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Through the Trees

EIN 85-2449920 · Brevard, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH THE TREES BRIDGES THE DIGITAL DIVIDE- ONE SIGNAL, ONE DEVICE, ONE NEIGHBOR AT A TIME.

Income
$577,220
Spending
$407,273
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
5
Highest pay
$51,594, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 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 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 215% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    6 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, 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 (2)
  1. $370,409 spent. IN 2025, THROUGH THE TREES ADVANCED ITS MISSION TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN BUNCOMBE, HENDERSON AND TRANSYLVANIA COUNTIES IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. OUR FOUR BRANCHES OF THE NONPROFIT ARE DEVICE REFURBISHING, INTERNET SUBSIDIES, DIGITAL LITERACY AND BROADBAND ADVOCACY. WE SECURED A COLLABORATIVE GRANT WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS TO EXPAND BROADBAND ACCESS AND PROMOTE DIGITAL EQUITY, RECEIVING RECOGNITION FOR ITS REGIONAL IMPACT. AS THE HUB, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE HOSTED COMMUNITY FORUMS AND HANDS-ON TECHNOLOGY LABS THAT HELPED OLDER ADULTS AND LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS DEVELOP ESSENTIAL DIGITAL SKILLS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WESTNGN AND OTHER REGIONAL INITIATIVES, WE SUPPORTED DEVICE DISTRIBUTION AND BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN CONNECTIVITY IN RURAL WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.
  2. FOLLOWING HURRICANE HELENE, WE PROVIDED IMMEDIATE TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT BY DISTRIBUTING COMPUTERS, TABLETS, CELL PHONES, AND HOTSPOTS TO AFFECTED RESIDENTS. BY YEAR-END, WE HAD DISTRIBUTED 390 DEVICES. TO INCREASE CAPACITY, WE SECURED FUNDING AND BEGAN SEARCHING FOR A LARGER WORKSPACE TO EXPAND OUR REFURBISHMENT OPERATIONS. WE ALSO CELEBRATED AND STREAMLINED OUR PROCESSES WITH 12 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS DURING A "REFURBISHER PARTY" TO ASSIST WITH PREPARING DEVICES FOR REDISTRIBUTION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2023 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2023.

    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 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 November 2023.

    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.