Carolinas Golf Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CGA IS A NON-PROFIT SERVICE ORGANIZATION THAT WAS FORMED IN 1909 TO CONDUCT CHAMPIONSHIPS AND TOURNAMENTS FOR AMATEUR GOLFERS IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA, ADMINISTER THE USGA HANDICAP SYSTEM IN THE CAROLINAS, AND SUPPORT ITS MEMBERSHIP OF MORE THAN 200,000 GOLFERS IN THE CGA'S 700 PLUS MEMBER CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS.
- Income
- $9.5 million
- Spending
- $9.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 9.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 86%
- Employees
- 34
- Volunteers
- 250
- Highest pay
- $250,922, executive director
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 79% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 79 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $4.9 million spent. THE CGA CONDUCTS 35 MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS, INCLUDING THE 100+ YEAR-OLD CAROLINAS AMATEUR, AS WELL AS FOUR TEAM MATCHES AND QUALIFYING EVENTS FOR USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS. THESE SERVE TO IDENTIFY THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE CAROLINAS; BUT THE CGA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE REACHES GOLFERS OF ALL ABILITIES. THE CGA ALSO CONDUCTS ONE-DAY HANDICAP TOURNAMENTS FOR PLAYERS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS, ONE-DAY SENIOR FOUR-BALL TOURNAMENTS, AND ONE-DAY EVENTS FOR JUNIOR AND WOMEN GOLFERS. THESE FUN EVENTS ATTRACT MORE THAN 14,000 ENTRIES A YEAR.
- $181,849 spent. "CAROLINAS GOLF" MAGAZINE IS MAILED QUARTERLY FREE OF CHARGE TO MEMBERS OF CGA MEMBER CLUBS. CLUBS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEND MEMBERSHIP ROSTERS (AND ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP ADDITIONS) TO THE CGA TO GET ISSUES OF "CAROLINAS GOLF" TO MEMBERS.
- THE CGA ADMINISTERS THE USGA HANDICAP SYSTEM IN THE CAROLINAS BY OFFERING AN "ATCLUB" COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM WITH A TOP TOURNAMENT MANAGEMENT PACKAGE. THE CGA PIONEERED COMPUTERIZED HANDICAPS IN 1963 AND CONTINUES TO OFFER PREMIER SERVICES AT A LOW COST TO MEMBERS. THE CGA TRAINS AND EDUCATES ITS MEMBERS ON POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USGA HANDICAPPING SYSTEM.
- $3.3 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES TURFGRASS ADVISORY SERVICES TO MEMBER CLUBS THROUGHOUT THE CAROLINAS AND CONDUCTS MEETINGS AND SEMINARS TO EDUCATE INTERESTED PARTIES IN A VARIETY OF GOLF TOPICS
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.