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Mountain Area Pregnancy Services

EIN 56-1854677 · Asheville, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 46% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF MOUNTAIN AREA PREGNANCY SERVICES IS TO COUNSEL, EDUCATE AND CARE FOR THOSE AT RISK FOR, OR IMPACTED BY, AN UNPLANNED PREGNANCY.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
46%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
13
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$97,053, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    46% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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

    8 of 8 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 December 31, 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 (1)
  1. $625,060 spent. IN 2025 MOUNTAIN AREA PREGNANCY SERVICES (MAPS), DBA, ASCEND WOMEN'S CENTER, SERVED 455 DISTINCT CLIENTS, WITH 316 PREGNANCY TESTS AND 484 ULTRASOUNDS PERFORMED IN THE MEDICAL CLINIC. WE CONDUCTED 11 GRIEF SESSIONS AND SERVED 50 DISTINCT CLIENTS IN OUR PARENTING PROGRAM. 50% OF ALL CLIENTS SERVED THROUGH OUR MEDICAL PROGRAM WERE ABORTION MINDED OR ABORTION DETERMINED. WE KICKED OFF ONE NEW MEDICAL SERVICE IN THE SUMMER OF 2025: STI TESTING. THESE TESTS WERE CONDUCTED FOR A SUBSET OF MEDICAL CLIENTS WHO DESIRE TO GO THROUGH WITH AN ABORTION. OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND CLINIC DIRECTOR OVERSAW ALL PREGNANCY TESTS AND ULTRASOUNDS PERFORMED AT BOTH THE ASHEVILLE AND WAYNESVILLE OFFICES. IN FEBRUARY 2025 WE LISTED OUR 1710 OLD HAYWOOD ROAD LOCATION FOR SALE AND WENT UNDER CONTRACT WITH A BUYER ENTITY IN NOVEMBER 2025. HOWEVER, THE CLOSING DATE ON THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY WAS NOT ACHIEVED UNTIL MARCH OF 2026. IN JULY 2025 WE STARTED TWO OFF-SITE PARENTING PROGRAMS AT PISGAH VIEW APARTMENTS AND AT THE GRANT CENTER. BOTH LOCATIONS ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE GREATER DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE VICINITY. IN JULY OF 2025 WE PHYSICALLY MOVED BOTH THE ASHEVILLE AND WAYNESVILLE CENTERS TO NEW LOCATIONS. WAYNESVILLE MOVED FROM DOWNTOWN WAYNESVILLE TO 9 HAYWOOD OFFICE PARK; WAYNESVILLE. WE MOVED OUR ASHEVILLE FACILITY FROM 1710 OLD HAYWOOD ROAD TO 285 MCDOWELL STREET; ASHEVILLE, NC 28803. DUE TO EXPERIENCING TWO MAJOR PHYSICAL MOVES IN 2025 WE OPTED TO ONLY CONDUCT 2 (VS. 3) MAJOR FUNDRAISING EVENTS: EZEKIEL'S JOURNEY 5K (APRIL 2025) AND THE SPORTING CLAY SHOOT (AUG. 2025). WE DID NOT HOLD OUR ANNUAL BANQUET. OUR FUNDRAISING PROGRAM CONTINUED TO GROW DESPITE FEWER EVENTS, WITH THE ADDITION OF 225 NEW DONORS TOTALING $128,773.26 IN GIVING. "MAPS" WAS BLESSED WITH 4 STATE GRANTS THAT ALLOWED US TO PAY FOR EXTENSIVE ADVERTISING, TO PURCHASE BABY AND NEW MOM INCENTIVE ITEMS, AND TO SUPPORT CLIENTS WITH PERSONAL LIFE NEEDS BEYOND PARENTING ITEMS. WE CONDUCTED MULTIPLE PHYSICIAN OFFICE VISITS WITH THE HELP OF THESE GRANTS, TO BE ABLE TO PROMOTE OUR SERVICES WITH LOCAL OB PROVIDER OFFICES. IN 2025 MOUNTAIN AREA PREGNANCY SERVICES, DBA ASCEND WOMEN'S CENTER, CONTINUED TO MAKE AN IMPACT SERVING WOMEN AND MEN FACING A CRISIS PREGNANCY THROUGHOUT WNC.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.