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Carolina Cyber Center Inc

EIN 93-1911615 · Black Mountain, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CAROLINA CYBER CENTER OFFERS AN INNOVATIVE PATH TO CYBERSECURITY CAREERS. WE PROVIDE AFFORDABLE AND FLEXIBLE TRAINING, ENABLING INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVE VITAL CERTIFICATIONS AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN LESS THAN A YEAR, EVEN WITHOUT AN IT BACKGROUND.

Income
$486,372
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
7
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$345,255, director (ex officio)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 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 383% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 83% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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. $2.2 million spent. WE SUPPORT THE CAROLINA CYBER NETWORK'S (CCN) MISSION TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN CYBERSECURITY AND STRENGTHEN THE SECURITY OF ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA. IN 2025, WE HELPED MANAGE AND SUPPORT A SECURITY OPERATIONS CENTER (SOC) TRAINING AND INTERNSHIP ENVIRONMENT THAT PLACED APPROXIMATELY 80 STUDENTS INTO HANDS-ON SOC EXPERIENCES DURING THE YEAR AND HAS SUPPORTED MORE THAN 232 STUDENTS FROM 14 NORTH CAROLINA COLLEGES SINCE LAUNCH. WE ALSO DELIVERED APPLIED CYBERSECURITY PROJECTS AND EXTERNAL-FACING, NON-INTRUSIVE SECURITY POSTURE REVIEWS THAT HELP ORGANIZATIONS UNDERSTAND PUBLICLY OBSERVABLE RISKS AND PRIORITIZE PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS. IN ADDITION, WE EXPANDED AWARENESS AND "CYBER HYGIENE" EDUCATION FOR SMALL AND MID-SIZED BUSINESSES (SMBS) AND MUNICIPALITIES, AND STRENGTHENED CAREER PATHWAYS BY BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT TO IDENTIFY INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT A STRUCTURED MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. THESE EFFORTS PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH RESUME-READY EXPERIENCE WHILE DELIVERING ACTIONABLE GUIDANCE TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFTEN LACK DEDICATED SECURITY RESOURCES.
  2. $44,636 spent. CITY OF REFUGE: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY OF REFUGE, WE DELIVERED A CYBERSECURITY TRAINING PROGRAM TO 30 STUDENTS ACROSS TWO COHORTS. OUR TEAM PROVIDED CURRICULUM AND HANDS-ON TRAINING DESIGNED TO EQUIP PARTICIPANTS WITH FOUNDATIONAL CYBERSECURITY KNOWLEDGE AND JOB-READY SKILLS. CITY OF REFUGE, KNOWN FOR ITS HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SERVING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN CRISIS, INTEGRATED THIS PROGRAM INTO ITS BROADER MISSION OF COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION OFFERING RESOURCES SUCH AS HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, JOB TRAINING, AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. THIS INITIATIVE HELPED PARTICIPANTS TAKE MEANINGFUL STEPS TOWARD STABLE, HIGH-DEMAND CAREERS IN CYBERSECURITY.
  3. $146,854 spent. THROUGH SUPPORT FROM THE DOGWOOD HEALTH TRUST, THE CAROLINA CYBER CENTER PROVIDED CYBERSECURITY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING TO 20 STUDENTS IN 2025 ACROSS TWO COHORTS, AND MORE THAN 251 STUDENTS SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION. THE PROGRAM PREPARES PARTICIPANTS FOR ENTRY LEVEL CYBERSECURITY CAREERS THROUGH INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS AND HANDS-ON, APPLIED LEARNING EXPERIENCES. MANY STUDENTS RECEIVED STIPENDS AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES, ENABLING THEM TO FULLY ENGAGE IN THEIR TRAINING. THIS INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO EDUCATION AND CREATE CLEAR PATHWAYS INTO HIGH DEMAND, HIGH WAGE CYBERSECURITY ROLES IN THE REGION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 2025.

    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.