Outward Bound Adventures Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Leading Outdoor Education Through Meaningful Nature-based Education That Promotes Positive Self-development, Environment Responsibility and Outdoor Career Exposure
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 5.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 74
- Highest pay
- $171,935, 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $659,225 spent. THE YRG GRAND PROGRAM IS AIMED AT DIVERTING YOUTH FROM INITIAL OR SUBSEQUENT CONTACT WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM USING APPROACHES THAT ARE EVIDENCE-BASED, CULTURALLY RELEVANT, TRAUMA-INFORMED, AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE. GRANTS FUNDS WILL BE USED TO TARGET UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. GRANTEES INCLUDE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORIGINATIONS. ALL GRANTEES MUST PROVIDE DIVERSION AND ALTERNATE-SANCTION PROGRAMS, ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION SERVICES, MENTORING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
- $435,394 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP EDUCATION (ESE) IS A YEAR-ROUND SERIES OF EXPERIENTIAL TRIPS AND COURSES THAT ENGAGE PARTICIPANTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, CONSERVATION, AND CAREER EDUCATION. THESE COURSES ARE ONE-DAY, WEEKEND AND EXTENDED SUMMER TRIPS THAT GO TO A VARIETY OF LOCATIONS AND ENHANCE OUR PARTICIPANTS BOTH IN THE WILDERNESS AND COMMUNITY.
- $95,073 spent. OBAS CORE PROGRAMS ARE CENTERED ON A WIDE RANGE OF IN-SCHOOL AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, ONE-DAY, WEEKEND, AND EXTENDED EXPEDITIONS TO NATURAL AREAS, AND WORK CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS. OUR PROGRAMS ARE DEIGNED TO CONNECT NOT ONLY URBAN YOUTH TO OPEN SPACES AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT GO BEYOND THEIR NORMAL CONSIDERATION. IN ITS CORE PROGRAMS, OBA ALSO OFFERS THE DIVERSE OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (DOLI) WHICH IS A TRAINING PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP AND TRAIN A CADRE OF ELITE WILDERNESS LEADERS OF COLOR THAT WILL EXPOSE URBAN YOUTH TO OUR NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS, AND OTHER WILDERNESS AREAS.
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 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 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 January 1969.
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.