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Burke River Trail Association

EIN 87-1119362 · Valdese, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION, A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION, WILL SUPPORT THE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING OF THE BURKE RIVER TRAIL, WHICH WILL GENERATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, PROVIDE BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN TRANSPORTATION, AND IMPROVE CITIZEN HEALTH IN BURKE COUNTY.

Income
$83,308
Spending
$404,863
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
15.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
1
Volunteers
97
Highest pay
$47,700, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 386% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 83% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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.

  • 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 March 31, 2026, 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. $189,023 spent. CONNECTIONS - PHYSICALLY GET TRAIL ON THE GROUND TO CONNECT COMMUNITIES.COMMUNITIES - BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. CONSERVATION - EDUCATE COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, WILDLIFE AND RECREATING RESPONSIBILITY.
  2. $189,022 spent. WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS TO GET TRAIL EASEMENTS, THEN DESIGN AND BUILD TRAIL; REVITALIZATION OF OLD BUILDINGS, CREATING NEW DOWNTOWN GATHERING SPACES, HOUSING AND ASSISTING COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER GROUPS; THROUGH EDUCATIONAL CRAFTS AND GROUP HIKES, WE WANT TO TEACH THE NEXT GENERATION TO BE OUTDOOR STEWARDS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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 March 2026.

    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 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.