Blue Ridge National Hertitage Area
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Preserving, interpreting, and developing the heritage resources of the North Carolina mountains.
- Income
- $913,855
- Spending
- $791,942
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 9.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 76%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $111,405, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 (1)
- $736,466 spent. Cultural Partners Support The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area worked diligently to support its cultural partners that were impacted by Hurricane Helene. Support from the NC Arts Foundation offered BRNHA the opportunity to provide stipends to 150 artists and programming support to four organizations that were devastated by the storm in Ashe, Rutherford, Madison, and Buncombe Counties. Blue Ridge Music Trails Partnered with the Jazz Foundation of America (JFA) to support traditional artisans after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Together we organized 11 performances in 9 locations throughout the 25-county BRNHA footprint. Through this effort BRNHA was able to provide work for 49 musicians and sound technicians and reach more than 3,800 people. Created partnerships with Rare Bird Farm and White Horse in Black Mountain for musical performances. Produced 20 BRMT Podcasts in partnership with WNCW Public Radio and WPVM Radio Produced the annual Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails magazine/festival guide with partner Smoky Mountain News.Blue Ridge Craft Trails: With grant funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission and Dogwood Health Trust, BRNHA promoted more than 350 craft artists and offered opportunities for hurricane impacted artists to exhibit their work for additional exposure and connection with buyers. Opportunities included: Exhibition at Mars Landing Galleries, featuring 28 artists impacted by Hurricane Helene Tale of Two Cities, a cultural exchange between New Orleans and Asheville commemorating Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Helene Earl Scruggs Music Festival, attracting more than 10,000 attendees and providing opportunities for BRCT artists to exhibit and sell their work as part of the three-day festival. A marketing partnership with non-profit Artsville USA expanded exposure by creating an online exhibition of BRCT's Mars Landing Craft Trails Exhibit the Tale of Two Cities Exhibit in New Orleans. To support community needs, BRNHA launched the Heritage Hearth program, resulting in 3,839 fiber-made items from more than 30 states, totaling 25,502 volunteer hours resulting in $854,045 match funding for the organization. We were amazed at the outpouring of support and care through this project. With support from media sponsors, Smoky Mountain News published its first ever Blue Ridge Craft Trails Magazine. Offered 5 peer-to-peer networking events and artists talks for creative entrepreneurs around the region reaching more than 70 people. Organized an online Holiday Market for Craft Artists, increasing participation from 40 to 66 artists. Continued to work with the Appalachian Regional Commission Office in Washington DC to change out art works provided by Blue Ridge Craft Trails partners. Marketing and Visitor Services Managed marketing partnerships with Alleghany, Graham and McDowell Counties resulting in branded videos, itineraries, media opportunities, and social media campaigns focused on the Blue Ridge Craft Trails and the Blue Ridge Music Trails. Printed small-run updates to its Asheville Regional Map and distributed 100,000 to area hotels, welcome centers, and tourist attractions. Provided visitor services at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center in Asheville, including brochure distribution, responding to phone and email inquiries, and working with partners to receive and stock their visitor brochures. Visitorship was down because of the hurricane and only 57,000 visited. Hosted one group tour at the Visitor Center attracting 63 people. Provided visitor information at the Asheville Outlets through partner brochure distribution and continued distribution of BRNHA visitor materials to regional and state-wide welcome centers, tourist attractions, music, and craft venues. Asheville Outlets contract ended Summer 2025. Thanks to support from the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources BRNHA continued to highlight its cultural trails through short videos at five NC Welcome Centers in North Carolina. Garnered 34 media placements focused on BRNHA, BRMT and BRCT. Managed 5 targeted E-newsletters with a combined subscriber list of more than 20,000, producing 40 e-newsleeters with average open rates of 40-55%. Managed two websites garnering more 632,740 views combined.Planning and Sustainability With support from capacity grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the National Park Foundation, WNC Nonprofit Pathways and Dogwood Health Trust, BRNHA continued to develop its philanthropy program. Grants supported: Consultants and contactors created and managed a migration strategy for a new CRM system, Bloomerang, developed a standards and conventions manual and user guide; produced an organizational messaging platform, and oversaw BRNHA's Giving Tuesday and Year-end appeals.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 October 13, 2026.
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 November 6, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.