Hights Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HIGHTS mission is to transform youth in Western North Carolina by inspiring trust in their own abilities, connection to a caring community, and hope for a better future.
- Income
- $4.4 million
- Spending
- $3.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 5.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 36%
- Employees
- 52
- Volunteers
- 14
- Highest pay
- $89,962, financial officer
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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)
- $3.0 million spent. Restorative Justice Continuum- These programs serve underserved youth ages 11-18 in the counties of Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Qualla Boundary. These programs serve kids through after-school and alternative-to-suspension programs that focus on community service/restitution, adventure-based learning, experiential education, and recreation therapy. These programs served 370 youth participants in 2024-25.
- Therapeutic Counseling Services - HIGHTS engaged 179 youth in therapy services in 2024-25. This includes youth seen through outpatient therapy services, group therapy services, intensive in-home treatment, and addictions treatment, animal assisted interventions and transitional youth services. HIGHTS provides these services in different capacities in the seven westernmost counties of Western North Carolina to clients ages 4-24. This region is rural and extremely underserved with therapeutic services due to limited resources and a lack of providers.
- Workforce Development- This program serves youth ages 16-24 in Jackson, Macon, Swain, Graham, Clay, and Cherokee Counties that have dropped out of school or are otherwise disengaged. This program helps participants overcome boundaries and lack of resources to assist youth in attaining their GEDs, engaging in the workforce and attaining a meaningful credential. This program provides assistance with gas mileage, childcare and other emergency needs that get in the way of underserved youth receiving a credential or diploma. HIGHTS provides eight weeks of paid work experience in a workplace, so youth gain valuable and meaningful work experience and often find employment with the same company they do this work experience with. HIGHTS Workforce Development served 236 participants in 2024-25.
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 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 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 March 2008.
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.