Balsam Mountain Tr
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of the Balsam Mountain Trust is the stewardship of the natural and cultural resources on Balsam Mountain Preserve and the southern Blue Ridge Mountain region, achieved through effective land management practices, scientific research and environmental education. The Balsam Mountain Trust inspires people to be responsible stewards of the natural and cultural resources of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains through education and conservation leadership.
- Income
- $570,078
- Spending
- $470,014
- Spent on programs
- 61%
- Reserves
- 21.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $108,750, 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 21.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 41% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1561% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
- $81,507 spent. The Trust continues its efforts to monitor and improve the ecosystem health of the Balsam Mountain Preserve. One of our highest priorities is to maintain the integrity of the health of the Balsam Mountain conservation easement lands. Highlights of 2025 include the cataloging of 57 bird species in the third year of a three-year survey, continued removal of multiflora rose from on the Preserves natural heritage sites, treatment of 33 hemlock trees on the Preserve to fight the invasive wooly adelgid, and a completion of a resurvey and recommended management interventions for a natural heritage area.
- $118,185 spent. The Trust continues to develop and present environmental education programs to thousands of students and lifelong learners. Since its founding, the Trust has reached over 100,000 program participants. The Trusts partnership with AmeriCorps continued in 2025 with program presentations to schools in Jackson, Haywood, Macon, and Swain Counties. Our outreach also included monthly interpretive hikes at Pinnacle Park, monthly programs at the Sylva Library, and hosting WNC Birdfest in Dillsboro.
- $85,581 spent. The Trusts Nature Center continues to be well received by the public, while housing our collection of ambassador animals used in outreach programming. In 2025, we hosted several school groups, art meets science crafting classes and supported undergraduate researchers and classes for Western Caroling University and UNC-Asheville. 2025 saw the completion of our primary bird enclosure and the creation of a landscaping master plan.
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
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 2025.
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 April 2002.
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.