Boulder Outdoor Survival School

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

2017

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

John P Machen

Phone

8003357404

Tax Period

2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

Boulder Outdoor Survival School, founded in 2017, is a small nonprofit in the Environment sector that reported $469K in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue fell 24% from the prior year — a significant decline worth monitoring. Expenses of $561K exceeded revenue, resulting in a 20% operating deficit.

Mission

The Boulder Outdoor Survival School is dedicated to the instruction and preservation of traditional living skills and the development of people through experiences within the natural world.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $431,157

BOULDER OUTDOOR SURVIVAL SCHOOL (BOSS) IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT TEACHES OUTDOOR SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES AND RESPECT FOR THE NATURAL HABITAT. MOST CLASSES TAKE PLACE IN RURAL UTAH. THE SCHOOL SERVES...

BOULDER OUTDOOR SURVIVAL SCHOOL (BOSS) IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT TEACHES OUTDOOR SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES AND RESPECT FOR THE NATURAL HABITAT. MOST CLASSES TAKE PLACE IN RURAL UTAH. THE SCHOOL SERVES APPROXIMATELY 120-150 STUDENTS PER YEAR IN HIGHLY INTENSIVE MULTI-WEEK TRAINING COURSES. BOSS TEACHES STUDENTS ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL SKILLS SUCH AS NAVIGATION, FIRE BY FRICTION, SHELTER BUILDING, SURVIVAL PRIORITIES, WATER PROCUREMENT AND TREATMENT, AND FOOD GATHERING (PLANTS, TRAPPING, FISHING). THE ORGANIZATION TEACHES SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF COURSES: 1) THE FIELD COURSE, 2) THE SKILLS COURSE, 3) THE HUNTER GATHERER COURSE, AND 4) THE NAVIGATOR COURSE.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $149,482

Program Service Revenue $293,316

Investment Income $9,210

Other Revenue $16,876

TOTAL REVENUE $468,884

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $345,457

Fundraising Expenses $60,765

Program Expenses $431,157

Other Expenses $215,837

TOTAL EXPENSES $561,294

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$468,884	$616,111	-0.2%
Expenses	$561,294	$567,443	0.0%
Net Income	$-92,410	$48,668	-2.9%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

Volunteers

N/A

Governance Policies

✗ Conflict of Interest Policy

✗ Whistleblower Policy

✗ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

Total Directors

$54,998

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
Jay Carson	Executive Dir.	40.00	Director	$54,998	$0	$54,998
Charlie Detar	Director	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Jessica Ewing	Director	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Daniel Wesemann	Director	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Kyle Johnson	Treasurer	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
Michael Banker	Vice Chairman	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Michael Denisoff	Chairman	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
John P Machen	Secretary	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
Thomas Hackett	Director	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Josh Bernstein	Director	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
Will Hanson	Director	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2024	$468,884	$561,294	$887,653	$-92,410
2023	$616,111	$567,443	$1,008,115	$48,668
2022	$507,712	$535,136	$990,902	$-27,424
2021	$623,255	$454,654	$1,043,469	$168,601
2020	$351,708	$230,568	$876,583	$121,140
2019	$380,136	$403,796	$644,542	$-23,660
2018	$794,035	$433,731	$747,160	$360,304