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Scenic America

EIN 23-2188166 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ESTABLISHED IN 1982, SCENIC AMERICA IS THE LEADING NATIONAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION PROMOTING SCENIC BYWAYS, UTILITY UNDERGROUND, HIGHWAY BEAUTIFICATION, RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (CONTINUED ON SCH O)

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
6
Volunteers
8,000
Highest pay
$425,795, president

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

Financial health

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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.

  • 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 March 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 (2)
  1. $1.2 million spent. CEMENTING OUR POSITION AS THE LEADING VOICE FOR SCENIC BYWAYS, IN 2019, WE STEERED THE EFFORT IN CONGRESS TO RESTORE THE NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS PROGRAM TO FUEL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY PRIDE IN PLACES LOCATED ALONG THESE ICONIC ROADWAYS. WITH THE PROGRAM REVIVED, SCENIC AMERICA THEN WORKED TO SECURE ITS FIRST DEDICATED FUNDING IN NEARLY A DECADE THROUGH THE FY 21, 22, AND 23 APPROPRIATIONS CYCLES FOR A TOTAL OF 42 MILLION. ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS ANTICIPATED IN THE FY 24 APPROPRIATIONS BILL, THANKS TO OUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY WORK. (CONTINUED ON SCH O)
  2. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A - FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT MORE RECENTLY, WE SCORED BIG WINS BEYOND OUR WORK SUPPORTING SCENIC BYWAYS, SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATING FOR SCENIC CONCERNS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT. THANKS TO OUR EFFORTS, BILLIONS OF FEDERAL DOLLARS NOW AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT UTILITY UNDERGROUNDING PROJECTS. NOTABLY, WE WORKED WITH CONGRESS TO SECURE AN AMENDMENT TO THE STAFFORD ACT ALLOWING FEMA DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS TO BE PUT TOWARDS UTILITY UNDERGROUNDING, IMPROVING THE RESILIENCY OF OUR POWER GRID AND CREATING MORE SCENIC COMMUNITIES. THE LEGISLATION ALSO INCLUDES SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS IN THE GATEWAY COMMUNITIES THAT WELCOME VISITORS TO OUR NATIONAL PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS. WE HAVE ALSO CONTINUED TO FIGHT THE BILLBOARD AND OUTDOOR ADVERTISING INDUSTRIES IN THE U.S., SECURING VICTORIES IN THE SUPREME COURT IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARTNERS IN TEXAS AND OTHER LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS. THE COURT'S 6-3 DECISION IN THE LANDMARK CASE, CITY OF AUSTIN V. REAGAN NATIONAL ADVERTISING, FENDS OFF ANOTHER ATTACK ON THE HIGHWAY BEAUTIFICATION ACT BY AFFIRMING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE BILLBOARD RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BEYOND OUR WORK ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WE ALSO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THEIR FIGHTS AGAINST BILLBOARD BLIGHT. WE HAVE HELPED OUR CHAPTERS AND AFFILIATES IN LOS ANGELES, SAN DIEGO, TENNESSEE, AND OTHER LOCATIONS PREVENT THE PROLIFERATION OF BILLBOARDS AND OTHER FORMS OF VISUAL POLLUTION IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. TO SHARE OUR MISSION WITH FUTURE GENERATIONS, WE HAVE ALSO CULTIVATED NEW EDUCATIONAL PLATFORMS AND OUTREACH EFFORTS. OUR EDUCATION CURRICULUM INCLUDES AN INTERACTIVE APP-BASED GAME BUILT ON THE AGENTS OF DISCOVERY PLATFORM, WHICH TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT SCENIC CONSERVATION THROUGH HANDS-ON "MISSIONS" THAT CAN BE PLAYED ON-SITE IN WASHINGTON, DC AND REMOTELY AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO GROW AND UPDATE OUR COMMUNICATIONS PLATFORMS, MAINLY THE LAUNCH OF AN UPDATED VISUAL BRAND IDENTITY AND NEW WEBSITE, WHICH WILL HELP PROPEL THE ORGANIZATION FORWARD WITH AN UPDATED LOOK AND ROBUST DIGITAL PRESENCE. IN RECOGNITION OF OUR WORK, SCENIC AMERICA HAS EARNED PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS FROM THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES (ASAE) IN RECENT YEARS. WE RECEIVED ASAE'S POWER OF A GOLD AWARD FOR OUR ADVOCACY SUCCESSES IN REVIVING THE NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS PROGRAM AND SECURING ITS FIRST DEDICATED FUNDING IN TEN YEARS. WE ALSO EARNED ASAE'S GOLD CIRCLE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR OUR HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN IN SUPPORT OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW ALL-AMERICAN ROADS AND NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 March 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 May 1983.

    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.