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Scenic Virginia Inc

EIN 54-1903204 · Richmond, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PRESERVATION, PROTECTION, AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE BEAUTY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE PRESERVATION OF OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT VIEWSHEDS AND ON EDUCATING VIRGINIANS OF THE NEED TO PRESERVE THESE SCENIC RESOURCES.

Income
$81,510
Spending
$150,348
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Highest pay
$48,007, executive di

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 84% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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. $132,529 spent. SCENIC VIRGINIA HAS ENHANCED ITS ABILITY TO MEET ITS MISSION WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TREASURED VIEWS PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM, RECOGNIZED AS A NATIONAL MODEL, IS USED TO IDENTIFY, MAP, AND DOCUMENT KEY ATTRIBUTES OF SCENIC VIEWS IN VIRGINIA. THE INFORMATION IS USED TO EVALUATE DIFFERENT VIEWSHED TYPES IN DIFFERENT SETTINGS - RURAL, URBAN, NATURAL, AND CULTURAL. IT IS A SCIENCE-BASED PROCESS, INCORPORATING BOTH SCENIC ELEMENTS AND COMMUNITY VALUES. THE PROGRAM IS A REPOSITORY OF DATA COLLECTED BY SCENIC VIRGINIA AND OTHER PRACTIONERS. THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM AND PROCESS EXTENDS BEYOND EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS. THE TOOLS AND TRAINING ARE PROVIDED AS A SERVICE TO COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT WORKING AS ACTIVE PARTNERS, WE CAN COLLECT, INVENTORY AND FULLY RECOGNIZE VARIOUS VIEWSHEDS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE REGISTER OF OUTSTANDINGLY SIGNIFICANT SCENIC VIEWS IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024, THERE WERE 2 VIEWSHEDS LISTED ON THE REGISTER. IN 2025 WE WILL BE ADDING FIVE NEW VIEWS TO THE REGISTER. SOME NOMINIATIONS ARE NOT SELECTED FOR THE REGISTER, HOWEVER, ALL DATA COLLECTED REMAINS IN THE SYSTEM AND IS AVAILABLE FOR USE BY RESEARCHERS, PLANNERS, AND DEVELOPERS, WHOSE WORK HAS AN IMPACT ON THE VIEWSHEDS. HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW WE WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY IN 2024: 1. COLLABORATED WITH WILLIAM AND MARY UNIVERSITY AND VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY TO DO ADDITIONAL RESEARCH ON HOW VIEWSHEDS WILL BE MAPPED AND HOW THE PORTAL WILL BE SET UP. 2. CONDUCTED A COMMUNITY INPUT PROGRAM FOR THE FRIENDS OF THE LOWER APPOMATTOX RIVER (FOLAR), TO IDENTIFY THEIR TREASURED VIEWS. 3. MADE PRESENTATIONS ON THE TREASURED VIEWS PROGRAM AND ITS TOOLS TO THE GARDEN CLUB OF VIRGINIA AND THE GARDEN CLUB OF ALEXANDRIA. 4. MADE A PRESENTATION TO THE CLINCH RIVER VALLEY INITIATIVE IN HOPES THAT THEY WOULD SEND REGISTER NOMINATIONS. 5. PROVIDED A POSTER AND MADE A PRESENTATION TO THE BIANNUAL NEW RIVER SYMPOSIUM.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 December 1998.

    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.