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Pinecrest Camp and Retreat Center Inc

EIN 85-1136010 · La Grange, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A place set apart for Christian education and fellowship through summer camp programs, environmental educational programs, youth development programs, and providing facilities for church retreats, individual retreats, weddings, and other religious events. Connecting God, people, and creation.

Income
$643,813
Spending
$580,526
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 74%
Employees
46
Volunteers
258
Highest pay
$92,063, executive director, secretary

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

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

  • 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. $49,077 spent. Summer Camp. Over richly diverse 500 campers joined us for Summer Camp - Shine On! - which focused on exploring how we let our lights shine, become helpers in a broken world, and deepen our relationship with our Creator. Our leadership were all new to their roles and brought an outstanding level of practicality and hospitality to children that earned us the top spot in a local contest - the Memphis Parent Family Choice Awards. Our donors continue to make Pinecrest summer camp one of the more affordable options in west Tennessee and the Mid-South.
  2. $32,067 spent. Camp Maintenance and Repairs. Our donors rallied and replaced the roof on one of our largest buildings, the Lodge, which houses our kitchen and dining facilities along with a big meeting space and two bedrooms. We battled replacing air conditioners and using aging facilities. Pinecrest was happy to host the Mariners in Mission group that painted, made completely new curtains for 8 cabins, and worked on electrical systems in our Chapel. Additionally, we re-keyed all of our cabin spaces, and we continue to replace lighting with Dark Sky approved fixtures.
  3. $427,907 spent. Year-Round Programming. More of our local schools benefitted from our expanded offerings of environmental overnight retreats and one-day field trips. They were interested in the Civil War history of the area as well as our positioning over the Memphis Sand Aquifer which is an unparalleled natural resource spanning more than 7,000 square miles across portions of eight states. We continue to be a leading source of discovery with our International Dark Sky Project that reveals the heavens in new and exciting ways. In the summer, about 25 state and national agency employees and interns met at Pinecrest to extract a soil monolith - a feat seldom accomplished - in honor of Dr. Paula Gale, a widely respected soil scientist and founder of Pinecrest's Gale Environmental Education Center (GEEC).

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 February 2021.

    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.