North Carolina Coastal Federation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL FEDERATION EMPOWERS COASTAL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE WATER QUALITY AND CRITICALLY IMPORTANT NATURAL HABITATS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST.
- Income
- $25.2 million
- Spending
- $21.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- -6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 65%
- Employees
- 40
- Volunteers
- 353
- Highest pay
- $165,403, executive director (as of 2/1/24)
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
Fair: 65 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 86% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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.
Independent board
25 of 2530 of 30 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (1)
- $20.5 million spent. OVER THE PAST 43 YEARS, THE NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL FEDERATION HAS WORKED ALONGSIDE COASTAL COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE UNIQUE NORTH CAROLINA COAST. AS A MEMBER SUPPORTED NON-PROFIT THE COASTAL FEDERATION'S GOALS ARE OBTAINED THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. THROUGH EFFORTS FOR CLEAN COASTAL WATERS, LIVING SHORELINES, THRIVING OYSTERS, EFFECTIVE COASTAL MANAGEMENT, AND MARINE DEBRIS REMOVAL, THE FEDERATION AND NORTH CAROLINA'S COASTAL COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER FOR A HEALTHY COAST!(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IN OUR WORK TO PROTECT THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST, WE FOCUS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:WATER QUALITYINTENSE RAINSTORMS CAUSE FLOODING AND WATER QUALITY DEGRADATION AS THE RUNOFF FUNNELS POLLUTANTS TO OUR COASTAL WATERS. IMPACTS ARE MAGNIFIED BY THE ALTERED LANDSCAPE THAT CHANNELS RAIN INSTEAD OF ABSORBING IT.THE NATURE-BASED STORMWATER STRATEGIES ACTION PLAN RELEASED BY THE COASTAL FEDERATION IN 2021 RECOMMENDS SPECIFIC POLICIES AND ACTIONS TO REDUCE POLLUTION AND FLOODING CAUSED BY NEW LAND DEVELOPMENT; EXISTING DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE; HIGHWAYS AND STREETS; AND WORKING LANDS SUCH AS FARMS AND COMMERCIAL FORESTS.IN 2024, WE RESTORED MORE THAN 10 ACRES OF WETLANDS AND INSTALLED WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS PROTECTING BRADLEY CREEK, STUMP SOUND, AND LAKE MATTAMUSKEETLIVING SHORELINESNORTH CAROLINA'S 12,000 MILES OF ESTUARINE SHORELINE PROVIDE SOME OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE HABITATS IN THE WORLD FOR FISH AND SHELLFISH. UNFORTUNATELY, THE EROSION OF THESE SHORELINES IS INCREASING BECAUSE OF RISING SEA LEVELS, CONCENTRATED WAVES FROM BOATS, MORE EXTREME STORMS, AND POORLY PLANNED DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES. EROSION CONTROL STRUCTURES LIKE BULKHEADS ARE NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS LIVING SHORELINES IN PROTECTING SHORELINES. BY INSTALLING BUFFERS USING SALT MARSH, OYSTER REEFS, AND OTHER NATURAL MATERIALS, LIVING SHORELINES CONTROL EROSION WHILE PROTECTING THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF OUR ESTUARIES.THE COASTAL FEDERATION REMAINS COMMITTED TO MAKING LIVING SHORELINES THE GO-TO APPROACH FOR MANAGING SHORELINE EROSION. WE HAVE SECURED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING THAT WILL HELP US PROVIDE INCREASED FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO LANDOWNERS FOR LIVING SHORELINES. IN 2024, WE RESTORED 3.75 MILES OF LIVING SHORELINES AT 43 LOCATIONS ALONG THE COAST.OYSTERSOUR NATIVE EASTERN OYSTER (CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA) IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SPECIES IN OUR ESTUARIES. OYSTERS BENEFIT NORTH CAROLINA'S COASTAL ECOLOGY AND ECONOMY. THESE BENEFITS CAN BE SUMMARIZED AND REFERRED TO AS THE THREE "FS", FOR SHORT: FOOD, FILTER AND FISH HABITAT. THEY FILTER WATER, PROVIDE FOOD FOR HUMANS AND CREATE REEFS THAT BUILD HOMES FOR MORE FISH. THESE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, IN TURN, SUPPORT JOBS AND PROVIDE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR COASTAL COMMUNITIES.OYSTER POPULATIONS, WORLDWIDE, ARE AT RECORD LOWS. DESPITE SOME RECOVERY IN RECENT YEARS, IN NORTH CAROLINA IT IS ESTIMATED THAT OYSTERS ARE AT ABOUT 15-20% OF HISTORIC HARVEST LEVELS. OYSTER HARVEST IS CURRENTLY THE BEST MEASURE OF THE OYSTER POPULATION IN OUR STATE. IN 2024, WE RESTORED 40 ACRES OF OYSTER REEFS. EFFECTIVE COASTAL MANAGEMENTOUR COASTAL MANAGEMENT GOAL IS DEEPLY INTERTWINED WITH, AND SUPPORTS OUR WORK FOR CLEAN WATER, LIVING SHORELINES, THRIVING OYSTERS, AND A COAST THAT IS FREE OF MARINE DEBRIS. WE WORK WITH A MULTITUDE OF STAKEHOLDERS TO ENGAGE THEM IN SOUND COASTAL MANAGEMENT DECISIONS BASED ON THE BEST SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. IN ADDITION, WE PARTNER TO SECURE ADEQUATE FUNDS SO THAT DECISIONS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED AND ENFORCED, AND SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN THE LEGAL FOUNDATION THAT ENABLES US TO PROTECT AND RESTORE OUR COAST.COASTAL RESILIENCY IS AT THE FOUNDATION OF THIS GOALS WORK, RECOGNIZING THAT NOW IS THE CRITICAL TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. THIS MEANS ENSURING NATURAL DEFENSES ARE SOUND, WATERS ARE SAFE FOR FISHING AND SWIMMING AND WE ARE FREE OF EMERGING CONTAMINANTS AND OTHER THREATS LIKE OFFSHORE OIL AND MICROPLASTICS. IN 2024, WE RESPONDED TO BREAKING ISSUES INCLUDING PETROLEUM AND PFAS POLLUTION, WETLAND PROTECTIONS, AND OCEANFRONT STRUCTURES. WE ALSO PRESENTED AT MULTIPLE CONFERENCES AND LAUNCHED A NEW PILOT STORMWATER COST-SHARE PROGRAM. MARINE DEBRISMARINE DEBRIS RESULTS FROM STORM-DAMAGED DOCKS, HOUSES, AND YARDS; LOST FISHING GEAR; POORLY MANAGED CONSTRUCTION SITES; ABANDONED BOATS; PLASTICS CONTAINED IN WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER DISCHARGES; AND CARELESS LITTERING. THE COASTAL FEDERATION PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS, ACADEMIA, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN 2020 TO DEVELOP AND ADOPT THE N.C. MARINE DEBRIS ACTION PLAN TO BOTH CLEAN UP AND PREVENT DEBRIS LARGE AND SMALL.THE COASTAL FEDERATION WILL CONTINUE WORKING FOR THE REDUCED USE OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS, ADVOCATE FOR MORE STORM RESILIENT BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE PRACTICES FOR DOCKS AND PIERS, AND PROMOTE IMPROVED TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF MICROPLASTICS BEING DISCHARGED TO COASTAL WATERS. WE WILL ALSO PARTNER WITH STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO CONTINUE TO MOBILIZE FISHERS AND CONTRACTORS TO REMOVE TONS OF DEBRIS, LOST CRAB POTS, AND ABANDONED VESSELS. IN 2024, WE WORKED WITH WATERMEN AND WOMEN, AND CONTRACTORS TO REMOVE 265 TONS OF MARINE DEBRIS, 2,463 LOST CRAB POTS, AND 45 ABANDONED VESSELS FROM COASTAL WATERS.
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
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1983.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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