Buncombe County Schools Foundation Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To establish partnerships with local individuals, businesses, corporations and other foundations for the purpose of providing additional resources to Buncombe County Schools educators, staff, and students.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $45,448, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 88% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 70 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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
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 June 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 (3)
- $1.6 million spent. 1. Program Support-(Educators and System Supports) New Teacher Program - Funds dedicated to supporting our new teachers in BCS. This includes Beginning Teach Support as well. *Teacher of the Year - Provide $2000, courtesy of HomeTrust Bank to the Teacher of the year. *Principal of the Year - Provide $2000, courtesy of First Citizens Bank to the Principal of the Year. *Inchy Book Machines- Donors provided book vending machines along with books to 10 of our schools. This donation was lifechanging for students as they are able to select four books per year and build a personal library collection. All students received birthday books and then set three goals so they could earn three additional books. We look forward to next year as they will donate to 10 additional schools.
- *BCS Bookmobile - Provides books and literacy lessons to our students, community preschools, and community events. It is a joy to introduce and extend literacy to young children. The foundation provides $3,500 each year to support operational expenses. *BCS Resource Center - BCSF is the fiscal agent for funds from Buncombe County Government and Dogwood Health Trust, and others to support the BCS Resource Center. The resource center serves homeless students and their families. *Education Celebration - Each year we celebrate out Teachers of the Year, Principal of the Year, BCSF Grant winners, community partner, Learning Society Members BCSF and BCS Boards and staff in May. This event allows us to celebrate our work for the year. *Military Ball - This joint opportunity promotes students in our JROTC and ROTC programs. This gala celebrates the work of our outstanding students and their leadership talents. *Top Scholars Celebration - The foundation provided funds to help celebrate the 2025 BCS Top Scholars. One hundred and nine (109) students were honored for their outstanding academic accomplishments. They celebrated with their families and guests.
- 2. Innovative Grant Support *Innovative Educator Grants - Whether it was a grant related to the Arts, Physical Education, the schools and the central office, our grant writers did an outstanding job articulating how their students would learn and grow. In 2024-25 these funds were directed to Hurricane Helene Relief. *BCSF also works with the six traditional high school on the Paddison Grants. These funds are available each year due to a large donation. Schools receive between $18,000 and $25,000 each year to enhance learning in their schools. 3. Scholarship Support Student Scholarships - BCS is proud to provide a robuse scholarship program. With over 63 named scholarships which are funded through private donors, our BCSF Scholarship program will provide over $500,000 this year to BCS Graduates. BCSF implemented an online platform where we had over 363 applicants. We appreciate our 79 readers who were charged with reading 854 individual scholarship specific applications. This was a tall task, but they did it! For this fiscal school year, we are proud to offer 10-$1,000 scholarships for students who had family working in BCS. We thank all our scholarship donors, school counselors, and readers for their time and support of our scholarships. *** Hurricane Helen Relief In addition to our three priorities, this year brought an extra challenge- Hurricane Helene. Through donations from generous donors (some local, some in NC, and across our nation) we received over $300,000 in funds to help our students, staff and schools. We were proud to present over 500 BCS colleagues $75,000 to assist them in their recovery efforts. Through donations we were able to provide $222,293.74 to BCS schools for students, staff and school recovery. When BCS schools opened, $45,000 in grants were used to pay expenses for counselors who came across the state to be there for our schools.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 August 1987.
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.