Nonprofit · EIN 27-0868701
CHALLENGE AMERICA
Tax-exempt · BASALT, CO 81621
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $702,913 | $555,409 | $147,504 | $306,113 | $3,836 | $302,277 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $622,933 | $528,531 | $94,402 | $159,952 | $5,179 | $154,773 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $138,619 | $262,524 | -$123,905 | $63,039 | $2,668 | $60,371 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $695,354
- of which government grants
- $581,000
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $7,559
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $57,917
- Other salaries and wages
- $130,980
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $211,926
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $10,042
- Travel
- $10,771
- Program services (functional)
- $507,632
- Management and general (functional)
- $32,415
- Fundraising (functional)
- $15,362
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $159,952
- Total assets, end of year
- $306,113
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $3,836
- Net assets, end of year
- $302,277
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $5,611
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $302,277
- Gross receipts
- $702,913
- Employees
- 5
- Year formed
- 2009
- State of legal domicile
- CO
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOUSTON COWEN | FOUNDER & CE Officer | 40 | $57,917 |
| MATTHEW MCBRIDE | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| HOUSTON COWAN | SECRETARY\TR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| DR DAVID BROWN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DON CLURMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DANIELLE KRAKORA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 6 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOUSTON COWEN | FOUNDER & CE Officer | 40 | $47,917 |
| MATTHEW MCBRIDE | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| HOUSTON COWAN | SECRETARY\TR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| DR DAVID BROWN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DON CLURMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DANIELLE KRAKORA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 6 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOUSTON COWEN | FOUNDER & CE Officer | 40 | $22,917 |
| MATTHEW MCBRIDE | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| HOUSTON COWAN | SECRETARY\TR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| DR DAVID BROWN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DON CLURMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DANIELLE KRAKORA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 4467, BASALT, CO 81621-4467
- Mailing address (990-N for 2009)
- PO Box 6748, Snowmass Village CO 81615
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- HOUSTON COWAN, PO BOX 4467, BASALT, CO 81621
- Principal officer (990-N for 2009)
- Houston Cowan, PO Box 6748, Snowmass Village CO 81615
- Signed the 990
- HOUSTON COWAN, SECRETARY\TREASURER
- Phone
- (970) 279-1323
- Website
- www.challengeamerica.com
- Return prepared by
- TAYLOR ROTH AND COMPANY
Mission
CHALLENGE AMERICA CONNECTS SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO RESOURCES AND SOLUTIONS THAT BUILD COMMUNITY AND GIVE PURPOSE TO THEIR LIVES.
Program accomplishments
- AT CHALLENGE AMERICA WE HAVE MADE IT OUR MISSION TO CONNECT SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO RESOURCES AND SOLUTIONS THAT BUILD COMMUNITY AND GIVE PURPOSE TO THEIR LIVES. FROM THE BEGINNING, WE SET OUT TO CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO BY DESIGNING AND SCALING INNOVATIVE, EVIDENCE- BASED SOLUTIONS TO THE NEEDS OF THE MILITARY COMMUNITY - NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE. BY LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY, CREATIVE ARTS AND COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY, WE ARE CHALLENGING AMERICA TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW WE SERVE OUR MILITARY. IN 2025, WE IMPACTED MORE THAN 16,000 VETERANS. ------------------ MORE DETAIL ON SCHEDULE O ------------------Expenses $507,632
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 27-0868701
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2010
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Public and societal benefit (W20)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $306,113
- Income (IRS master file)
- $702,913
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $702,913 | $555,409 | $306,113 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $622,933 | $528,531 | $159,952 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $138,619 | $262,524 | $63,039 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $474,740 | $354,846 | $195,264 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2009 Officer: Houston Cowan | December 31, 2009 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 27-0868701).
Questions about CHALLENGE AMERICA
- What is the EIN of CHALLENGE AMERICA?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of CHALLENGE AMERICA is 27-0868701.
- Is CHALLENGE AMERICA tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2010.
- Are donations to CHALLENGE AMERICA tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does CHALLENGE AMERICA file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of CHALLENGE AMERICA due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did CHALLENGE AMERICA last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of CHALLENGE AMERICA?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names HOUSTON COWAN.
- Who are the officers and directors of CHALLENGE AMERICA?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 6 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $57,917 (HOUSTON COWEN, FOUNDER & CE).
- How much revenue does CHALLENGE AMERICA have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $702,913, expenses of $555,409 and total assets of $306,113 at year end.
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