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The Pisgah Conservancy

EIN 47-5267129 · Brevard, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PISGAH CONSERVANCY WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE TO PROVIDE KEY RESOURCES FOR THE BENEFIT OF PISGAH AND ITS VISITORS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
17
Volunteers
580

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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. $669,061 spent. SUPPORTING RECREATION - MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION - A PRIMARY GOAL OF TPC WILL BE TO ENHANCE THE RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF VISITORS TO THE PISGAH WHILE PROTECTING THE RICH NATURAL RESOURCES THAT ATTRACT THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING TRAILS, TRAILHEADS, BUILDINGS, MONUMENTS, PARKING LOTS, AND OTHER FACILITIES WILL PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN ACCOMPLISHING THAT GOAL. WE WORK TO MAINTAIN TRAIL STABILITY, REDUCE EROSION AND FLOW OF SEDIMENTS TO WATERWAYS, PREVENT UNACCEPTABLE TRAIL IMPACTS ON WILDLIFE AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, ENSURE THAT TRAILS AND TRAIL SHELTERS ARE NOT IN DISREPAIR AND ARE SUPPORTED BY USER GROUPS AND VOLUNTEERS, MAKE SURE THAT THEY SERVE A MEANINGFUL PURPOSE WITHIN A TRAIL COMPLEX (OR, IF NOT, SUPPORT THEIR DECOMMISSIONING), PROMOTE USER SAFETY (INCLUDING THROUGH IMPROVED SIGNAGE), HELP OPEN AND MAINTAIN APPROVED SCENIC VISTAS, AND CONTRIBUTE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR THE TRAILS. WE ALSO SEEK TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO TRAILS AND TRAILHEADS THAT ARE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING. TO THE EXTENT REASONABLY POSSIBLE THEY SHOULD BLEND WITH THE LANDSCAPE AND AUGMENT THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE PISGAH. WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT - THROUGH OUR TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS WE HELP REDUCE SEDIMENT RUNOFF AND KEEP TRASH FROM FOULING OUR STREAMS AND RIVERS. WHEN NEEDED, WE WILL TAKE OTHER STEPS TO IMPROVE RIPARIAN HEALTH, OPENING CLOGGED CULVERTS, REDUCING DAMAGE FROM RIVER ACCESS SITES, AND THE LIKE. NON-NATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES ERADICATION - WE SUPPORT THE ERADICATION OF NON-NATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES FROM THE PISGAH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EFFORTS OF THE FOREST SERVICE AND OTHER AGENCIES. REMOVAL OF WASTE, LITTER, & GRAFFITI - WE SUPPORT THE FOREST SERVICE AND ORGANIZATIONS EMPLOYED BY THE FOREST SERVICE IN KEEPING THE PISGAH PRISTINE. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE WASTE, LITTER, AND GRAFFITI SPOILING OUR CAMPGROUNDS, TRAILS, RIVERS, AND FORESTS. WE PLAN TO HELP THROUGH OUR EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES TO KEEP THEM CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL. WILDLIFE HABITAT IMPROVEMENT & RESTORATION - WE TAKE STEPS TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR WILDLIFE ON THE PISGAH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FOREST SERVICE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS POLICIES. EDUCATION - OUR GOAL IS TO ENHANCE THE AWARENESS OF INDIVIDUALS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND USERS OF THE PISGAH ABOUT ITS IMPORTANCE TO OUR REGION AND WHAT IS NEEDED TO PROTECT IT. WE PROMOTE "LEAVE-NO-TRACE" PRINCIPLES, ENCOURAGING METHODS OF TRAIL USAGE THAT REDUCE DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT. WE WILL PROVIDE MECHANISMS BOTH FOR EDUCATING USERS AND FOR IMPROVING FEEDBACK TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND VOLUNTEER TRAIL MAINTAINERS ON TRAIL CONDITIONS. SUPPORTING RECREATION - MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION - A PRIMARY GOAL OF TPC WILL BE TO ENHANCE THE RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF VISITORS TO THE PISGAH WHILE PROTECTING THE RICH NATURAL RESOURCES THAT ATTRACT THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING TRAILS, TRAILHEADS, BUILDINGS, MONUMENTS, PARKING LOTS, AND OTHER FACILITIES WILL PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN ACCOMPLISHING THAT GOAL. WE WORK TO MAINTAIN TRAIL STABILITY, REDUCE EROSION AND FLOW OF SEDIMENTS TO WATERWAYS, PREVENT UNACCEPTABLE TRAIL IMPACTS ON WILDLIFE AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, ENSURE THAT TRAILS AND TRAIL SHELTERS ARE NOT IN DISREPAIR AND ARE SUPPORTED BY USER GROUPS AND VOLUNTEERS, MAKE SURE THAT THEY SERVE A MEANINGFUL PURPOSE WITHIN A TRAIL COMPLEX (OR, IF NOT, SUPPORT THEIR DECOMMISSIONING), PROMOTE USER SAFETY (INCLUDING THROUGH IMPROVED SIGNAGE), HELP OPEN AND MAINTAIN APPROVED SCENIC VISTAS, AND CONTRIBUTE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR THE TRAILS. WE ALSO SEEK TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO TRAILS AND TRAILHEADS THAT ARE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING. TO THE EXTENT REASONABLY POSSIBLE THEY SHOULD BLEND WITH THE LANDSCAPE AND AUGMENT THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE PISGAH. WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT - THROUGH OUR TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS WE HELP REDUCE SEDIMENT RUNOFF AND KEEP TRASH FROM FOULING OUR STREAMS AND RIVERS. WHEN NEEDED, WE WILL TAKE OTHER STEPS TO IMPROVE RIPARIAN HEALTH, OPENING CLOGGED CULVERTS, REDUCING DAMAGE FROM RIVER ACCESS SITES, AND THE LIKE. NON-NATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES ERADICATION - WE SUPPORT THE ERADICATION OF NON-NATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES FROM THE PISGAH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EFFORTS OF THE FOREST SERVICE AND OTHER AGENCIES. REMOVAL OF WASTE, LITTER, & GRAFFITI - WE SUPPORT THE FOREST SERVICE AND ORGANIZATIONS EMPLOYED BY THE FOREST SERVICE IN KEEPING THE PISGAH PRISTINE. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE WASTE, LITTER, AND GRAFFITI SPOILING OUR CAMPGROUNDS, TRAILS, RIVERS, AND FORESTS. WE PLAN TO HELP THROUGH OUR EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES TO KEEP THEM CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL. WILDLIFE HABITAT IMPROVEMENT & RESTORATION - WE TAKE STEPS TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR WILDLIFE ON THE PISGAH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FOREST SERVICE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS POLICIES. EDUCATION - OUR GOAL IS TO ENHANCE THE AWARENESS OF INDIVIDUALS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND USERS OF THE PISGAH ABOUT ITS IMPORTANCE TO OUR REGION AND WHAT IS NEEDED TO PROTECT IT. WE PROMOTE "LEAVE-NO-TRACE" PRINCIPLES, ENCOURAGING METHODS OF TRAIL USAGE THAT REDUCE DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT. WE WILL PROVIDE MECHANISMS BOTH FOR EDUCATING USERS AND FOR IMPROVING FEEDBACK TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND VOLUNTEER TRAIL MAINTAINERS ON TRAIL CONDITIONS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2016.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.