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Passes our checks

Gaston Together Communites of Excellence

EIN 56-2048064 · Gastonia, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF GASTON TOGETHER IS TO BRING THE PEOPLE AND RESOURCES OF GASTON COUNTY TOGETHER TO TACKLE BIG COMMUNITY CHALLENGES THROUGH THE PRINCIPLES AND BEST PRACTICES OF COLLABORATION, FACILITATION, PROMOTION AND THE ANTICIPATION OF POSSIBILITIES.

Income
$78,174
Spending
$172,621
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 34%
Employees
2
Volunteers
55
Highest pay
$77,500, executive di

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 121% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% 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. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $2,247 spent. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY REQUEST TO CREATE A POTENTIAL POOL OF FUTURE LEADERS FOR GASTON COUNTY - SINCE PILOT CLASS 2017, 132 GRADUATES HAVE COMPLETED THE PROCESS DESIGNED FOR 20-25 PER COHORT. - PROCESS INCLUDES EIGHT SESSIONS: SIX 8-HOUR SESSIONS AND TWO 6-HOUR SESSIONS - GOALS: INTENTIONAL CROSS-SECTOR COMMUNITY BUILDING; IN-DEPTH PERSONAL AWARENESS AND PERSONAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT; AND GREATER KNOWLEDGE OF GASTON COUNTY.
  2. $888 spent. HEALTHCARE COMMISSION: ESTABLISHED TO DEVELOP A WORKABLE COMMUNITY-WIDE AGENDA TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH STATUS OF CITIZENS IN GASTON COUNTY. CURRENT FOCUS AREAS: - HEALTHY GASTON - SEEKS TO CREATE A CULTURE OF WELLNESS IN BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES AND THEREBY IMPROVE THE VITALITY OF ORGANIZATIONS AND ULTIMATELY IMPACT INDIVIDUAL HEALTH. - POLICY AND ADVOCACY TEAMS: 1) GASTON CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES COALITION WITH OVER 100 MEMBERS SERVING THE COALITION AND FOCUSED ON THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC 2) HEALTH IN ALL ASPECTS, WHICH DEVELOPS POLICIES IN SUPPORT OF ENVIRONMENTS THAT ENABLE COUNTY RESIDENTS TO ACHIEVE HEALTHY OUTCOMES.
  3. $119,325 spent. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS: TO BUILD AND PROMOTE COMMUNITY PRIDE IN GASTON COUNTY - COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARDS PROMOTES COMMUNITY PRIDE AND SHOWCASES POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT/ENHANCEMENTS. PRESENTED TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS USED NON-SILO, UNIQUE PROBLEM-SOLVING PROCESS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN GASTON COUNTY. OVER 250 ATTEND ANNUAL EVENT. - PRIDE IN GASTON TRAVELING TOUR AND PROUDEST KID IN GASTON COUNTY ESSAY CONTEST FOR THIRD GRADERS, BUILDS COMMUNITY PRIDE IN YOUNG STUDENTS. ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND MANY PRIVATE SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE EACH YEAR REPRESENTING OVER 2500 STUDENTS ANNUALLY. SINCE ITS CREATION IN THE 2000-2001 SCHOOL YEAR, OVER 50,000 STUDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM.

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 November 1998.

    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.

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