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Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation Inc

EIN 26-4812778 · Linville, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STEWARDSHIP FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE CONSERVATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD BY HELPING GUESTS EXPLORE, UNDERSTAND AND VALUE THE WONDERS OF GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN.

Income
$10.5 million
Spending
$9.4 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
22.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 59%
Employees
147
Volunteers
66
Highest pay
$233,055, president and ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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 (1)
  1. $8.1 million spent. THE PRINCIPAL PROGRAM SERVICES ARE AS FOLLOWS:1) PRESERVATION OF GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN BY PROTECTING AND MONITORING ENDANGERED SPECIES, ERADICATING AND MANAGING INVASIVE SPECIES, CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING A RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN, REDUCING LIGHT POLLUTION IN THE NIGHT SKY, DEVELOPING AND EXECUTING CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAMS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR NATURAL COMMUNITIES, PRESERVING OUR FORESTS TO INCREASE CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND SEEKING WAYS TO REDUCE OUR GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS FROM THE NATURE PARK. 2) ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MAN AND BIOSPHERE PROGRAM, A UNIT OF THE UNESCO MAN AND BIOSPHERE PROGRAM, WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AGENCIES AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO DETERMINE BEST PRACTICES IN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. 3) EDUCATING THE PUBLIC THROUGH HANDS-ON IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCES BOTH IN THE FIELD ON GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN AND IN SCHOOL CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE REGION. EDUCATION STAFF WORK CLOSELY WITH TEACHERS AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT EXPAND LEARNERS' UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL WORLD. EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM FOR GRADES K-12 WITH TWO NEW IN-DEPTH PARTNERSHIPS WITH ALL FIRST GRADE STUDENTS THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED WILD WATCH IN ALL AVERY COUNTY, NC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR LOCAL NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS AND THE FLORA AND FAUNA THAT LIVE HERE. GROWING EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS FOR 5TH GRADE STUDENTS THE ECOWATCH PROGRAM.4) OPERATING THE NATURE PARK FOR PUBLIC ENRICHMENT, ENJOYMENT AND UNDERSTANDING. PROVIDE ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP, ADEQUATE STAFFING LEVELS TO PROVIDE HIGH-LEVEL EXPERIENCES IN ONE OF THE MOST BIOLOGICALLY DIVERSE MOUNTAINS IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. PARK ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE NATIVE ANIMAL EXHIBITS, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM EXHIBITS, CULTURAL MUSEUM EXHIBITS, GIFT SHOPS, RESTAURANT AND FOOD SERVICE, MILES OF HIKING TRAILS, PAVED ROAD AND WALKWAYS, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND THE HISTORIC MILE HIGH SWINGING BRIDGE. WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ADJACENT GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STATE PARK TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY RESPONSE SUPPORT, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND TRAIL MAINTENANCE.5) PARTNER AND COLLABORATE WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO FORM AND NURTURE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE WHO SHARE THE FOUNDATION'S VALUES, INCLUDING THE GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN HIGHLAND GAMES, BLUE RIDGE CONSERVANCY, BLUE RIDGE NATURAL HERITAGE AREA, NORTH CAROLINA AUDUBON, BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, LEES-MCRAE COLLEGE, APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY, MAYLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE, CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE IN THE LOCAL REGION, GIRL SCOUTS OF THE USA AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. PROMOTE A FAMILY CULTURE WHERE EMPLOYEES FEEL A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP OF OUR MISSION, PRIDE, VALUE AND SATISFACTION IN THEIR DAILY ACTIVITIES AND IN THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION. ACT AS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER WITHIN THE REGION BY POSITIVELY INFLUENCING THE LOCAL ECONOMY BY DRAWING VISITORS TO GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN. ENGAGE WITH DONORS AND OPERATE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS TO FURTHER OUR MISSION OF INSPIRING CONSERVATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD BY HELPING GUESTS EXPLORE, UNDERSTAND AND VALUE THE WONDERS OF GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN.

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 November 6, 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 September 2009.

    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 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.