American Alpine Club
American Alpine Club shows consistent asset base but recent operating deficits.
EIN: 131611981 · Golden, CO · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is American Alpine Club Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
American Alpine Club directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About American Alpine Club
American Alpine Club (EIN: 131611981) is a nonprofit organization based in Golden, CO. The organization reported total revenue of $8.2M and total assets of $10.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of American Alpine Club's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
American Alpine Club is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 66 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 10.0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $5.0M |
| Total Expenses | $5.8M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-815,191 |
| Total Assets | $7.7M |
| Total Liabilities | $2.3M |
| Net Assets | $5.4M |
| Operating Margin | -16.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 30.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 16.0 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, American Alpine Club reported a deficit of $815K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 16.0 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 30.1% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), American Alpine Club's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.0%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -1.7% | +10.3% | -5.9% |
| 2022 | -3.1% | +25.1% | -13.5% |
| 2021 | +22.7% | +5.2% | +16.9% |
| 2020 | +7.9% | -14.8% | +3.1% |
| 2019 | +3.7% | +13.3% | -8.6% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2800 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1960 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates American Alpine Club with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, American Alpine Club allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $815K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 30.1%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers received compensation from the organization, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with over $8 million in assets and over $5 million in annual revenue. This suggests either a volunteer-led executive team or that compensation is reported under a different category, warranting further investigation for full clarity.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of American Alpine Club's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operating deficits in recent years (e.g., 2023, 2022), where expenses exceeded revenue.
- Unusually low (0%) reported officer compensation for an organization of this size, which may obscure actual leadership costs or indicate a unique operational model.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for American Alpine Club:
- Strong asset base ($10,652,189 latest) providing financial stability.
- Consistent history of IRS 990 filings, indicating transparency.
- Low liabilities relative to assets, suggesting good financial management of debt.
- Implied high program spending due to 0% officer compensation, suggesting resources are directed to mission.
Frequently Asked Questions about American Alpine Club
Is American Alpine Club a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, American Alpine Club (EIN: 131611981) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does American Alpine Club spend its money?
American Alpine Club directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to American Alpine Club tax-deductible?
American Alpine Club is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131611981). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is American Alpine Club financially sustainable given recent deficits?
The American Alpine Club has reported expenses exceeding revenue in several recent years (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015). While its asset base of $10,652,189 (latest) provides a buffer, sustained deficits could impact long-term financial health. It's important to understand the reasons for these deficits and the organization's strategy to return to surplus.
How does the American Alpine Club fund its operations without officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is highly unusual for an organization of this scale. This could imply that executive leadership is entirely volunteer-based, or that compensation is categorized differently within the financial statements (e.g., as general salaries or through a related entity), which would require a deeper dive into the full IRS Form 990 to clarify.
What is the trend in the organization's net assets?
Net assets (Assets minus Liabilities) have fluctuated. For example, in 2021, net assets were $6,916,682 ($9,490,812 - $2,574,130), while in 2023, they were $5,398,867 ($7,722,943 - $2,324,076). This indicates a decrease in net assets in recent years, which aligns with the reported operating deficits.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for American Alpine Club showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), American Alpine Club's revenue has grown by 214.9%, moving from $1.6M to $5.0M. Total assets increased by 7% over the same period, from $7.2M to $7.7M. Total functional expenses rose by 191.6%, from $2.0M to $5.8M. In its most recent filing year (2023), American Alpine Club reported a deficit of $815K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $2.3M in liabilities against $7.7M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 30.1%), resulting in net assets of $5.4M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $5.0M | $5.8M | $7.7M | $2.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $5.0M | $5.2M | $8.2M | $2.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $5.2M | $4.2M | $9.5M | $2.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $4.2M | $4.0M | $8.1M | $1.2M | — | — |
| 2019 | $3.9M | $4.7M | $7.9M | $939K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $3.8M | $4.1M | $8.6M | $869K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $3.5M | $3.5M | $9.0M | $987K | — | — |
| 2016 | $2.8M | $3.3M | $8.3M | $529K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $3.0M | $3.3M | $8.4M | $327K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $3.3M | $3.1M | $9.1M | $606K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $2.6M | $2.9M | $9.8M | $1.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $3.6M | $2.5M | $9.4M | $1.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $1.6M | $2.0M | $7.2M | $377K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $5.0M, expenses of $5.8M, and assets of $7.7M (revenue -1.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $5.0M, expenses of $5.2M, and assets of $8.2M (revenue -3.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $5.2M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $9.5M (revenue +22.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $4.2M, expenses of $4.0M, and assets of $8.1M (revenue +7.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $3.9M, expenses of $4.7M, and assets of $7.9M (revenue +3.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $3.8M, expenses of $4.1M, and assets of $8.6M (revenue +8.7% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $3.5M, expenses of $3.5M, and assets of $9.0M (revenue +24.2% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $2.8M, expenses of $3.3M, and assets of $8.3M (revenue -6.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $3.3M, and assets of $8.4M (revenue -9.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $3.1M, and assets of $9.1M (revenue +29.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $2.9M, and assets of $9.8M (revenue -28.5% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $3.6M, expenses of $2.5M, and assets of $9.4M (revenue +127.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $7.2M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for American Alpine Club:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for American Alpine Club is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.