Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Walnut Creek Preserve Inc

EIN 82-2268945 · Rutherfordton, NC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF WALNUT CREEK PRESERVE IS TO SERVE AS A REGIONAL LOCATION IN POLK COUNTY, AND ADJACENT TO RUTHERFORD COUNTY, NC, USING THE ANNE ELIZABETH SURATT NATURE CENTER AND ADJACENT PRIVATE FOREST LANDS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS TO THE PUBLIC FOCUSING ON NATURE EDUCATION, THE HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL BENEFITS OF SPENDING TIME IN NATURE, THE CULTURE OF THIS REGION AND OTHER TOPICS RELATING TO THE HUMAN, PLANT AND ANIMAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$57,775
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-695.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
23

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. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 99% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3452% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $51,027 spent. WALNUT CREEK PRESERVE (WCP), AS A SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION TO CONSERVING CAROLINA, A NORTH CAROLINA 501(C)(3) LAND TRUST (CC), MAINTAINS AN INDOOR NATURE CENTER CLASSROOM AND A SERIES OF GROOMED HIKING TRAILS FOR PROGRAMS CO-SPONSORED BY WCP AND CC. THIS IS THE ONLY NATURE CENTER AVAILABLE TO CC IN POLK COUNTY. WCP MAINTAINS THE AIR CONDITIONED BUILDING AND SURROUNDING GARDEN AND TRAILS PAYS FOR MONTHLY SPEAKERS ON TOPICS SELECTED BY THE WCP AND CC STAFF FOCUSED ON NATURE RELATED EDUCATION. IN 2024 THER WERE 10 MONTHLY PROGRAMS (OCTOBER PROGRAM WAS CANCELLED DUE TO HURRICANE HELENE), ALL WELL ATTENDED WITH A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 400 ATTENDEES. WCP ALSO HOSTS A GROUP OF AMERICORPS SUMMER OF SERVICE YOUTH WORKERS WHO WORK ON DAILY SCHEDULES IN ITS NATIVE PLANT GARDEN. IN ADDITION, A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL DEVOTES MANY HOURS PLANTING AND TENDING TO THE NATIVE PLANT GARDEN SURROUNDING THE NATURE CENTER, WITH PLANTS PAID FOR BY WCP. IN TOTAL IN 2024 THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 300 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE IN THE GARDEN. WALNUT CREEK PRESERVE (WCP), AS A SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION TO CONSERVING CAROLINA, A NORTH CAROLINA 501(C)(3) LAND TRUST (CC), MAINTAINS AN INDOOR NATURE CENTER CLASSROOM AND A SERIES OF GROOMED HIKING TRAILS FOR PROGRAMS CO-SPONSORED BY WCP AND CC. THIS IS THE ONLY NATURE CENTER AVAILABLE TO CC IN POLK COUNTY. WCP MAINTAINS THE AIR CONDITIONED BUILDING AND SURROUNDING GARDEN AND TRAILS PAYS FOR MONTHLY SPEAKERS ON TOPICS SELECTED BY THE WCP AND CC STAFF FOCUSED ON NATURE RELATED EDUCATION. IN 2024 THER WERE 10 MONTHLY PROGRAMS (OCTOBER PROGRAM WAS CANCELLED DUE TO HURRICANE HELENE), ALL WELL ATTENDED WITH A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 400 ATTENDEES. WCP ALSO HOSTS A GROUP OF AMERICORPS SUMMER OF SERVICE YOUTH WORKERS WHO WORK ON DAILY SCHEDULES IN ITS NATIVE PLANT GARDEN. IN ADDITION, A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL DEVOTES MANY HOURS PLANTING AND TENDING TO THE NATIVE PLANT GARDEN SURROUNDING THE NATURE CENTER, WITH PLANTS PAID FOR BY WCP. IN TOTAL IN 2024 THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 300 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE IN THE GARDEN.
  2. THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, WALNUT CREEK PRESERVE SERVES AS A DESTINATION OUTDOOR CLASSROOM FOR MUDDY SNEAKERS, INC., A NONPROFIT THAT TEACHES THE NORTH CAROLINA 5TH GRADE CURRICULUM OUTDOORS AT DESIGNATED FORESTS IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA AND HAS TEST RESULTS SHOWING THE EFFICACY OF THIS PROGRAM. WALNUT CREEK PRESERVE HAS HOSTED MULTIPLE CLASSES OF 5TH GRADERS FROM REGIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COMING TO SPEND A SCHOOL DAY AT THE PRESERVE UNDER THE MUDDY SNEAKERS, INC. PROGRAM. IN 2024 WCP HOSTED 200 STUDENTS FROM FIVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN POLK AND RUTHERFORD COUNTIES, NORTH CAROLINA, WITH ALL PLANNED DAYS CANCELLED IN THE AUTUMN, 2024 DUE TO HURRICANE HELENE. THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE 2024 SPEAKERS SPONSORED BY WALNUT CREEK PRESERVE TOGETHER WITH CONSERVING CAROLINA: JANUARY 20, 2024: HEMLOCK RESTORATION SOCIETY; STATUS OF ENDANGERED HEMLOCKS IN 2024 FEBRUARY 17, 2024: APPALACHIAN WILDLIFE REFUGE, DEVELOPMENT OF WILDLIFE CORRIDORS UNDER AND ABOVE HIGHWAYS MARCH 16, 2024: HOW TO MANAGE AND ERADICATE KUDZU, STAFF OF CONSERVING CAROLINA APRIL 20, 2024: FILM ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, DAVID WEINTRAUB, FILM PRODUCER MAY 18, 2024: PLASTIC POLLUTION AND HOW TO REDUCE IT, ROBIN EDGAR JUNE 15, 2024: BACKYARD CHORUS: INSECT SONGS (DOUBLE CICADA YEAR), TIM FORREST JULY 20, 2024: OWLS, CARLETON BURKE AUGUST 17, 2024: BEAVERS, COLLEEN OLFENBUTTEL, NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 21, 2024: SURVIVAL BY DEGREES: CLIMATE CHANGE, TOM TRIBBLE OCTOBER 19, 2024: CANCELLED DUE TO HURRICANE NOVEMBER 17, 2024: OVERLAND VICTORY TRAIL HISTORICAL TOUR, WILLIAM CADDUCCI THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, WALNUT CREEK PRESERVE SERVES AS A DESTINATION OUTDOOR CLASSROOM FOR MUDDY SNEAKERS, INC., A NONPROFIT THAT TEACHES THE NORTH CAROLINA 5TH GRADE CURRICULUM OUTDOORS AT DESIGNATED FORESTS IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA AND HAS TEST RESULTS SHOWING THE EFFICACY OF THIS PROGRAM. WALNUT CREEK PRESERVE HAS HOSTED MULTIPLE CLASSES OF 5TH GRADERS FROM REGIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COMING TO SPEND A SCHOOL DAY AT THE PRESERVE UNDER THE MUDDY SNEAKERS, INC. PROGRAM. IN 2024 WCP HOSTED 200 STUDENTS FROM FIVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN POLK AND RUTHERFORD COUNTIES, NORTH CAROLINA, WITH ALL PLANNED DAYS CANCELLED IN THE AUTUMN, 2024 DUE TO HURRICANE HELENE. THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE 2024 SPEAKERS SPONSORED BY WALNUT CREEK PRESERVE TOGETHER WITH CONSERVING CAROLINA: JANUARY 20, 2024: HEMLOCK RESTORATION SOCIETY; STATUS OF ENDANGERED HEMLOCKS IN 2024 FEBRUARY 17, 2024: APPALACHIAN WILDLIFE REFUGE, DEVELOPMENT OF WILDLIFE CORRIDORS UNDER AND ABOVE HIGHWAYS MARCH 16, 2024: HOW TO MANAGE AND ERADICATE KUDZU, STAFF OF CONSERVING CAROLINA APRIL 20, 2024: FILM ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, DAVID WEINTRAUB, FILM PRODUCER MAY 18, 2024: PLASTIC POLLUTION AND HOW TO REDUCE IT, ROBIN EDGAR JUNE 15, 2024: BACKYARD CHORUS: INSECT SONGS (DOUBLE CICADA YEAR), TIM FORREST JULY 20, 2024: OWLS, CARLETON BURKE AUGUST 17, 2024: BEAVERS, COLLEEN OLFENBUTTEL, NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 21, 2024: SURVIVAL BY DEGREES: CLIMATE CHANGE, TOM TRIBBLE OCTOBER 19, 2024: CANCELLED DUE TO HURRICANE NOVEMBER 17, 2024: OVERLAND VICTORY TRAIL HISTORICAL TOUR, WILLIAM CADDUCCI
  3. WALNUT CREEK PRESERVE HOSTED A HIKE FOR THE RUTHERFORD OUTDOOR COALITION, WITH 13 ATTENDEES AND ALSO HOSTED A HIKE FOR THE CONSERVING CAROLINA HIKE SERIES, WITH 17 ATTENDEES. WALNUT CCREEK PRESERVE DOES NOT CHARGE FOR USE OF ITS FACILITIES AND WELCOMES OTHER GROUPS SEEKING HIKING OPPORTUNITIES.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2017.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.