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Foxfire Fund Inc

EIN 23-7022599 · Mountain City, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOXFIRE'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE THE DIVERSE TRADITIONS OF SOUTHERN APPALACHIA AND ADVANCE THE UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE THROUGH PUBLIC PROGRAMS, PUBLICATIONS, AND LEARNER-CENTERED EDUCATION.

Income
$551,408
Spending
$577,245
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
33.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 36%
Employees
19
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$82,058, 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

Good: 76 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 33.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 38 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

Strong: 91 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $326,654 spent. DURING 2024, THE MUSEUM HAD OVER 12,000 VISITORS, INCLUDING SENIOR CITIZEN GROUPS, SCHOOL GROUPS, GUIDED TOURS, AND PEOPLE ATTENDING OUR HERITAGE SKILLS CLASSES. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE MUSEUM/VILLAGE INCLUDED COMPLETION OF OUR PAVILION PROJECT WHERE SCHOOL GROUPS AND VISITORS CAN REST OR HAVE LUNCH ON THE GROUNDS. THE PAVILION IS SITUATED BESIDE THE CHILDREN'S VILLAGE SO KIDS CAN PLAY WHILE THEIR PARENTS REST IN THE SHADE. WE BEGAN PREPARATIONS ON THE LAST INSTALLMENT IN THE CHILDREN'S AREA AS A NOD TO THE NATIVE PEOPLE THAT FIRST INHABITED THE LAND WHERE WE ARE. THIS STRUCTURE WILL BE A MINIATURE VERSION OF A CHEROKEE DWELLING FROM THE 1500-1600'S. IT IS A PRECURSOR TO A LARGER STRUCTURE TO BE CONSTRUCTED AS THE FIRST STOP ON THE WALKING TOUR. THE PROJECTED START DATE WOULD BE EARLY 2026. MAINTENANCE TO THE STRUCTURES USING HISTORICALLY ACCURATE REMODELING TECHNIQUES IS AN ONGOING PROCESS.
  2. $16,750 spent. DURING 2024, THE FOXFIRE SUMMER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM HAD 12 STUDENTS PARTICIPATE, RESULTING IN THEIR COMPLETION OF SEVERAL HERITAGE SKILLS CLASSES AND INTERVIEWING CONTACTS FOR PUBLICATION OF ARTICLES IN THE STUDENT PRODUCED FOXFIRE MAGAZINE. STUDENTS COMPLETED TWO COMPLETE FOXFIRE MAGAZINE ISSUES. IN ADDITION, SCHOLARSHIPS FOR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION WERE AWARDED TO 8 STUDENTS, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $16,750. WE NOW ARE WORKING WITH THE AMERICAN HISTORY/APPALACHIAN STUDIES CLASS AT RABUN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. STUDENTS TAKING THIS CLASS ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT CREDITS WITH YOUNG HARRIS COLLEGE. THIS COINCIDES WITH OUR MISSION OF EDUCATION AND PRESERVATION THROUGH STUDENT CENTERED LEARNING. FINALLY, WE HOSTED MANY SCHOOL GROUPS WHO RECEIVED A GUIDED TOUR FEATURING INTERACTIONS AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FROM HERITAGE SKILL ARTISANS. THE CHILDREN ENJOY WATCHING THE DEMONSTRATIONS, PARTICIPATING IN THE ACTIVITIES AND SEEING HOW MOUNTAIN PEOPLE LIVED AND THRIVED MANY YEARS AGO.
  3. $12,905 spent. TWO ISSUES OF THE FOXFIRE MAGAZINE WERE COMPLETED USING STUDENTS FROM BOTH THE SUMMER STUDENT PROGRAM AND RABUN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. THESE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY EXCITED TO HAVE THEIR WORK PUBLISHED ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. MANY OF THE STUDENTS ARE CONSIDERING THE PROGRAM FOR A SECOND YEAR IN 2025. FORMER FOXFIRE STUDENTS CONTINUE TO RECALL AND PRAISE HOW FOXFIRE STUDENT PROGRAMMING HAS MADE A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES. THE PRACTICALITY AND HANDS-ON APPLICATIONS ARE SKILLS THAT THEY HAVE USED THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES AND IN THEIR BUSINESSES TO BE SUCCESSFUL. ROYALTIES RECEIVED ARE FROM "THE FOXFIRE BOOK OF APPALACHIAN WOMEN", ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN 2023.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1969.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.