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Kentucky Heartwood Inc

EIN 01-0701145 · Berea, KY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

KENTUCKY HEARTWOOD SEEKS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE INTEGRITY, STABILITY, AND BEAUTY OF KENTUCKYS NATIVE FORESTS AND BIOTIC COMMUNITIES THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

Income
$159,282
Spending
$177,646
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
9.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
6
Volunteers
37
Highest pay
$44,062, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $55,000 spent. 1. FOREST PROTECTION ADVOCACY AND LEGAL ACTION KENTUCKY HEARTWOOD CONDUCTED FOREST PROTECTION ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SUPPORT ACTIVITIES TO CONSERVE MATURE AND OLD-GROWTH FORESTS ON PUBLIC LANDS WITHIN THE DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED SCIENTIFIC REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, PREPARATION OF FORMAL OBJECTIONS TO PROPOSED TIMBER PROJECTS, AND PARTICIPATION IN MEDIATION PROCESSES. THESE ACTIVITIES DIRECTLY ADVANCED THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE BY PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY, FOREST ECOSYSTEMS, AND WATERSHED HEALTH FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION REVIEWED PROJECTS AFFECTING MORE THAN 20,000 ACRES, ENGAGED 300+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND SUBMITTED MULTIPLE EDITORIAL PIECES TO NEWSPAPERS. TOTAL EXPENSES: 55,000. 1. FOREST PROTECTION ADVOCACY AND LEGAL ACTION KENTUCKY HEARTWOOD CONDUCTED FOREST PROTECTION ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SUPPORT ACTIVITIES TO CONSERVE MATURE AND OLD-GROWTH FORESTS ON PUBLIC LANDS WITHIN THE DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED SCIENTIFIC REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, PREPARATION OF FORMAL OBJECTIONS TO PROPOSED TIMBER PROJECTS, AND PARTICIPATION IN MEDIATION PROCESSES. THESE ACTIVITIES DIRECTLY ADVANCED THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE BY PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY, FOREST ECOSYSTEMS, AND WATERSHED HEALTH FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION REVIEWED PROJECTS AFFECTING MORE THAN 20,000 ACRES, ENGAGED 300+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND SUBMITTED MULTIPLE EDITORIAL PIECES TO NEWSPAPERS. TOTAL EXPENSES: 55,000.
  2. $52,000 spent. 2. COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT KENTUCKY HEARTWOOD PROVIDED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON FOREST ECOLOGY, LAND STEWARDSHIP, AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT PROCESSES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED GUIDED FOREST WALKS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS, NEWSLETTERS, MEMBERS ANNUAL MEETING, AND OUTREACH COMMUNICATIONS. THESE PROGRAMS ADVANCED THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE BY INCREASING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF FOREST CONSERVATION AND ENABLING INFORMED CIVIC PARTICIPATION. IN 2025, KENTUCKY HEARTWOOD REACHED 500+ PARTICIPANTS THROUGH MONTHLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS (10) QUARTERLY UPDATES (3) TABLING (~5) AT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND OUR MEMBERS ANNUAL SPRING MEETING. TOTAL EXPENSES: 52,000. 2. COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT KENTUCKY HEARTWOOD PROVIDED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON FOREST ECOLOGY, LAND STEWARDSHIP, AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT PROCESSES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED GUIDED FOREST WALKS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS, NEWSLETTERS, MEMBERS ANNUAL MEETING, AND OUTREACH COMMUNICATIONS. THESE PROGRAMS ADVANCED THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE BY INCREASING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF FOREST CONSERVATION AND ENABLING INFORMED CIVIC PARTICIPATION. IN 2025, KENTUCKY HEARTWOOD REACHED 500+ PARTICIPANTS THROUGH MONTHLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS (10) QUARTERLY UPDATES (3) TABLING (~5) AT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND OUR MEMBERS ANNUAL SPRING MEETING. TOTAL EXPENSES: 52,000.
  3. $24,176 spent. 3. PROGRAM CAPACITY BUILDING THROUGH KEY STAFF HIRING TO STRENGTHEN THE DELIVERY OF ITS EXEMPT PURPOSE, KENTUCKY HEARTWOOD HIRED A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND A STAFF ECOLOGIST TO LEAD AND EXPAND ITS CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND SCIENCE-BASED ADVOCACY PROGRAMS. THESE HIRES INCREASED THE ORGANIZATION'S CAPACITY TO CONDUCT FOREST MONITORING, MANAGE CONSERVATION INITIATIVES, ENGAGE COMMUNITIES, AND COORDINATE COMPLEX ADVOCACY AND LEGAL PROCESSES. IN 2025, THE NEW STAFF SUPPORTED ALL CORE PROGRAM AREAS, EXPANDED SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, AND IMPROVED ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS IN PROTECTING KENTUCKY'S FORESTS AND BIODIVERSITY. TOTAL EXPENSES: 24,176.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.