Hickory Cove Bible Camp
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TOHELPEQUIPCHILDRENANDTEENSTOBELIFELONGFOLLOWERSOFJESUSTHROUGH CAMPMINISTRIES.
- Income
- $435,459
- Spending
- $419,447
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 6.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 70%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $70,243, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 83 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 81 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (2)
- $206,727 spent. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS A NUMBER OF CAMP PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. A SUMMER CAMP HICKORY COVE OPERATES WEEK-LONG OVERNIGHT SUMMER CAMPS FOR RISING 2ND THROUGH 9TH GRADERS, WITH SEPARATE BOYS, GIRLS, AND CO-ED SESSIONS HOSTED ON LAKE HICKORY IN THE FOOTHILLS OF NORTH CAROLINA'S BRUSHY MOUNTAINS. THIS CHRIST CENTERED EXPERIENCE EMPHASIZES SPIRITUAL FORMATION, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, AND JOYFUL FELLOWSHIP. CAMPERS ENGAGE IN DAILY WORSHIP, BIBLE TEACHING, AND GUIDED MENTORSHIP, ALL ALONGSIDE EXCITING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS TUBING, PAINTBALL, ARCHERY, AND ZIP LINING. BY COMBINING ADVENTURE WITH FAITH-BASED PROGRAMMING, HICKORY COVE CREATES A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT THAT EMPOWERS YOUTH TO GROW IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND COMMUNITY. B FAMILY CAMP HICKORY COVE'S FAMILY CAMP PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO EQUIP AND ENCOURAGE PARENTS IN THEIR BIBLICAL ROLE OF LEADING THEIR CHILDREN TO FOLLOW JESUS. THESE RETREATS PROVIDE INTENTIONAL TIME FOR FAMILIES TO STEP AWAY FROM DAILY ROUTINES AND FOCUS ON SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND TOGETHERNESS. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES CHRIST-CENTERED TEACHING, WORSHIP, AND ENGAGING FAMILY ACTIVITIES THAT STRENGTHEN BOTH FAITH AND RELATIONSHIPS. IN ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL WEEKEND RETREATS, HICKORY COVE OFFERS SPECIALIZED EVENTS SUCH AS MOTHER- DAUGHTER DAY, WHICH FOSTERS MEANINGFUL CONNECTION BETWEEN MOMS AND DAUGHTERS THROUGH SHARED EXPERIENCES, AND LUMBERJACK WEEKEND, WHICH IS TAILORED FOR FATHERS AND SONS TO BUILD LASTING BONDS WHILE GROWING IN GODLY LEADERSHIP. SET IN A SCENIC AND PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT, THE FAMILY CAMP EXPERIENCE HELPS PARENTS GAIN TOOLS AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO DISCIPLE THEIR CHILDREN WITH CLARITY, PURPOSE, AND FAITH. C TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR OLDER YOUTH, HICKORY COVE OFFERS A TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR TEENS AGES 14-17. THIS HANDS ON EXPERIENCE INVITES PARTICIPANTS TO GAIN FIRSTHAND INSIGHT INTO SUMMER CAMP OPERATIONS WHILE GROWING IN SERVANT LEADERSHIP. TEENS LEARN TO MODEL JESUS LIKE SERVANT HEARTEDNESS, TO VALUE PUTTING OTHERS BEFORE THEMSELVES, AND TO SERVE IN MEANINGFUL WAYS. ADDITIONALLY, THIS PROGRAM EQUIPS TEENS WITH CONSTRUCTIVE, RESUME BUILDING EXPERIENCES-HELPING THEM DEVELOP RESPONSIBILITY, TEAMWORK, AND LEADERSHIP QUALITIES. THROUGH SERVICE AND PRACTICAL LEARNING, TEEN LEADERSHIP PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO STEP INTO MATURITY AS REFLECTIVE, CAPABLE LEADERS PREPARED TO SERVE IN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. APPROXIMATELY 300 CAMPERS WERE SERVED DURING THE YEAR. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS A NUMBER OF CAMP PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. A SUMMER CAMP HICKORY COVE OPERATES WEEK-LONG OVERNIGHT SUMMER CAMPS FOR RISING 2ND THROUGH 9TH GRADERS, WITH SEPARATE BOYS, GIRLS, AND CO-ED SESSIONS HOSTED ON LAKE HICKORY IN THE FOOTHILLS OF NORTH CAROLINA'S BRUSHY MOUNTAINS. THIS CHRIST CENTERED EXPERIENCE EMPHASIZES SPIRITUAL FORMATION, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, AND JOYFUL FELLOWSHIP. CAMPERS ENGAGE IN DAILY WORSHIP, BIBLE TEACHING, AND GUIDED MENTORSHIP, ALL ALONGSIDE EXCITING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS TUBING, PAINTBALL, ARCHERY, AND ZIP LINING. BY COMBINING ADVENTURE WITH FAITH-BASED PROGRAMMING, HICKORY COVE CREATES A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT THAT EMPOWERS YOUTH TO GROW IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND COMMUNITY. B FAMILY CAMP HICKORY COVE'S FAMILY CAMP PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO EQUIP AND ENCOURAGE PARENTS IN THEIR BIBLICAL ROLE OF LEADING THEIR CHILDREN TO FOLLOW JESUS. THESE RETREATS PROVIDE INTENTIONAL TIME FOR FAMILIES TO STEP AWAY FROM DAILY ROUTINES AND FOCUS ON SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND TOGETHERNESS. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES CHRIST-CENTERED TEACHING, WORSHIP, AND ENGAGING FAMILY ACTIVITIES THAT STRENGTHEN BOTH FAITH AND RELATIONSHIPS. IN ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL WEEKEND RETREATS, HICKORY COVE OFFERS SPECIALIZED EVENTS SUCH AS MOTHER- DAUGHTER DAY, WHICH FOSTERS MEANINGFUL CONNECTION BETWEEN MOMS AND DAUGHTERS THROUGH SHARED EXPERIENCES, AND LUMBERJACK WEEKEND, WHICH IS TAILORED FOR FATHERS AND SONS TO BUILD LASTING BONDS WHILE GROWING IN GODLY LEADERSHIP. SET IN A SCENIC AND PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT, THE FAMILY CAMP EXPERIENCE HELPS PARENTS GAIN TOOLS AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO DISCIPLE THEIR CHILDREN WITH CLARITY, PURPOSE, AND FAITH. C TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR OLDER YOUTH, HICKORY COVE OFFERS A TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR TEENS AGES 14-17. THIS HANDS ON EXPERIENCE INVITES PARTICIPANTS TO GAIN FIRSTHAND INSIGHT INTO SUMMER CAMP OPERATIONS WHILE GROWING IN SERVANT LEADERSHIP. TEENS LEARN TO MODEL JESUS LIKE SERVANT HEARTEDNESS, TO VALUE PUTTING OTHERS BEFORE THEMSELVES, AND TO SERVE IN MEANINGFUL WAYS. ADDITIONALLY, THIS PROGRAM EQUIPS TEENS WITH CONSTRUCTIVE, RESUME BUILDING EXPERIENCES-HELPING THEM DEVELOP RESPONSIBILITY, TEAMWORK, AND LEADERSHIP QUALITIES. THROUGH SERVICE AND PRACTICAL LEARNING, TEEN LEADERSHIP PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO STEP INTO MATURITY AS REFLECTIVE, CAPABLE LEADERS PREPARED TO SERVE IN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. APPROXIMATELY 300 CAMPERS WERE SERVED DURING THE YEAR.
- $176,101 spent. HICKORY COVE SERVES AS A YEAR-ROUND RETREAT DESTINATION FOR YOUTH GROUPS, CHILDRENS MINISTRIES, ADULT MINISTRIES, AND SCHOOLS. SITUATED ON 112 SCENIC ACRES ALONG LAKE HICKORY, THE CAMP OFFERS A PEACEFUL AND VERSATILE SETTING FOR SPIRITUAL RENEWAL, TEAM BUILDING, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. GROUPS CAN ENJOY A VARIETY OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES INCLUDING TUBING, BOATING, CANOEING, SWIMMING, ARCHERY, PAINTBALL, AND MORE. WITH FACILITIES CAPABLE OF SLEEPING UP TO 120 GUESTS AND LOCATED WITHIN CONVENIENT DRIVING DISTANCE OF BOTH ASHEVILLE AND CHARLOTTE, HICKORY COVE PROVIDES AN IDEAL ENVIRONMENT FOR CHURCHES AND ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING PURPOSEFUL RETREAT EXPERIENCES ROOTED IN CHRISTIAN VALUES. APPROXIMATELY 1,800 PEOPLE WERE SERVED DURING THE YEAR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 October 13, 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 September 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 November 1962.
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 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.