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Appalachian Voices

EIN 56-2049956 · Boone, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

APPALACHIAN VOICES BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO PROTECT THE LAND, AIR, AND WATER OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN APPALACHIA AND ADVANCE A JUST TRANSITION TO A GENERATIVE AND EQUITABLE CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY.

Income
$6.8 million
Spending
$7.3 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
70
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$217,004, executive director

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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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, 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 (3)
  1. $3.4 million spent. ADDRESS COAL'S IMPACTS AND ACCELERATE A JUST TRANSITION TO HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIESADDRESSED THE ONGOING AND LEGACY IMPACTS OF THE EXTRACTION AND USE OF COAL FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATION THAT ARE PASSED ON TO THE PUBLIC IN THE FORM OF AIR AND WATER POLLUTION, HABITAT DESTRUCTION AND INCREASED HEALTH COSTS, AND WORKED IN BROAD PARTNERSHIPS TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC INITIATIVES IN THE AREAS MOST IMPACTED BY COAL TO PROMOTE MORE RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIES THAT BUILD UPON AND HONOR THE REGION'S NATURAL AND CULTURAL ASSETS.
  2. $2.4 million spent. PREVENT NEW INVESTMENTS IN FOSSIL FUELS AND ACCELERATE THE TRANSITION TO CLEAN ENERGYOPPOSED MAJOR NEW INVESTMENTS IN FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING GAS PIPELINES AND FOSSIL FUEL POWER PLANTS THAT WOULD LOCK US INTO DECADES OF CONTINUED FOSSIL FUEL USE, AND PROMOTED POLICIES AND STRENGTHENED EFFORTS TO HASTEN A TRANSITION TO CLEAN ENERGY SOURCES AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY THAT SUPPORT RATHER THAN IMPERIL THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE REGION.
  3. $154,888 spent. BUILD AWARENESS OF REGIONAL ISSUES:CONTINUED TO PRODUCE THE APPALACHIAN VOICE NEWSPAPER, TO BUILD AWARENESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO TRANSITION TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVES.

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

  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 2024.

    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 March 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.

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.