Poplar Grove Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Poplar Grove promotes the spirit of the lower Cape Fear region through education, conservation, and preservation.
- Income
- $378,740
- Spending
- $386,703
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 3.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 64%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $50,396, executive dir.
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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 253 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give 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 (1)
- $319,028 spent. Poplar Grove is one of the last remaining plantation complexes open to the public in southeastern North Carolina and within the National Park Service's Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. It was formerly a sweet potato and peanut plantation owned by the Foy family for six generations from 1795 to 1971, producing peanuts from the agricultural skills of the Gullah Geechee people, shipped as far north as New York City.Today, Poplar Grove achieves its mission by: 1) reflecting upon the practices of a self-sustaining farm, slavery, tenant farming, legislation, technology, and the heritage arts2) promoting of the values and traditions of local communities and cultural landscapes as it reflects past, present and future human activity3) initiating meaningful dialogue that builds upon the values of respect, empathy, cultural diversity, multiple perspectives, and democratic principles4) sharing the significance and spirit of place as a shared resource by preserving the natural habitat and architectural harmony indigenous to the lower Cape Fear region.The Foundation achieved its exempt purpose in the past fiscal year by operating the historic manor house museum complex, conducting tours and holding events that create awareness of the region's history and allow Poplar Grove to be a venue for its educational, conservational and preservational efforts. The Poplar Grove Plantation venue is used for community events, a farmer's market, a farm animal stables and educational events.
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 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 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 June 2020.
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.