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Venture Unknown Foundation

EIN 92-2112176 · Pendleton, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE ARE A STEADFAST BEACON OF STEWARDSHIP, COMMITTED TO PRESERVING THE HEART OF OUR NATURAL WORLD. AS A NONPROFIT 501C3 ORGANIZATION, OUR MISSION IS CRYSTAL CLEAR: WE EXIST TO BE GUARDIANS OF OUR OUTDOOR AND OVERLAND COMMUNITY, GUIDED BY THE PRINCIPLES OF EXPLORATION, EDUCATION, AND ENCOURAGEMENT. IN A WORLD WHERE OUR BEAUTIFUL PUBLIC LANDS ARE AT RISK OF NEGLECT, OUR FOUNDATION STANDS AS A CHAMPION FOR THEIR PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION.

Income
$139,688
Spending
$63,871
Reserves
20.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 54% of income.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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. $361 spent. THE VENTURE UNKNOWN FOUNDATION HELD ITS 2ND ANNUAL SPRING CLEAN EVENT ON MARCH 22, 2025. THIS YEAR'S EVENT SAW VOLUNTEERS IN BOTH NORTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA. IN TOTAL, 43 VOLUNTEERS DEDICATED THEIR TIME TO REMOVE 8,430 POUNDS OF TRASH FROM TWO LOCATIONS IN A SINGLE DAY OF STEWARDSHIP WITHIN OUR NATIONAL FORESTS. TOGETHER, THEY SUCCESSFULLY REMOVED 8,430 POUNDS OF TRASH. CONTINUING OUR WORK IN THE COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HELENE, VENTURE UNKNOWN FOUNDATION PROVIDED SUPPLIES AND FINANCIAL AID TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING RECOVERY EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE SPRING OF 2025.
  2. $7,164 spent. THE VENTURE UNKNOWN FOUNDATION HELD ITS SWEEP UP THE SOUTHEAST 2025 EVENT ON DECEMBER 12, 2025. WE HAD 13 TEAMS ACROSS 8 STATES, AND TOGETHER, IN ONE WEEKEND, WE COLLECTED A TOTAL OF 60,250 POUNDS OF TRASH, INCLUDING 614 TIRES, AND CLEARED 205.2 MILES OF FSRS!
  3. $4,315 spent. BEGINNING IN JUNE OF 2025 AND EACH MONTH THEREAFTER, THE VENTURE UNKNOWN FOUNDATION PROVIDED VOLUNTEERS, SUPPLIES, AND EQUIPMENT TO RESTORE AND CLEAN UP CAMPSITES AND PUBLIC AREAS ALONG TWO FOREST SERVICE ROADS AS PART OF OUR ADOPT-AN-FSR INITIATIVE. THE IMPACT ON DARNELL CREEK AND NIMBLEWILL ROADS INCLUDES OVER A DOZEN RESTORED CAMPSITES THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL NOW ENJOY.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 April 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.