Carolina Meadows Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO ENRICH AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS AND THOSE CONNECTED TO OUR COMMUNITY. TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF AGING, CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND PARTNER ON SENIOR (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS PROVIDE HOUSING, HEALTH CARE AND OTHER RELATED SERVICES TO SENIOR ADULTS THROUGH THE OPERATION OF A LIFE PLAN COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $53.8 million
- Spending
- $51.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- -38.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 92%
- Employees
- 656
- Volunteers
- 650
- Highest pay
- $485,562, president and ceo
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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 121% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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 (1)
- $45.4 million spent. OUR BELIEF IS THAT IF CAROLINA MEADOWS CEASED TO EXIST, THE ORGANIZATION WOULD BE MISSED WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE BROADER COUNTY AREA BECAUSE CAROLINA MEADOWS IS APPROXIMATELY THE 3RD LARGEST EMPLOYER AND THE 4TH LARGEST PROPERTY TAXPAYER IN CHATHAM COUNTY. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.COMMUNITY OUTREACH:CAROLINA MEADOWS SUPPORTS A VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONS AND CAUSES WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT ALIGN WITH THE GOALS AND BELIEFS OF THE ORGANIZATION, PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING AREAS:-CHATHAM COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES -PROVIDING CHARITY CARE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF CAROLINA MEADOWS-EMPLOYEE LITERACY -ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY AND HUNGER, PARTICULARLY AMONG CHILDREN AND SENIOR CITIZENS-CONTRIBUTING TO THE UNITED WAY OF CHATHAM COUNTY, CORA, AND PBS NORTH CAROLINA JOINT RESIDENT-ORGANIZATIONAL CAMPAIGNS-VALIDATING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARTS THROUGH THE CHATHAM ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM-SUPPORTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, INCREASING HOUSING SUPPLY AND AFFORDABILITY, AND SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT THROUGH A 5-YEAR, $50,000 PLEDGE FOR A GREATER CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CAMPAIGN THROUGH THE CHAPEL HILL CHAMBER OF COMMERCECAROLINA MEADOWS HAS BEEN COMMITTED, SINCE INCEPTION, TO PAYING PROPERTY TAXES ON ITS PROPERTY SINCE THE CAMPUS WAS INITIALLY DEVELOPED THROUGH BANK LOANS AND ENTRY FEES RECEIVED FROM SALE OF INDEPENDENT LIVING UNITS AS THE CAMPUS WAS BUILT OUT OVER THE YEARS. ALL THE INDEPENDENT LIVING UNITS AND THE CURRENT SKILLED NURSING FACILITY WERE FINANCED WITH TRADITIONAL BANK LOANS OR USING FIRST-GENERATION INDEPENDENT LIVING UNIT ENTRY FEES TO PAY FOR THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION. CAROLINA MEADOWS BELIEVES IT BENEFITS GREATLY BY SUPPORTING THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS, FIRE MARSHALL, SHERIFF, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND QUALITY, AGING SERVICES, AND PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS WITHIN CHATHAM COUNTY THROUGH ITS ANNUAL PAYMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES. PROPERTY TAXES ARE BUDGETED ANNUALLY AND ARE INCLUDED IN THE MONTHLY FEES PAID BY THE RESIDENTS OF CAROLINA MEADOWS. CAROLINA MEADOWS IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING FREE HOUSING AND SERVICES TO RESIDENTS WHO MAY HAVE EXHAUSTED THEIR ASSETS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN AND NEED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO COVER THE COST OF HOUSING AND SERVICES. IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, CAROLINA MEADOWS PAYS THE FULL COST OF CARE FOR FIVE TO SIX RESIDENTS WHO HAVE OUTLIVED THEIR FINANCIAL RESOURCES. THE CAROLINA MEADOWS RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION AND CAROLINA MEADOWS, INC. WORK COLLABORATIVELY ON THREE KEY CHARITABLE EVENTS: PBS NORTH CAROLINA (FORMERLY UNC TV), CHATHAM COUNTY OUTREACH ALLIANCE (CORA), AND UNITED WAY OF CHATHAM COUNTY. RESIDENTS ALSO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT VOLUNTEER HOURS TO LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN CHATHAM COUNTY. IN 2024, CAROLINA MEADOWS WAS HONORED TO RECEIVE A STATEWIDE EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD FROM LEADING AGE NC. IT WAS IN RECOGNITION OF AN INTERGENERATIONAL PEN PAL PROGRAM BETWEEN 180 CM RESIDENTS AND 252 LOCAL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. INITIATED BY LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER RAQUEL HARRIS DURING THE PEAK OF COVID-19 AND REMOTE LEARNING, THIS PROGRAM CELEBRATED ITS FIFTH YEAR OF BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITY WHILE ENHANCING STUDENTS' CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS.CHARITABLE DONATIONS AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS FOR 2024 INCLUDED $493,781 IN BENEVOLENT CARE PROVIDED, $136,879 IN CHARITABLE DONATIONS, $58,595 IN DONATED VOLUNTEER SERVICES AND $1,418,864 IN CHATHAM COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES.CAROLINA MEADOWS IS ALSO ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATIONAL, CHARITABLE, AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS SPONSORED ON CAMPUS AND THROUGHOUT THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. CAROLINA MEADOWS MADE SIGNIFICANT CHARITABLE GIFTS IN 2024 TO SUPPORT OUR BROADER COMMUNITY IN CHATHAM COUNTY, THE STATE, AND AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES: ~ $8,285 DONATION TO SUPPORT HUNGER RELIEF THROUGHOUT ALL OF CHATHAM COUNTY. FOOD INSECURITY CONTINUES TO INCREASE AS SUPPORT FROM FEDERAL FOOD PROGRAMS DECREASES~ $12,590 DONATION WAS MADE TO RISE AGAINST HUNGER TO SUPPORT THE 2024 CAROLINA MEADOWS MEAL PACKAGING EVENT. THIS EVENT RESULTS IN 30,000 MEALS BEING PACKAGED TO HELP FIGHT HUNGER THROUGHOUT THE WORLD~ $12,000 DONATION TO THE CHATHAM COUNTY LITERACY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT LITERACY EFFORTS THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY; THESE EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED ON INCREASED LITERACY SUCH AS GED PROGRAMS, ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, COMPUTER LITERACY AND MORE ~ $5,000 ANNUAL CORPORATE DONATION TO UNITED WAY OF CHATHAM COUNTY TO SUPPORT THE GREAT WORK OF NUMEROUS CHARITIES THROUGHOUT OUR LARGE COUNTY ~ $5,000 DONATION TO CHATHAM ARTS COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THEIR ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM AND SPONSORED A WEEK-LONG RESIDENCY OF FLAMENCO VIVO CARLOTTA SANTANA DANCE COMPANY AT NORTH CHATHAM ELEMENTARY ~ $2,500 DONATION TO PBS NORTH CAROLINA IN SUPPORT OF THEIR PUBLIC PROGRAMMING WHICH REACHES ALL AGES ACROSS OUR COUNTY AND STATE ~ $9,375 DONATION TO SUPPORT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM FAMILIES WITH LIMITED INCOME VIA CRISTO REY RESEARCH TRIANGLE HIGH SCHOOL'S CORPORATE WORK STUDY PROGRAM. ~ TOTAL CORPORATE AND IN-KIND SUPPORT OF $2,108,117 FOR 2024 AND $1,613,490 FOR 2023BEYOND FINANCIAL SUPPORT, OUR RESIDENTS AND STAFF OFFER IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS AND MANY HOURS OF VOLUNTEER TIME TO SUPPORT NONPROFITS IN OUR AREA, AS WELL AS OUR OWN CAMPUS COMMUNITY. EXAMPLES INCLUDE: ~ CAROLINA MEADOWS HELD A RISE AGAINST HUNGER MEAL PACKAGING EVENT ON CAMPUS IN 2024 WHERE RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES DONATE THEIR TIME TO PACKAGE MEALS TO BE SHARED AROUND THE WORLD TO FIGHT HUNGER; RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES WORKED SIDE BY SIDE TO PACKAGE MORE THAN 30,000 MEALS. ~ DONATED KITCHEN RANGES, MICROWAVES, DISHWASHERS AND OTHER APPLIANCES TO THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE IN CHATHAM COUNTY ~ OUR WELLNESS DEPARTMENT ORGANIZED THREE BLOOD DRIVES WITH MORE THAN 60 RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES DONATING NEEDED BLOOD AND PLATELETSIN ADDITION TO OUR ROBUST CORPORATE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM, WE PARTNER WITH THE CARO
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 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? 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.
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 October 1985.
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.