Benson Chamber of Commerce
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $416,333
- Spending
- $455,042
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $57,260, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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 (3)
- $246,120 spent. THE BENSON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PROUDLY SPONSORS BENSON MULE DAYS; A FESTIVAL HELD IN LATE SEPTEMBER EACH YEAR. MULES TAKE CENTER STAGE FOR FOUR GLORIOUS DAYS DURING THE LEGENDARY BENSON MULE DAYS. THIS ISN'T YOUR AVERAGE FESTIVAL. IT'S A HEARTFELF TRIBUTE TO THE HARDWOKING MULES THAT HAVE SERVED THE COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS. OVER 75 YEARS STRONG, BENSON MULE DAYS ATTRACTS NEARLY 30,000 PEOPLE WITH RODEOS, MULE COMPETITIONS, DAZZLING ARTS AND CRAFTS, MOUTHWATERING FOOD VENDORS, LIVELY DANCES, AND THRILLING CARNIVAL RIDES. CAMPING UNDER THE STARS, CAPTIVATING PARADES WITH LOCAL BANDS AND CLASSIC CARS, AND TOE-TAPPING COUNTRY SHOWS ADD TO THE UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE.
- $208,922 spent. THE ORGANIZATION IS ORGANIZED TO PROMOTE BENSON AREA BUSINESSES AND ENRICH THE COMMUNITY'S ECONOMIC WELL-BEING. THE ORGANIZATION SERVES ITS 250 MEMBERS AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
- THE BENSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: A CATALYST FOR BUSINESS GROWTH AND COMMUNITY PROSPERITY. THE BENSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS A CORNERSTONE OF THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, COMMITTED TO SERVING ITS MEMBERS AND FOSTERING A VIBRANT, THRIVING BENSON. THROUGH A MULTIFACETED APPROACH THAT INCLUDES ADVOCACY, NETWORKING, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THE CHAMBER PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN THE ECONOMIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL FABRIC OF THE AREA. OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE YET POWERFUL: TO BE THE VOICE OF BUSINESS AND A CATALYST FOR POSITIVE CHANGE IN BENSON NC. WE ARE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING OUR MEMBERS WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO SUCCEED AND TO WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO MAKE BENSON AN EVEN BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND DO BUSINESS. SUPPORTING MEMBERS THROUGH STRATEGIC INITIATIVES THE BENSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE SUITE OF BENEFITS DESIGNED TO EMPOWER ITS MEMBERS AND HELP THEIR BUSINESSES FLOURISH. THESE BENEFITS INCLUDE: NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES: THE CHAMBER HOSTS REGULAR EVENTS, SUCH AS MONTHLY LUNCHEONS, AFTER-HOURS MIXERS, AND SPECIALIZED WORKSHOPS, PROVIDING MEMBERS WITH INVALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, AND GENERATE NEW BUSINESS. ADVOCACY AND REPRESENTATION: THE CHAMBER SERVES AS A POWERFUL ADVOCATE FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS. IT ACTIVELY MONITORS LEGISLATION AND POLICIES THAT IMPACT BUSINESSES, ENSURING THAT THE VOICE OF BENSON'S ENTREPRENEURS IS HEARD. MARKETING AND PROMOTION: MEMBERS RECEIVE ENHANCED VISIBILITY THROUGH THE CHAMBER'S WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, AND COMMUNITY PUBLICATIONS. THE CHAMBER ALSO OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPONSORSHIP AND ADVERTISING, HELPING BUSINESSES REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: THE CHAMBER PROVIDES ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, SEMINARS, AND WORKSHOPS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS, FROM MARKETING AND FINANCE TO HUMAN RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGY, HELPING MEMBERS STAY COMPETITIVE IN A DYNAMIC MARKETPLACE. BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY TOGETHER BEYOND ITS DIRECT SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES, THE BENSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF THE BENSON COMMUNITY. THE CHAMBER IS A KEY ORGANIZER OF MANY OF THE TOWN'S MOST BELOVED EVENTS, INCLUDING: MULE DAYS: THE CHAMBER IS THE ORGANIZER OF THE RENOWNED BENSON MULE DAYS, THE CHAMBER HELPS DRAW THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO THE TOWN EACH YEAR, PROVIDING A SIGNIFICANT BOOST TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AND SHOWCASING BENSON'S UNIQUE HERITAGE. COMMUNITY EVENTS: THE CHAMBER IS INSTRUMENTAL IN ORGANIZING OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS, SUCH AS HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS AND SEASONAL FESTIVALS, SUMMER CONCERT SERIES WHICH BRING RESIDENTS TOGETHER AND CREATE A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY PRIDE. COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ORGANIZATIONS: THE CHAMBER WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE TOWN OF BENSON AND OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES, AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(6) business league.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
Not 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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1953.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.