Alaska Avalanche School

Keeping Alaskans on top of snow safety!

ANCHORAGE, AK   |  www.alaskaavalanche.org

Mission

The mission of the Alaska Avalanche School is to provide exceptional experience-based avalanche safety education to all users of the mountain environment.

Ruling year info

2005

Executive Director

Melis Coady

Main address

1113 W Fireweed Ln Suite 201

ANCHORAGE, AK 99503 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

72-1580840

NTEE code info

Vocational Technical (B30)

Winter Sports (Snow and Ice) (N68)

Safety Education (M40)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Although Alaskans enjoy living in the biggest state in the union we do not enjoy living with outsized risk to avalanche injury/death as compared to other mountain states. Most Alaskans travel unknowingly into avalanche terrain and do not have the tools to make safe decisions or deal with an accidental burial. In avalanche terrain avoidance of unsafe conditions is tantamount. Mother Nature is often screaming at people to stay off dangerous snow slopes. Time and time again lack of education allows Alaskans to miss the warning signs. Alaska Avalanche School offers a variety of courses and workshops designed to keep our community safe while working, traveling, and playing in the mountains.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Avalanche Courses

Our active, hands-on courses spend time both in the classroom and in the field at some of Alaska’s classic winter recreation destinations. You can expect professional instructors from a variety of backgrounds, all of whom have many seasons of experience in the unique Alaskan backcountry. All courses meet the American Avalanche Association (A3) curriculum guidelines and students receive a certificate of completion.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Where we work

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

No injury or deaths by avalanches in our state by 2025!

Our nonprofit school offers classes and workshops that teach children and adults to avoid avalanche burials!

Since 1975 Alaska Avalanche School has been an industry leader in avalanche safety education. We have taken avalanche science and broken it down into a spectrum high quality and hands-on courses appropriate for any audience from school kids, mountain athletes, ski patrollers and professional avalanche forecasters.

We know that making avalanche awareness and avoidance skills widely accessible saves lives. There has been a steady decrease in avalanche fatalities in South-central Alaska for skiers since Alaska Avalanche Schools founding in 1975. However, we have found that climbers and snowmachiners remain at high risk in our state accounting for the majority of fatalities in recent history and more than any other state. We would like to expand our offerings to reach our most vulnerable community members.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Paper surveys, Community meetings/Town halls,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    Our staff, Our board,

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,

Financials

Alaska Avalanche School
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Alaska Avalanche School

Board of directors
as of 3/4/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Andy Moderow


Board co-chair

Trip Kinney

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes