Spoken Outdoors Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
923735434
IRS 990-EZ coverage
2024–2025
Forms available
Form 990-EZ 2025, Form 990-N 2023
Location
Couer D Alene, ID, USA
Phone
2532213361
Rating
92
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Counseling, Support Groups

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$104,498
Expenses
$57,415
Assets
$115,021
Liabilities
$0

Source: IRS Form 990-EZ. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

6 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • McKenzie Gunns (President)
  • Heath Gunns (Executive Director)

People named in this filing

  • McKenzie Gunns (President)
  • Brady Gunns (Treasurer)
  • Kelsey Helfrich (Director)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

Source: IRS Form 990-EZ. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

This corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, and educational purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organization under the section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code. More specifically, for the purpose of hosting, organizing, and promoting events and gatherings that encourage and teach essential life skills and provide opportunities for the healing of emotional, spiritual, and physical wounds of active or retired military and first responders. This corporation is a nonprofit corporation established pursuant to the laws of the State of ldaho

What it reported doing in 2025

**Program Service Accomplishments** **Mission Statement** Spoken Outdoors Inc. serves America's Protectors, including those in the Armed Forces, Law Enforcement, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services. These individuals risk their lives tending to the injured, fighting back foes, and dealing with natural disasters. Unfortunately, many carry emotional, spiritual, or physical scars from negative service experiences. Spoken Outdoors hosts events throughout the U.S. to enjoy outdoor experiences that educate, stretch boundaries, challenge limits, and create confidence in a safe, controlled environment. Studies have demonstrated that time outdoors creates a positive physiological reaction, whether enjoying the beautiful green of the forest, the blues of the lakes and rivers, or the open sky in the Flatlands. At Spoken Outdoors, we create events ranging from short outings to multiday events at world-class facilities. **Program Services** Spoken Outdoors maintains a commitment to ensuring that 75% or higher of funds directly support programs. The organization hosts various outdoor events aimed at empowering injured veterans and first responders. These events include fishing adventures in locations such as Pinedale, Idaho, and Montana, as well as pheasant hunting adventures in Buffalo Butte, South Dakota. Additionally, the organization hosts "Clays for Heroes" events in New York and Wyoming. **Event Highlights** Fishing Adventures: Pinedale: Hosted multiple fishing adventures, providing participants with the opportunity to enjoy the serene environment and engage in therapeutic outdoor activities. Idaho: Organized fishing trips that allowed veterans and first responders to connect with nature and each other, fostering a sense of community and healing. Montana: Expanded the fishing adventure program to include Montana, offering participants the chance to experience the state's beautiful landscapes and waterways. Pheasant Hunting Adventures: Buffalo Butte, SD: Conducted pheasant hunting events that challenged participants physically and mentally, helping them build resilience and confidence. Clays for Heroes: New York: Hosted clay shooting events that provided a fun and engaging way for participants to bond and develop new skills. Wyoming: Organized similar events in Wyoming, ensuring that veterans and first responders from different regions could benefit from the program. **Fundraising and Financial Management** Spoken Outdoors has successfully raised funds to support its programs while awaiting IRS nonprofit status approval. The organization has been transparent about its pending status and has managed donations cautiously to ensure compliance with IRS regulations. Fundraising efforts have included securing sponsorships at various levels, such as Bass, Whitefish, Rainbow Trout, and Cutthroat Sponsorships, each offering different benefits and recognition for contributors. **Leadership and Governance** The leadership team at Spoken Outdoors brings decades of experience in leadership, logistics, and service. The team works closely with the Board of Directors to ensure that all events are held to the highest professional standards. The Board consists of five positions, with terms of service staggered to protect the organization's future. **Community Impact** Since its inception, Spoken Outdoors has touched the lives of over 10,000 injured/disabled veterans and first responders across 27 states. The organization has provided these individuals with opportunities to challenge their disabilities, redefine normal, and rediscover hope for a wonderful life despite their injuries. **Future Goals** Spoken Outdoors aims to continue expanding its programs and reach more veterans and first responders. The organization plans to host additional events and develop new initiatives that further support the healing and growth of America's Protectors.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 99% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Cannot be determined from the filing. The filing does not provide enough consistent spending detail to tell whether the nonprofit works directly or through others.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Some filed totals do not add up.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 100
  • Transparency & Controls: 82
  • Sustainability: 82
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Program expense ratio: 100%; rating input score 100

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Limited

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 45.1%; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 2; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 127.6% per year; rating input score 100; 98th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 8% per year; rating input score 100; 57th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 51.5% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 100% of revenue deployed · 100% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: Filed governance answers
  • Accomplishments: 2 filed program accomplishments · $109K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 6 people listed
  • Consistency: 8 of 9 current checks pass · 1 finding to review
  • Schedules: 2 filed schedules
  • Filing history: 2 filing years from 2024 to 2025
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • 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 — Transparency & Controls: Part III program expenses within total did not reconcile in the filed values.