Transparency
The American Discovery Trail Society has a platinum seal of approval from Candid as a result of our openness with respect to administration and finances.
Information about how we operate can be found on the Candid / Guidestar website.
Our annual IRS 990 tax returns are posted on Candid, on the Propublica website, and on this website.
The trail was created in the early 1990s by the American Hiking Society (AHS) and others. The AHS helped establish the ADTS played a role in the initial filing for tax exemption (IRS form 1023) in 1996. Our financials are audited on a regular basis, and those audits are available upon request by calling us at 800-663-2387 or by sending an email to info@discoverytrail.org.
Our Tax Returns & Annual Reports
The American Discovery Trail Society is registered as a charity in the states where we have the greatest numbers of members or donors. This list includes California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.
Our 2025 tax return will be filled in the Spring of 2026 after the completion of our audit.