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Mountain Ways

EIN 92-2057465 · Gatlinburg, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SHARING AND PRESERVING APPALACHIAN CULTURE AND HERITAGE BY GIVING BACK AND LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR AND TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL AID AND SUPPORT TO THOSE FACING LOSS FROM NATURAL DISASTERS.

Income
$431,783
Spending
$5.8 million
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
1
Volunteers
13

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

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 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 1244% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 94% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $5.6 million spent. EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIOS WHO HAVE SUFFERED DAMAGE OR LOSS DUE TO FLOODS, TORNADOS, WILDFIRES OR OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES.
  2. $32,551 spent. FINANCIAL AND VOLUNTEER SUPPORT FOR NONPROFIT PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS WHO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES SUFFERING FROM THE TYPES OF LOSS DESCRIBED IN THE PRECEDING ITEM.
  3. $123,415 spent. MOONSHOT IS AN AMBITIOUS INITIATIVE SERVING STUDENTS IN SEVIER AND COCKE COUNTIES, TENNESSEE, DESIGNED TO BROADEN HORIZONS, BUILD CONFIDENCE, AND CREATE PATHWAYS TO MEANINGFUL FUTURES. WE BELIEVE THAT WHEN STUDENTS ARE EXPOSED TO NEW IDEAS, NEW ENVIRONMENTS, AND A WIDER WORLD OF POSSIBILITY, THEY RETURN HOME BETTER EQUIPPED TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED FOR GROWTH, LEADERSHIP AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS.

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? 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 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 May 2024.

    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.