Friends of the Wnc Nature Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Friends is a conservation organization that inspires a passion to know more, care more, and do more for the wildlife of the Southern Appalachians. We advance the critical work of the Nature Center through fundraising, membership, outreach education, marketing and volunteer service.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 13.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $85,620, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 89 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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 June 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 (3)
- $874,484 spent. The Friends of the WNC Nature Center provided $760,309 to the WNC Nature Center in FY25. Donations were a combination of cash, services, in-kind, and volunteer hours. Through Friends support, the Nature Center finished and outfitted their new veterinary clinic; constructed the Gateway to the Southern Appalachians and Butterfly Pollinator Garden; and added necessary updates to the otter, black bear, and fox habitats.
- Breaking records set during The Great Flood of 1916, Tropical Storm Helene devastated the region in September 2024, and the WNC Nature Center was closed to the public for more than five months, reopening in March 2025. While the closure impacted attendance, membership numbers, and Gift Shop revenues, the Friends of the WNC Nature Center leaned into their mision of connecting people to the wildlife of the Southern Appalchians by providing hands-on, affordable outreach education to schools, libraries, and communities across the region.
- As a partner organization, the Friends organization operates the Gift Shop, Membership, Volunteer, and Outreach Education Programs and provides full marketing services to increase Nature Center admission numbers annually. 2025 was the WNC Nature Centers centennial year, and the 50th anniversary of the Friends. As part of the Gateway to the Southern Appalachians project, the side of the historic barn now tells the story of the WNC Nature Center with a colorful mural and a 75-foot history wall with panels sharing fun facts, important milestones, and photos and news articles from the past 100 years.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 October 13, 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 June 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 June 1977.
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 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.