Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FRIENDS OF THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY HELPS MAKE BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITIES BETTER BY PRESERVING AND CELEBRATING THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL DISTINCTIVENESS OF THE BLUE RIDGE REGION IN VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA. THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS WORKING TO MAKE BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITIES EVEN BETTER.
- Income
- $597,602
- Spending
- $414,219
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 12 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 861
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 46% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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.
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 June 30, 2026, 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)
- $334,902 spent. BLUE RIDGE ENRICHMENT TO HONOR THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION FRIENDS OF THE BLUE RIDGE SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO MAKE BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITIES BETTER. FRIENDS SUPPORTED THE BUNCOMBE COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WITH REPLACING PARK AMENITY ITEMS SUCH AS TABLES AND TRASH CANS WHICH WERE LOST IN HURRICANE HELENE, CONTRIBUTED FUNDS FOR THE INTERIOR RENOVATION OF THE BLUE RIDGE MUSEUM, INSTALLED 14 BIKE RACKS IN COMMUNITIES, HELD ANOTHER BLUE RIDGE JAMBOREE CELEBRATING THE MUSIC HERITAGE OF THE REGION, AND SUPPORTED THE INSTALLATION OF A WILDFLOWER GARDEN AT WHARTON GARDENS IN BEDFORD.
- VOLUNTEERS & COMMUNITY CHAPTERS OUTREACH VOLUNTEERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF FRIENDS OF THE BLUE RIDGE. VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 1,719 HOURS FROM JULY 2025 TO JUNE 2026 TO THEIR LOCAL BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITIES. FRIENDS VOLUNTEERS PLANTED COMMUNITY GARDENS, HELPED WITH IMPROVEMENTS TO HISTORICAL SITES, CLEANED COMMUNITY PARKS, ASSISTED AT NUMEROUS LOCAL EVENTS, AND HOSTED CONCERTS CELEBRATING BLUE RIDGE MUSIC.
- FUTURE STEWARDS FRIENDS FUTURE STEWARDS PROGRAM ENCOURAGES YOUTH TO SPEND MORE TIME IN NATURE TO FACILITATE AN APPRECIATION FOR THE OUTDOORS AND ENCOURAGES STEWARDSHIP OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. FRIENDS CHAPTERS HOST ALTERNATIVE BREAK PROGRAMS WITH VARIOUS COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE FALL AND SPRING. FRIENDS CHAPTERS ALSO HOST SUMMER DAY CAMP EXPERIENCES AND HOST HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE WORKDAYS. FRIENDS ALSO OFFERS A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO ASSIST GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THE BLUE RIDGE AREA OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA AS THEY PURSUE DEGREES IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES. THIRTY-THREE SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED IN MAY 2026.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, 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 June 2026.
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 October 1989.
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.