The Access Fund

Tax-deductible

Boulder, CO501(c)(3)UnclassifiedEIN 94-3131165

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The Access Fund is dedicated to keeping climbing areas open and to conserving the climbing environment. The Access Fund encourages an ethic of personal responsibility, self regulation, strong conservation values, and minimum impact practices among climbers.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
71¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 2,157 volunteers and 34 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $243K a year · 7% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
71%
of spending
Fine: 71% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$287K
to officers and key staff · 9% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 9% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
10 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 9.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $10K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$369K
8% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 8% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
17
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 17 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.5M
-1% vs prior year
Spent
$3.2M
To programs
71%
Net assets
$4.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$3.5M
FY2025▼ -1%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.7M
FY2021$4.2M
FY2022$3.9M
FY2023$3.0M
FY2024$3.6M
FY2025$3.5M
Expenses
$3.2M
FY2025▼ -8%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$3.2M
FY2021$3.1M
FY2022$3.7M
FY2023$3.9M
FY2024$3.4M
FY2025$3.2M
Net assets
$4.5M
FY2025▲ +9%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$3.6M
FY2021$4.8M
FY2022$4.9M
FY2023$4.0M
FY2024$4.2M
FY2025$4.5M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jul 1996.

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

Where the money goes

71 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 71% · $2.3M Management & general 8% · $260K Fundraising 20% · $649K

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

19 people listed on the 990; $287K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Interim Exec
$148,089Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Di
$138,423Pt VII · Sec A
President Em
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Preside
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Chris Winter——$169,850$144,754$126,412$120,037
Erik Murdock$148,089$140,526————
Michelle Estrella—$144,514————
Heather Thorne$138,423—————
Holly Smolenski—$108,432————

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 The Access Fund 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

Protects climbing areas and conserves the climbing environment for future generations.

Provided by the organization

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3 program services account for $2.1M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2024.
01

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…

$898Kprogram expense
02

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.

$682Kprogram expense
03

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.

$499Kprogram expense

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Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$10K
See all 3 funders →
Grants paid · 11 grants · $133K · 2019–2024
Carolina Climbers CoalitionNC · FY2022$5,166
Gunks Climbers CoalitionNY · FY2021$7,000
Town of Estes ParkFY2019$50,000
Eastern Kentucky UniversityFY2019$5,200

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$240K
Investment incomeLn 3$174K
Money outPt IX
$3.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.3M
Managementcol C$260K
Fundraisingcol D$649K
Owns and owesPt X
$4.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.6M
Total assetsLn 16$4.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$369K
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b17
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.0M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$104K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$240K
Investment incomeLn 3$174K
Other incomeLn 4–11$115K
Total revenueLn 12$3.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$329K
SavingsLn 2$2.3M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$134K
Other assetsLn 15$17K
Total assetsLn 16$4.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$369K
Net assetsLn 32$4.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 534
VolunteersI 62,157
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.7M$2.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$964K$1.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$160K$134K
Total assetsLn 16$4.6M$4.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$429K$369K
Net assetsLn 32$4.2M$4.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$77K$77K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$184K$129K$22K$33K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.3M$920K$154K$238K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$29K$21K$3K$5K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$128K$91K$15K$22K
Payroll taxesLn 10$165K$117K$20K$28K
Accounting feesLn 11c$40K$22K$6K$12K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$206K$162K$8K$36K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$26K$18K$612$7K
Office expensesLn 13$309K$134K$17K$158K
OccupancyLn 16$40K$22K$6K$12K
TravelLn 17$168K$108K$2K$57K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$39K$39K
InsuranceLn 23$36K$27K$3K$6K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$407K$370K$3K$33K
All other expensesLn 24e$2K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.2M$2.3M$260K$649K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $3.5M$3.2M$338K$4.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $3.6M$3.4M$116K$4.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $3.0M$3.9M−$904K$4.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $3.9M$3.7M$186K$4.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $4.2M$3.1M$1.1M$4.8M 990 PDF
FY2020 $3.7M$3.2M$592K$3.6M 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 FY2025 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $3,504,708 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $43,584 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$398,301
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,577,360
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$104,201
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,975,661
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $240,496$240,496
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $174,018$174,018
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $67,028$67,028
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $3,921$3,921
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $288,001 · Excluded from tax $241,046$3,504,708
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,167,020 across 16 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $76,882$76,882
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $129,004 · Management $21,615 · Fundraising $33,328$183,947
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $920,213 · Management $154,128 · Fundraising $238,364$1,312,705
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $20,662 · Management $3,497 · Fundraising $5,029$29,188
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $90,850 · Management $15,374 · Fundraising $22,112$128,336
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $116,579 · Management $19,714 · Fundraising $28,365$164,658
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $22,010 · Management $6,004 · Fundraising $12,006$40,020
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $161,781 · Management $7,814 · Fundraising $36,047$205,642
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $18,361 · Management $612 · Fundraising $6,721$25,694
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $133,616 · Management $16,844 · Fundraising $158,490$308,950
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $21,853 · Management $5,863 · Fundraising $11,789$39,505
IX-17 TravelPrograms $108,217 · Management $2,374 · Fundraising $56,982$167,573
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $38,819$38,819
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $27,065 · Management $2,907 · Fundraising $6,434$36,406
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $370,268 · Management $3,349 · Fundraising $33,046$406,663
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $2,032$2,032
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,258,212 · Management $260,095 · Fundraising $648,713$3,167,020
Part X · Balance sheet $4,896,762 assets, 16 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $360,345; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $250,050$328,704
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $2,460,701$2,253,425
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $248,477$34,200
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $150,144$150,144
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $21,988$40,090
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $160,095$133,870
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $964,023$1,579,103
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $7,399$16,881
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,601,075$4,896,762
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $294,477$223,252
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $8,186$16,881
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $429,100$368,687
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,488,313$2,848,405
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,683,662$1,679,670
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,171,975$4,528,075
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,601,075$4,896,762
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,528,075 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,504,708
XI-2 Total expenses$3,167,020
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$337,688
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,171,975
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$45,817
XI-8 Prior period adjustments−$27,405
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,528,075

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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