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Eky Heritage Foundation Inc

EIN 83-4087615 · Whitesburg, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak5 out of 100GovernanceFair51 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 21% of its spending went to programs.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 71 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

EMBRACING OUR PAST, EMPOWERING OUR PEOPLE, AND UNLOCKING OUR FUTURE BY DEVELOPING A TOURISM INDUSTRY CLUSTER, AND REVITALIZING OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE COALFIELDS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY

Income
$39,655
Spending
$282,992
Spent on programs
21%
Reserves
-12 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
3
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$70,300, executive director

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

Weak: 5 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 73% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 614% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 54% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    21% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 71 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: 51 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

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

  • 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. $19,549 spent. HOSTED 4 PUBLIC MEETINGS IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN LETCHER COUNTY TO SHARE OUR PROJECTS, BOOST COMMUNITY MORALE, AND SOLICIT FEEDBACK ON OUR WORK FURTHERING TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
  2. $20,073 spent. ESTABLISHED FACADE IMPROVEMENT GRANT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF WHITESBURG TO PROVIDE PROPERTY AND/OR BUSINESS OWNERS UP TO $1,000 TO SPRUCE UP THE OUTSIDE OF THEIR BUILDING OR STOREFRONT.
  3. $19,073 spent. PARTNERED WITH ONE EAST KENTUCKY, REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, TO ESTABLISH TWO "DOWNTOWN STRATEGIES" PLANS IN WHITESBURG AND IN JENKINS. THESE ARE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PLANS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2020.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Heritage Foundation (Washington, DC), EIN 23-7327730. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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.