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Appalachian Community Development Association

EIN 23-7425054 · New Richmond, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceWeak47 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE APPALACHIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (ACDA) IS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR EDUCATIONAL, CHARITABLE, CULTURAL, AND OTHER NON- PROFIT PURPOSES. THE ACDA EXISTS TO PROVIDE MECHANISMS THROUGH WHICH THE BROAD-BASED GOALS OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY BETTERMENT CAN BE ACHIEVED WITHIN THE APPALACHIAN COMMUNITY OF GREATER CINCINNATI. PROCEEDS FROM THE APPALACHIAN FESTIVAL ARE USED TO FUND GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE GREATER CINCINNATI COMMUNITY FOR PROGRAMS THAT SERVE THE APPALACHIAN PEOPLE OR PROMOTE APPALACHIAN CULTURE.

Income
$218,065
Spending
$201,961
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
7.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$1,600, board member

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

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 172% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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.

  • 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, 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. $194,157 spent. THE ACDA HOSTS AN ANNUAL APPALACHIAN FESTIVAL DESIGNED TO PROMOTE BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF APPALACHIAN CULTURE, TO INSPIRE IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC AN APPRECIATION OF TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY MOUNTAIN MUSIC AND CRAFTS, AND TO FOSTER PRIDE AMONG MIGRANT APPALACHIANS IN GREATER CINCINNATI IN THEIR HERITAGE AND CULTURE. ACDA ALSO SPONSORS OTHER EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EVENTS DIRECTED TOWARD IMPROVING THE URBAN APPALACHIAN'S SELF-IMAGE AND ENCOURAGING APPALACHIANS AND NON-APPALACHIANS TO VALUE AND UNDERSTAND THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF APPALACHIA.
  2. $4,600 spent. PROVIDE GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE GREATER CINCINNATI COMMUNITY FOR PROGRAMS THAT SERVE THE APPALACHIAN PEOPLE OR PROMOTE APPALACHIAN CULTURE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2011 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on December 15, 2013.

    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 2025.

    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 August 2014.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Appalachian Community Capital Development Foundation (Christiansbrg, VA), EIN 46-2827486. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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