Adaptive Adventures

What it reported doing in 2025

Adaptive Adventures is redefining whats possible for individuals with children, adults and veterans with physical disabilities and their families through inclusive, mobile, and family-centered outdoor recreation. Unlike traditional adaptive sports agencies, Adaptive Adventures serves as the inclusive and accessible side of the outdoor recreation industry, bringing the equipment, expertise, and community directly to those who need it most. Adaptive Adventures trains and equips local mentors, clinicians, outfitters, guides, and organizations to sustain programs and normalize adaptation in recreation. With more than 18 fully equipped trailers and satellite programs reaching over 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada, our team removes barriers to participation and ensures that every individual, regardless of ability, geography, or income, can experience the freedom of the outdoors.In 2025, our small but mighty staff delivered 635+ programs, serving 4,200+ unique participants with over 11,200+ experiences. Volunteers contributed 9,930+ volunteer hours. Across cycling, climbing, paddlesports, skiing, and more, more than 250 years of combined adaptive recreation expertise, including Paralympians, Olympic and Paralympic coaches, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists, and individuals with lived experience of disability, enable our team to connect authentically with participants in their journeys of healing, independence, and joy. More than half of our staff live with a physical disability or serve as caregivers, creating a unique peer-to-peer culture of understanding that empowers others to thrive.Each program begins with connection and ends with transformation. Participants reportremarkable improvements across well-being indicators: 88% experienced improved mental health and expanded social connections, 84% experienced improved physical health and 75% reported increased confidence and optimism about the future. Thriving Score evaluations, developed with the University of Illinois Chicago, show significant gains in purpose, optimism, and belonging, with 4.75 out of 5 average satisfaction in instruction and 4.69 out of 5 in accessibility and accommodations. Nearly 30% of participants attend 20 or more programs, underscoring sustained engagement and long-term impact.For many, the impact extends far beyond sport, cycling becomes transportation back to work or school, climbing restores confidence after injury, paddlesports build family connection, and skiing rekindles a sense of freedom. One participant shared, I said Id never rock climbbut I do it anyway. Its all about what you can still do. Groups like Adaptive Adventures are so important because you get that sense of community. Its nice to have people who get it and understand what it takes to keep going. Im not sitting at home feeling sorry for myself. Im out doing something. And thats the point. Adam, U.S. veteran, Fort Collins, ColoradoAdaptive Adventures provides all programs free of charge to participants. In 2025, Adaptive Adventures laid the groundwork for the 2026 launch of its new app, designed to strengthen connections beyond individual programs, reduce isolation, and expand access to resources that help participants thrive.Adaptive Adventures leadership and impact continue to be recognized nationally and locally. In 2025, the organization was awarded the Best Nonprofit in Westminster Award, the City of Westminster Community Spirit Award, the State of Colorado Workplace Safety Recognition Award, the Bronze Award Winner for Anthem Awards Community Engagement, Defender Service Awards Finalist, Governors Excellence in Tourism Finalist and Impact100 Veterans Award. Across all programs, Adaptive Adventures fosters belonging through its guiding belief: Where adventure moves us, community holds us, joy heals us, freedom begins.Every mile pedaled, every paddle stroke, and every shared smile represents more than recreation; its a step towa

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 71.9%; rating input score 72
• Program expense ratio: 77.1%; rating input score 77
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.47 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 6.8%; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.57; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.55; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6.5%; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 7.6% per year; rating input score 100; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7.8% per year; rating input score 100; 56th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 7.8% per year; rating input score 100; 48th percentile among comparable filings