Brave Trails is a national non-profit organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth leadership. We offer accredited summer camps, backpacking trips, family camps, mental health services, meet-up groups, and year-round leadership programming. All of our programs focus on helping LGBTQ+ youth find what they need most to thrive: their people, their place, and their passion. Nothing makes us more proud than seeing our youth take the skills they gain in our programs and use them to create meaningful change in their communities.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
88¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$62K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $497K a year · 28% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
88%
of spending
Looks good: 88% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$62K
to officers and key staff · 13% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 13% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
17 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 17.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $18K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$151K
22% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 22% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 8 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$569K
Spent
$470K
To programs
88%
Net assets
$548K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$569K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$569K
FY2021$1.5M
FY2022$3.0M
FY2023$2.1M
FY2024$1.9M
FY2025$1.8M
Expenses
$470K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$470K
FY2021$571K
FY2022$1.1M
FY2023$1.6M
FY2024$2.0M
FY2025$2.1M
Net assets
$548K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$548K
FY2021$1.6M
FY2022$3.3M
FY2023$3.8M
FY2024$3.8M
FY2025$3.6M

From the FY2020 Form 990 (year ending August 2020) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 2015.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

88 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 88% · $415K Management & general 7% · $34K Fundraising 5% · $22K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

8 people listed on the 990; $62K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2019); the FY2020 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Dir.
$61,650Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jessica Weissbuch’s $137K as Executive Dir. is at the 49th percentile of top reported officer pay among 797 $1–10M civil rights & advocacy nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Jessica Weissbuch$137,142$100,000$80,000$75,000$61,650$61,650
Omar Torres———$780——

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Offers summer camps for LGBTQ+ youth and allies, building leadership and connection.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $415K · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

Brave Trails successfully ran virtual summer camp, a program combining typical camp elements and leadership elements. We recruited campers from across the United States and volunteer staff members. We awarded camper scholarships to youth that wouldn't otherwise be able to go to camp.

$415Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$18K

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$569K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$427K
Other incomeLn 4–11$78K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$61K
Money outPt IX
$470K
Ln 25
Programscol B$415K
Managementcol C$34K
Fundraisingcol D$22K
Owns and owesPt X
$548K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$674K
Total assetsLn 16$699K
LiabilitiesLn 26$151K
PeoplePt VI, VII
8
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$427K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$20K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$61K
Investment incomeLn 3$3K
Other incomeLn 4–11$78K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$569K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$498K
SavingsLn 2$175K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$674K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$25K
Total assetsLn 16$699K
LiabilitiesLn 26$151K
Net assetsLn 32$548K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 576
VolunteersI 690
Fiscal year endsHeaderAugust
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$398K$674K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$214$0
Total assetsLn 16$400K$699K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0$151K
Net assetsLn 32$400K$548K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$92K$49K$21K$21K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$134K$134K$325
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$14K$11K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$19K$15K$4K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$8K$6K$2K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$4K$3K$706
Advertising and promotionLn 12$4$3$1
Office expensesLn 13$41$33$8
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$138K$138K$557
TravelLn 17$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$1K$901$225
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$214$214
InsuranceLn 23$16K$16K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$28K$26K$2K
All other expensesLn 24e$16K$15K$802
Total functional expensesLn 25$470K$415K$34K$22K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $1.8M$2.1M−$236K$3.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.9M$2.0M−$98K$3.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.1M$1.6M$459K$3.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $3.0M$1.1M$1.8M$3.3M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.5M$571K$933K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $569K$470K$99K$548K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $569,291 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $111,592$426,690
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $414,807$61,457
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $36,673$3,374
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $64,040$77,770
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $627,112$569,291
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $240,064$258,648
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $356,163$211,811
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $596,227$470,459
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $30,885$98,832
Part VI · Governance 8 of 8 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members8
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $569,291 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$426,690
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$19,960
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$426,690
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $61,457$61,457
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $3,374$3,374
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $77,770$77,770
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $64,831 · Excluded from tax $77,770$569,291
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $470,459 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $48,825 · Management $21,330 · Fundraising $21,495$91,650
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $133,809 · Fundraising $325$134,134
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $11,000 · Management $2,750$13,750
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $15,291 · Management $3,823$19,114
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $6,240 · Management $1,560$7,800
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $2,821 · Management $706$3,527
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $3 · Management $1$4
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $33 · Management $8$41
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $137,889 · Management $557$138,446
IX-17 Travel$0
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $901 · Management $225$1,126
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $214$214
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $16,013$16,013
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $26,378 · Management $2,070$28,448
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $15,390 · Management $802$16,192
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $414,807 · Management $33,832 · Fundraising $21,820$470,459
Part X · Balance sheet $698,601 assets, 20 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $325,229$498,434
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $73,256$175,167
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $1,050$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $214$0
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$25,000
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $399,749$698,601
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expenses$3,878
X-19 Deferred revenue$100,666
X-25 Other liabilities$46,390
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $0$150,934
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $399,749$547,667
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $399,749$547,667
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $399,749$698,601
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $547,667 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$569,291
XI-2 Total expenses$470,459
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$98,832
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$399,749
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$49,086
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$547,667

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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