Backcountry Discovery Routes

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
452440958
IRS 990 coverage
2017–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-EZ 2016, Form 990-T 2024
Location
Seattle, WA, USA
Phone
2063836233
Rating
73
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Safety Education

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$1,280,598
Expenses
$1,070,519
Assets
$1,634,726
Liabilities
$109,968

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

9 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • INNA THORN (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/VICE PR)
  • TIM JAMES (PRESIDENT)

Highest reported compensation

  • INNA THORN (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/VICE PR): $107,962 total reported compensation
  • BRYCE STEVENS (BOARD MEMBER/ROUTES DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR): $55,000 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Since 2010, backcountry discovery routes has inspired thousands of people - seasoned adventure riders and those new to the sport - to take advantage of the riding opportunities available in the united states on public lands. The organization's work includes promoting rider education and safety campaigns, driving a positive economic impact to rural communities, and encouraging responsible motorcycle travel in the backcountry.

What it reported doing in 2024

Routes creation and management in 2024 the bdr organization achieved significant milestones in route creation and management. Our most notable accomplishment was the development of our 13th route, the northern California bdr (cabdr-north). This project entailed the creation of a comprehensive waterproof map, production of a feature-length documentary film, a nationwide film tour and complete travel resources online. Furthermore, bdr expanded its portfolio with the creation of two shorter, bdr-style loop routes: the chattahoochee, Georgia bdr-x and the big bend, Texas, bdr-x. These routes offer similar resources to our main northern California route, enhancing the diversity of options for adventure-seeking riders.in our commitment to serving the riding community, bdr continued to administer 18 separate facebook group pages, ensuring riders have access to up-to-date information and a platform to connect with fellow enthusiasts and ask route-related questions.all total the organization manages 18 routes, including complete travel resources, gps tracks, route updates, route communications, and other rider information accessible on our website, www.ridebdr.com.to strengthen our route development and management efforts, bdr has brought on co-founder bryce stevens as a part-time routes development director. In this role, bryce leads strategic expansion and planning initiatives as bdr works to increase the number of routes available to the motorcycle community each year. This addition enhances our ability to scout, design, and manage high-quality adventure routes, ensuring that riders have even more opportunities to explore the backcountry.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 91% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 96% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and a large share of available resources goes toward mission work. Some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered and fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 62
  • Transparency & Controls: 93
  • Accountability: 61
  • Sustainability: 59
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 68.1%; rating input score 68
  • Program expense ratio: 61.8%; rating input score 62
  • Fundraising efficiency: $8.31 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 32; 32nd 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: 98%; rating input score 98; 46th percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 77.8%; rating input score 78; 17th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Fail
    • Document-retention policy: Fail
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 16.4%; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.53; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.07; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 15.2%; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 23.9% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 23.2% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 30.4% per year; rating input score 100; 91st percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 68.1% of revenue deployed · 61.8% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 7 of 9 board members independent · 3 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 4 filed program accomplishments · $662K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $108K · 9 people listed
  • Consistency: 31 of 31 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 8 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
  • Filing history: 7 filing years from 2017 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 3 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 1 filed related-organization link
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Moderate — Accountability: Governance controls: 4 of 7 not reported.
  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 32/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 56/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 22/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 48/100.