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Mountain Projects Inc

EIN 56-0849092 · Waynesville, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MOUNTAIN PROJECTS COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY CHANGES PEOPLE'S LIVES, EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF HOPE, IMPROVES COMMUNITIES, AND MAKES HAYWOOD AND JACKSON COUNTIES A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.

Income
$23.7 million
Spending
$20.7 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 65%
Employees
175
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$263,445, past executi

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: 71 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 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 (5)
  1. $8.5 million spent. ASSIST LOW-INCOME, CHALLENGED, & OLDER PERSONS TO SECURE QUALITY HOUSING BY SUBSIDIZED RENTS & UTILITES FOR 880 UNITS/MONTH. A FEE IS CHARGED TO FUND THE OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM.
  2. $2.9 million spent. COMPREHENSIVE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (HEAD START) FOR 195 (130 HEAD START AND 65 EARLY HEAD START) LOW-INCOME CHILDREN & THEIR FAMILIES. NO FEE IS CHARGED.
  3. $2.0 million spent. A FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR THE PREPARATION OF MEALS FOR OTHER PROGRAMS OF THE ORGANIZATION. A FEE IS CHARGED; SERVED 26,465 MEALS DURING THE YEAR.
  4. $5.9 million spent. HOUSING - PERFORM MAJOR RENOVATION WORK ON HOMES OF LOWER INCOME PERSONS TO IMPROVE HOUSING QUALITY. NO FEE IS CHARGED. 15 HOMES SERVED THIS YEAR. AFFORDABLE HOUSING RENTAL - PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. EXPENSES TOTAL 74,382. WEATHERIZATION - PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN SELF-HELP HOUSING. SERVED 165 UNITS DURING THE YEAR. EXPENSES TOTAL 911,607. SENIOR SERVICES - ASSISTS ELDERLY WITH PHYSICAL AND NUTRITIONAL NEEDS. SERVED 5,981 PERSONS DURING YEAR. EXPENSES 456,817. CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE - PROMOTES PEOPLE BECOMING INVOLVED AS VOLUNTEERS WHILE ASSISTING IN NEEDED AREAS SUCH AS DAYCARES. 67 VOLUNTEERS SERVED DURING THE YEAR. EXPENSES 414,616. COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK PROGRAM - PROGRAM FUNDS CENTRAL INTAKE OPERATIONS AND CASE WORKERS. SERVED OVER 908 PERSONS DURING THE YEAR. EXPENSES 217,350. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM - PROVIDES PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR HAYWOOD CTY CITIZENS. SERVED 42,000 PASSENGERS FOR THE YEAR. EXPENSES 1,183,312. NAVIGATOR PROGRAM - PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS IN OBTAINING AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE. SERVED 3,794 PERSONS DURING THE YEAR. EXPENSES 338,153. PREVENTION SERVICES - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES ADULT AND YOUTH COUNSELING FOCUSED ON THE PREVENTION OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE. SERVED 162,890 PEOPLE. EXPENSES 303,760. WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY ACT - SERVED 11 PEOPLE. PROVIDES ACCESS TO EMPLOYEMENT, EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO JOB SEEKERS. EXPENSES 83,659. SMOKEY MOUNTAIN HOUSING - DEVELOP LOTS AND CONSTRUCT HOMES TO BE SOLD TO ELIGIBLE LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. 3 HOMES/LOTS SOLD AND 4 HOMES IN DEVELOPMENT. EXPENSES 570,276. HEALTHY OPPORTUNITIES PILOT - COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM TO EVALUATE NON MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS RELATED TO HOUSING, FOOD AND TRANSPORTATION FOR MEDICAID ENROLLEES. SERVED 305 INDIVIDUALS. EXPENSES 1,426,136.
  5. HOUSING - PERFORM MAJOR RENOVATION WORK ON HOMES OF LOWER INCOME PERSONS TO IMPROVE HOUSING QUALITY. NO FEE IS CHARGED. 15 HOMES SERVED THIS YEAR. AFFORDABLE HOUSING RENTAL - PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. EXPENSES TOTAL 74,382. WEATHERIZATION - PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN SELF-HELP HOUSING. SERVED 165 UNITS DURING THE YEAR. EXPENSES TOTAL 911,607. SENIOR SERVICES - ASSISTS ELDERLY WITH PHYSICAL AND NUTRITIONAL NEEDS. SERVED 5,981 PERSONS DURING YEAR. EXPENSES 456,817. CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE - PROMOTES PEOPLE BECOMING INVOLVED AS VOLUNTEERS WHILE ASSISTING IN NEEDED AREAS SUCH AS DAYCARES. 67 VOLUNTEERS SERVED DURING THE YEAR. EXPENSES 414,616. COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK PROGRAM - PROGRAM FUNDS CENTRAL INTAKE OPERATIONS AND CASE WORKERS. SERVED OVER 908 PERSONS DURING THE YEAR. EXPENSES 217,350. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM - PROVIDES PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR HAYWOOD CTY CITIZENS. SERVED 42,000 PASSENGERS FOR THE YEAR. EXPENSES 1,183,312. NAVIGATOR PROGRAM - PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS IN OBTAINING AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE. SERVED 3,794 PERSONS DURING THE YEAR. EXPENSES 338,153. PREVENTION SERVICES - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES ADULT AND YOUTH COUNSELING FOCUSED ON THE PREVENTION OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE. SERVED 162,890 PEOPLE. EXPENSES 303,760. WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY ACT - SERVED 11 PEOPLE. PROVIDES ACCESS TO EMPLOYEMENT, EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO JOB SEEKERS. EXPENSES 83,659. SMOKEY MOUNTAIN HOUSING - DEVELOP LOTS AND CONSTRUCT HOMES TO BE SOLD TO ELIGIBLE LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. 3 HOMES/LOTS SOLD AND 4 HOMES IN DEVELOPMENT. EXPENSES 570,276. HEALTHY OPPORTUNITIES PILOT - COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM TO EVALUATE NON MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS RELATED TO HOUSING, FOOD AND TRANSPORTATION FOR MEDICAID ENROLLEES. SERVED 305 INDIVIDUALS. EXPENSES 1,426,136.

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

  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 October 13, 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 June 2025.

    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 May 1966.

    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 October 21, 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.