Venture free seeks to empower young people of all backgrounds to foster a connection with the natural world in an environment that promotes healthy physical and mental development, leadership, respect, and a life-long appreciation for nature!

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
68¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$47K 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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FY2023 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 3
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $10K a year · 5% of revenue · last 3 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 3 of the last 3 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 3 filings
Spent on programs
68%
of spending
Fine: 68% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$47K
to officers and key staff · 22% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 22% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.7 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $15K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$0
0% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 0% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
0
of 6 voting members
Concern: none of 6 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$218K
+23% vs prior year
Spent
$213K
To programs
68%
Net assets
$47K
By yearFY2019–FY2024
Revenue
$218K
FY2023▲ +23%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2019$207K
FY2020$134K
FY2021$182K
FY2022$178K
FY2023$218K
FY2024$251K
Expenses
$213K
FY2023▲ +11%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2019$191K
FY2020Not on file
FY2021Not on file
FY2022Not on file
FY2023$213K
FY2024$241K
Net assets
$47K
FY2023▲ +12%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2019$25K
FY2020$43K
FY2021$39K
FY2022$42K
FY2023$47K
FY2024$57K

From the FY2023 Form 990 · see the original

990 PDF Claim
You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Aug 2017.

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

Where the money goes

68 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 68% · $144K Management & general 32% · $68K

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

6 people listed on the 990; $47K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$39,900Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$7,000Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Emily Phelps’s $47K as Executive Director is at the 36th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1992 $100K–1M youth development 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020FY2019
Emily Phelps$46,800$39,900$20,400$24,000$25,000$25,000
Maria King—$7,000————

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.

See Venture Free Foundation executive salaries →

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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 15aYes

Programs and updates

Connects young people with nature for healthy development and lifelong appreciation.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $144K · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Venture free's Outdoor adventure programs served over 110 children in 2023, offering programs that allowed campers to foster a connection with the natural world, develop social emotional skills and learn outdoor skills and environmental stewardship. Approximately 70% of our payroll expenses are spent on direct programming.

$144Kprogram 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 1 funder$15K

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$218K
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$183K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$35K
Money outPt IX
$213K
Ln 25
Programscol B$144K
Managementcol C$68K
Owns and owesPt X
$47K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$47K
Total assetsLn 16$47K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
PeoplePt VI, VII
6
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b0
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$35K
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$183K
Total revenueLn 12$218K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$47K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$47K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$47K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
Net assetsLn 32$47K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$42K$47K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$42K$47K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0$0
Net assetsLn 32$42K$47K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$40K$30K$10K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$55K$49K$6K
Payroll taxesLn 10$8K$7K$1K
Management feesLn 11a$7K$7K
Accounting feesLn 11c$7K$7K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$5K$5K
Information technologyLn 14$5K$2K$3K
OccupancyLn 16$3K$3K
TravelLn 17$13K$5K$8K
InsuranceLn 23$9K$9K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$57K$51K$7K$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$213K$144K$68K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $251K$241K$10K$57K 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $218K$213K$5K$47K 990 PDF
FY2022 $178K$42K 990 PDF
FY2021 $182K$39K 990 PDF
FY2020 $134K$43K 990 PDF
FY2019 $207K$191K$16K$25K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $217,844 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $18,915$34,609
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $158,661$183,235
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $177,576$217,844
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $95,125$103,694
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $78,940$109,115
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $174,065$212,809
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $3,511$5,035
Part VI · Governance 0 of 6 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members0
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $217,844 across 10 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $183,235 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$34,609
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$34,609
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $183,235 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$217,844
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $212,809 across 12 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $29,925 · Management $9,975$39,900
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $49,349 · Management $6,121$55,470
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $6,924 · Management $1,400$8,324
IX-11a Management feesManagement $7,000$7,000
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $7,261$7,261
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $1,507$1,507
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $5,036$5,036
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $2,400 · Management $2,689$5,089
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $3,431$3,431
IX-17 TravelPrograms $5,012 · Management $8,054$13,066
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $9,440$9,440
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $50,727 · Management $6,558 · Fundraising $0$57,285
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $144,337 · Management $68,472 · Fundraising $0$212,809
Part X · Balance sheet $47,322 assets, 22 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $42,287$47,322
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $0$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $0$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $0$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $42,287$47,322
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $0$0
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $42,287$47,322
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $42,287$47,322
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $42,287$47,322
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $47,322 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$217,844
XI-2 Total expenses$212,809
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$5,035
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$42,287
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$47,322

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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