Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Mayland Community College Enterprise Corporation

EIN 82-4286903 · Spruce Pine, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceGood87 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Our mission is to assist in the redevelopment of Mitchell, Avery, and Yancey communities and create a climate that attracts entrepreneurs, residents, and visitors in an effort to bring vitality to the area. Provide supplemental support to Mayland Community College.

Income
$767,400
Spending
$571,878
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
11
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$315,021, president/ ceo

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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs.

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: 87 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 10 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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. $515,501 spent. Mayland Community College Enterprise Corporation (MEC) is a 501(c)(3) that provides support to Mayland Community College. The Earth to Sky Park is an environmental educational park for those interested in learning about the natural world we live in, from the Earth to the sky. It is home to the Bare Dark Sky Observatory (BDSO), but also the Glenn & Carol Arthur Planetarium, a Visitors Center, the Carolyn Munro Wilson Picnic Shelter, numerous gardens, the Paul & Susie OConnell Conference Center, and an Aquaponics Lab. The observatory is home to one of the largest public telescopes in the southeastern US. The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) designated the Mayland Earth to Sky Park and Observatory as the first IDA-certified Star Park in the southeastern United States The park is open to the public and provides tours and camps for hundreds of school aged children from thre counties that are in the colleges service area as well as the surrounding areas. The Park also provides shows and star gazing events to patrons from all over North Carolina and neighboring states.
  2. The Blue Ridge Boutique Hotel, built in 1921, and was the former Spruce Pine Elementary School. It is now operated by the non-profit Mayland Community College Enterprise Corporation and run by students attending the college. The students are sponsored by our work scholarship program. For fiscal year 2024-25, the Blue Ridge Boutique Hotel sponsored 1 student through the work scholarship program
  3. The Mayland Rapid Protype Manufacturing offers services to local industries and advance manufacturing while providing educational training to Mayland Community College students in 3D design and drafting, 3D printing, rapid prototyping, computerized (CNC) machining, robotics, and mechatronics courses. These students are sponsored by our work scholarship program. For fiscal year 2024-25, the Mayland Rapid Protype Manufacturing sponsored 2 students through the work scholarship program. The students also participated in the Skills USA competition and placed 5th national.

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

  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 November 6, 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 June 2025.

    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 September 2018.

    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 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.