOURCES. THROUGH THE CLIMBER STEWARD PROGRAM, SOCIAL MEDIA OUTREACH, PRINT PUBLICATIONS, AND THE VERTICAL TIMES NEWSLETTER, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES UP-TO-DATE NEWS ON POLICY, AREA REPORTS, EVENTS, ACTION ALERTS, GRANTS, AND MORE. RISK MANAGEMENT AND LANDOWNER SUPPORT THE ACCESS FUND WORKS WITH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LANDOWNERS ON TOOLS AND STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE BOTH REAL AND PERCEIVED RISKS OF CLIMBINGGIVING THEM THE CONFIDENCE AND PROTECTIONS THEY NEED TO OPEN THEIR LAND TO PUBLIC ACCESS. THE ACCESS FUND WORKS TO STRENGTHEN STATE RECREATIONAL USE STATUTES AND HELPS LANDOWNERS IMPLEMENT WAIVER SYSTEMS AND OTHER TYPES OF ACCESS AGREEMENTS TO MITIGATE RISKS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.

    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 July 1996.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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