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Cultures Edge

EIN 56-1981809 · Black Mtn, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CULTURES EDGE IS A NON-PROFIT CHARITABLE CORPORATION DEDICATED TO SUPPORT, DEMONSTRATE AND CATALYZE THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE AND REGENERATIVE CULTURE.

Income
$338,187
Spending
$323,583
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
14
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$31,894, secretary

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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (7)
  1. $146,598 spent. OUR IN-PERSON PROGRAMS, HOSTED AT EARTHAVEN ECOVILLAGE INCLUDED RECLAIMING NATURE CONNECTION, MARSHES TO MOUNTAINS WITH THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON, STORYTELLING WITH DOUG ELLIOT, EARTHAVEN EXPERIENCE PROGRAM, EXTRAORDINARY REALITIES, COMPASSION CAMP, ADVANCED DIRECTIVES AND REMEMBERING RETREAT, SERVING 286 PEOPLE.
  2. $36,014 spent. ONLINE EDUCATION HAD 314 PARTICIPANTS IN LIVE CLASSES AND PROGRAMMING WHICH INCLUDED THRIVING IN RELATIONSHIPS, WORKING EFFECTIVELY WITH COMMUNITY CONFLICT, SOCIOCRACY FOR COMMUNITIES, HOME FUNERALS GREEN BURIALS, AND WINTER SOLSTICE GATHERING, WITH 38 IN RECORDED OR SELF-PACED PROGRAMMING IN EARTHAVEN ECOVILLAGE VIRTUAL TOURS.
  3. $24,779 spent. HURRICANE HELENE RECOVERY PROGRAM FOCUSED ON DAMAGED INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR.
  4. $18,277 spent. THE ECOVILLAGE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED IN 2025 WITH THE GOAL OF FOCALIZING IMMEDIATE AND ON-GOING ROADS, BRIDGES AND CREEK RESTORATION AND LONG-RANGE STRATEGIC VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT. THE ROADS, BRIDGES AND CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT BEGAN THE PLANNING FOR THE BUILDING OF A NEW FIRST BRIDGE AS WELL AS OTHER WATER MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES DESIGNED TO BUILD GREATER RESILIENCY FOR THE FUTURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE INNOVATION FUND WAS LAUNCHED TO SUPPORT THE EMGERGENCE OF INNOVATIVE IDEAS FOR ECOVILLAGE DEVELOPMENT.
  5. $15,617 spent. THE FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM INCLUDED THE 10K LOVE LETTERS AND SOUTHEAST PERMACULTURE GATHERING.
  6. $9,518 spent. IN PERSON TOURS AND CAMPING PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES TO 346 ADULTS AND 42 CHILDREN IN 2025
  7. $9,438 spent. FRIENDS OF EARTHAVEN PROGRAM SUPPORTS EARTHAVENS MISSION OF CATALYZING LOCAL AND GLOBAL CHANGE THROUGH LEARNING, TEACHING AND NETWORKING.

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 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 December 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 June 1997.

    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.