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Appalachian Forest Heritage Area Inc

EIN 20-0815517 · Elkins, WV

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceGood87 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Appalachian Forest Heritage Area integrates central Appalachian forest history, culture, natural history, products, and forestry management into a heritage tourism initiative to promote rural community development.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 75%
Employees
61
Volunteers
240
Highest pay
$64,792, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $795,750 spent. AFNHA AmeriCorps deployed 30 National Service members throughout the state West Virginia to support organizations serving within the themes of Conservation, and Heritage for Community Development. Members provided over 51,000 hours of service to 27 sites. Conservation service specifically included activities such as watershed restoration, environmental education, non-native species management, field data collection, tree planting, trail building and maintenance, environmental recreation support, among others. Heritage members supported museums, cultural centers for music and the arts, and hands on Historic Preservation. Community Development members supported organizations such as welcome centers, municipalities, boards, and foundations. All service members provided support for volunteer management activities for their sites and added greatly to the volunteer capacity and output of their specific organizations. AC members managed over 312 unique volunteers for their sponsoring sites in 2024, increasing capacity for their site. Members provided direct service resulting in the improvement of public lands.
  2. $27,252 spent. AFHA Discovery Visitor Center hosted interpretive displays showcasing the Appalachian Fotrest Heritage Area's diverse natural and cultural assets. In 2023 we explored the theme of Material Culture. The exhibit spoke to the influence of the forests played on folk art and music and the materials utilized in the those expressions. In 2023 over 2100 visitors were hosted at the Discovery Center, and over 3000 visitors were hosted at the tenant partner museum located in the Darden Mill known as the WV Railroad Museum.
  3. $358,510 spent. AFNHA' National Heritage Partnership Program supported AFNHA General Operations as the coordinating entity for the NHA, provided funding for $119,000 worth of grant making to nonprofits across our region in support of projects that support our mission, supported partnership development for the organization, and the development of branding.
  4. $75,857 spent. Other programs include the Highlands Creative Economy to promote tourism and tourism destinations in our region, the Pollinator Initiative to provide education and outreach on the importance of pollinators, and our Indigenous Appalachia program.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 March 2006.

    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.