PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND CENTER

Financials

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.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

3401 RESERVOIR DR, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19121-2510

In care of

% CATHERINE NEWSOM PASTUSZEK

Principal officer (990 for 2025)

JUSTIN ENNIS, 3401 RESERVOIR DRIVE, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19121

Signed the 990

JUSTIN ENNIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Phone

(215) 232-9130

Website

HTTPS://OUTWARDBOUNDPHILADELPHIA.ORG/

Return prepared by

J MILLER & ASSOCIATES LLC

Mission

THE PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD SCHOOL'S (POBS) MISSION IS TO SPARK LIFELONG GROWTH THROUGH CHALLENGE - OUTSIDE. WE FACILITATE ADVENTUROUS LEARNING, ROOTED IN THE OUTDOORS, TO UNLOCK CONFIDENCE, CURIOSITY, AND THE SKILLS TO THRIVE WITH PURPOSE.

Program accomplishments

• INSIGHT PROGRAMS ARE ONE-DAY FACILITATED OUTWARD BOUND EXPERIENCES HELD AT OUR HEADQUARTERS AT THE DISCOVERY CENTER IN FAIRMOUNT PARK AND IN WISSAHICKON VALLEY PARK. PARTICIPANTS MOVE THROUGH A PROGRESSION OF ACTIVITIES BEGINNING WITH GROUND-BASED TEAM CHALLENGES AND BUILDING TOWARD A PEAK EXPERIENCE SUCH AS CLIMBING THE HIGH ROPES COURSE. EACH PROGRAM DAY IS DESIGNED TO BUILD CONNECTION, COMMUNICATION, AND CONFIDENCE WITHIN A GROUP. IN 2025, POBS SERVED 5,502 YOUTH THROUGH THIS INTRODUCTORY-LEVEL PROGRAM. THEY CAME PRIMARILY FROM SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OTHER NEARBY DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOLLOWED BY YOUTH FROM CHARTER AND INDEPENDENT/PRIVATE SCHOOLS. STUDENTS SPANNED GRADES 6 - 12. FOR MANY YOUNG PEOPLE, SPENDING 5-6 HOURS IMMERSED IN OUTDOOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROVIDES A RARE AND FORMATIVE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE NATURAL WORLD, CHALLENGE THEMSELVES, AND DISCOVER NEW POSSIBILITIES. IN 2025, POBS SURVEYED 760 INSIGHT STUDENTS TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF OUR PROGRAMS. COMBINED WITH FINDINGS FROM STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN OUR MULTI- DAY WILDERNESS EXPEDITIONS, THE LARGEST GROWTH AREAS WERE GROUP RELATIONSHIPS, ASSERTIVENESS, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. HIGHLIGHTS FROM POBS' 2025 STUDENT SURVEYS INCLUDE: 92% ARE MORE AWARE OF HOW TO SUPPORT OTHERS 87% FEEL MORE CONNECTED TO THEIR PEERS 89% GAINED CONFIDENCE TO TRY NEW THINGS 91% ARE EXCITED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS
  Expenses $2,098,273 · revenue $1,483,949
• EXPEDITION PROGRAMS ARE IMMERSIVE, MULTI-DAY WILDERNESS EXPERIENCES THAT ACCELERATE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS RELATED TO COURAGE, BELONGING, REFLECTION, AND PHYSICAL ENGAGEMENT. PARTICIPANTS PRIMARILY COME FROM A SCHOOL'S SPECIFIC GRADE LEVEL, A LEADERSHIP GROUP, CLUB, OR AFFINITY COHORT. EXPEDITIONS RANGE 5-14 DAYS AND TAKE PLACE ALONG THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL IN THE DELAWARE WATER GAP. ALONG WITH THE RIGORS OF CAMPING, STUDENTS ENGAGE IN 2-3 PHYSICAL CHALLENGES (HIKING, CANOEING, AND ROCK CLIMBING). TOGETHER, THEY NAVIGATE SHARING TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES: COOKING, DECISION MAKING, ROUTE PLANNING, AND PROBLEM-SOLVING. POBS ALSO OFFERS MERIT-BASED 100% SCHOLARSHIP SUMMER EXPEDITIONS OPEN TO YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE REGION. THESE OPPORTUNITIES ATTRACT MOTIVATED STUDENTS WHO PREVIOUSLY PARTICIPATED PREVIOUSLY IN A ONE-DAY INSIGHT PROGRAM OR A SCHOOL/GROUP SPONSORED EXPEDITION. IN 2025, 611 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN A MULTI-DAY WILDERNESS EXPEDITION; 418 OF THESE STUDENTS WERE SURVEYED POST COURSE TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF OUR PROGRAMS. COMBINED WITH FINDINGS FROM STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN INSIGHT DAYS, THE LARGEST GROWTH AREAS WERE GROUP RELATIONSHIPS, ASSERTIVENESS, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. HIGHLIGHTS FROM POBS' 2025 STUDENT SURVEYS INCLUDE: 92% ARE MORE AWARE OF HOW TO SUPPORT OTHERS 87% FEEL MORE CONNECTED TO THEIR PEERS 89% GAINED CONFIDENCE TO TRY NEW THINGS EXPEDITIONS TAKE THREE BASIC FORMS. 1). PEER LEADERSHIP COURSES ARE 5-7 DAY WILDERNESS COURSES THAT ENGAGE PARTICIPANTS WITH PEERS IN CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP AND PERSONAL SKILLS. THEY ARE EITHER BACKPACKING OR CANOEING EXPEDITIONS IN THE FALL OR SPRING. SCHOOLS USE THESE AS PART OF A PROGRAM PROGRESSION FOR THEIR 8TH - 12TH GRADE STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED EARLIER IN INSIGHT PROGRAMS. THESE ARE ALSO A POPULAR FORMAT FOR SUMMER OPEN ENROLLMENT COURSES THAT ATTRACT STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER WHO SEEK A CHALLENGE. 2) GET OUT AND LEAD (GOAL) IS AN ANNUAL 10-DAY MERIT-AWARD SUMMER EXPEDITION FOR PHILADELPHIA REGION TWELVE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE CREW BRINGS TOGETHER MOTIVATED STUDENTS SELECTED FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS FOR A MIX OF BACKPACKING, CANOEING AND ROCK- CLIMBING. STUDENTS MUST APPLY, PROVIDE REFERENCES, AND INTERVIEW TO BE CONSIDERED. 3) YOUTH LEADERSHIP CORPS IS AN ANNUAL 14-DAY MERIT-AWARD SUMMER EXPEDITION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. DEPENDING ON FUNDING, THERE CAN BE ONE TO TWO CREWS (12 STUDENTS EACH). IN 2025 THERE WAS ONE CREW. THIS COURSE ALSO BRINGS TOGETHER MOTIVATED STUDENTS SELECTED FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS FOR A MIX OF BACKPACKING, CANOEING AND ROCK-CLIMBING. STUDENTS MUST APPLY, PROVIDE REFERENCES, AND INTERVIEW TO BE CONSIDERED.
• EDUCATOR AND OTHER ADULT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS PRIMARILY USE THE SINGLE DAY INSIGHT MODEL ADAPTED FOR A MATURE STUDENT WORKING IN EDUCATION, NONPROFIT, AND CORPORATE SETTINGS. POBS CUSTOMIZES THE PROGRAM TO ADDRESS EACH ORGANIZATION'S TEAMWORK, COMMUNICATION, AND PROBLEM-SOLVING GOALS. THE EXCEPTION IS THE 7-DAY SUMMER CANOE EXPEDITION FOR EDUCATORS FROM POBS' PARTNER SCHOOLS AND YOUTH-SERVING PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. IN BOTH CASES, PARTICIPANTS BUILD TRUST AND GAIN NEW PERSPECTIVES ON LEADERSHIP. EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS GAIN A DIRECT AND DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE OUTWARD BOUND EDUCATION MODEL AND ARE THEN BETTER EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT THE TRANSFER OF THEIR STUDENTS' LEARNING FROM POBS COURSE TO CLASSROOM TO COMMUNITY. IN 2025, POBS ENGAGED 520 TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS INVOLVED IN SECONDARY EDUCATION AS WELL AS 908 OTHER ADULTS RANGING FROM VETERANS AND PEOPLE WORKING IN THE CORPORATE, GOVERNMENT, AND NONPROFIT SECTORS. AFTER COMPLETING A PROGRAM WITH THEIR TEAM, 85% OF THE 2025 PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS SURVEYED AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED THAT THEY FELT MORE COMMITTED TO THEIR TEAM'S SUCCESS AND 80% AGREED THAT THEY FEEL MORE ALIGNED WITH THEIR TEAM'S GOALS. RESPONDING TO HOW MUCH THE PROGRAM HELPED THEM DEVELOP, STRENGTHEN, OR BECOME MORE AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION SKILLS, 83% AGREED THAT IT HELPED THEM WITH COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND 87% AGREED THAT THEY BECAME MORE AWARE OF THE NEEDS OF THEIR TEAM.
• A TOP AND ONGOING PRIORITY FOR POBS REMAINS DEEPENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND RESIDENTS OF STRAWBERRY MANSION, THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SURROUNDS THE DISCOVERY CENTER, OUR HEADQUARTERS IN EAST FAIRMOUNT PARK. SINCE 2018, POBS HAS SHARED THIS WORLD-CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FACILITY WITH AUDUBON MID-ATLANTIC (AMA). COMMUNITY INPUT WAS CRITICAL FOR CREATING THE DISCOVERY CENTER. EVER SINCE THE FACILITY OPENED IN 2018, POBS AND AMA HAVE WORKED TO OFFER A MONTHLY SCHEDULE OF PROGRAMMING FOR THE COMMUNITY. THESE DISCOVERY DAYS OFFER A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES USING BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS, EXHIBITS, TRAILS, CLIMBING WALL, HIGH ROPES COURSE, THE 37-ACRE LAKE, AND BIRD WATCHING LOOKOUTS. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC YEAR-ROUND, POBS COLLABORATED WITH AMA TO OFFER 10 WEEKEND EVENTS DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO EACH ORGANIZATION'S RESPECTIVE PROGRAMS. POBS AND AMA ORGANIZE ONGOING ADVISORY GROUP MEETINGS AND THE VOLUNTEERS PLAN AND PROMOTE THE EVENTS. THIS CONSISTENT OUTREACH FOSTERS NEIGHBORHOOD ADULTS' UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT POBS AND AMA OFFER AND BUILDS THE TRUST CRITICAL FOR THEM TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN'S PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAMS. IN 2025, POBS AND AMA CONTINUED TO HOST A 10-WEEK PAID SUMMER ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR A SMALL GROUP OF YOUTH RECRUITED FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT IS A PIPELINE THAT CULTIVATES YOUTH AWARENESS OF AND INTEREST IN OUTDOOR EDUCATION JOBS.

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.

IRS record

EIN

56-2472884

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

2005

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Youth development (O50)

Assets (IRS master file)

$2,238,917

Income (IRS master file)

$3,575,354

Filing history

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 56-2472884).

Questions about PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND CENTER

What is the EIN of PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND CENTER?

The employer identification number (EIN) of PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND CENTER is 56-2472884.

Is PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND CENTER tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2005.

Are donations to PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND CENTER tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND CENTER 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 PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND CENTER 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 PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND CENTER 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 PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND CENTER?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names JUSTIN ENNIS.

Who are the officers and directors of PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND CENTER?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 26 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $155,092 (JUSTIN ENNIS, EXECUTIVE DI).

How much revenue does PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND CENTER have?

On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $3,509,052, expenses of $3,613,892 and total assets of $2,238,917 at year end.

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