HIGHTS mission is to transform youth in Western North Carolina by inspiring trust in their own abilities, connection to a caring community, and hope for a better future.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
85¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$124K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 4
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $469K a year · 20% of revenue · last 4 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 4 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
85%
of spending
Looks good: 85% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$124K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $10K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$15K
1% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 8 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.7M
+76% vs prior year
Spent
$2.2M
To programs
85%
Net assets
$1.3M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.7M
FY2023▲ +76%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.3M
FY2022$1.5M
FY2023$2.7M
FY2024$3.6M
FY2024$4.4M
Expenses
$2.2M
FY2023▲ +63%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$785K
FY2022$1.4M
FY2023$2.2M
FY2024$2.9M
FY2024$3.3M
Net assets
$1.3M
FY2023▲ +45%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$624K
FY2022$892K
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$2.0M
FY2024$3.1M

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending June 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Mar 2008.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

85 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 85% · $1.9M Management & general 12% · $272K Fundraising 3% · $66K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

10 people listed on the 990; $124K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$67,150Pt VII · Sec A
Financial Officer
$56,800Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Paul Heckert’s $80K as Financial Officer is at the 13th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1851 $1–10M environment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2020
Paul Heckert$80,423$74,549$56,800——
Marcus Metcalf$77,271$74,200$67,150$64,171$65,000
Dr Jennifer Hinton$600————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Develops youth leaders through adventure and service, fostering belonging and purpose.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.9M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Jcpc Compass/Core/Iso Services

These programs serve underserved youth ages 11-18 in Haywood, Jackson, and Macon County. They serve kids through after-school and alternative-to- suspension programs that focus on community service, adventure-based learning, experiential education, and recreation therapy. These programs served served 160 Youth participants in 2022-23.

$1.9Mprogram expense
02

Workforce Development- This program serves youth ages 16-24 in Jackson, Macon, Swain, Graham, Clay, and Cherokee Counties that have dropped out of school or are otherwise disengaged. This program helps participants overcome boundaries and lack of resources to assist youth in attaining their GED's, engaging in the workforce and attaining…

Pt IX · col B
03

Therapeutic Counseling Services

HIGHTS engaged 268 youth in therapy services in 2022-23. This includes youth seen through outpatient therapy services, group therapy services, intensive in-home treatment, and addictions treatment. HIGHTS provides these services in different capacities in the seven westernmost counties of Western North Carolina.

Pt IX · col B

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$10K
Grants paid · 2 grants · $15K · 2023–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$6,600
Unitemized GrantFY2023$8,700

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$203K
Other incomeLn 4–11$10K
Money outPt IX
$2.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.9M
Managementcol C$272K
Fundraisingcol D$66K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$843K
Total assetsLn 16$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$15K
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$203K
Investment incomeLn 3$113
Other incomeLn 4–11$10K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$661
Total revenueLn 12$2.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$229K
SavingsLn 2$614K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$843K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$468K
Total assetsLn 16$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$15K
Net assetsLn 32$1.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 552
VolunteersI 614
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$470K$843K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$461K$468K
Total assetsLn 16$931K$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$39K$15K
Net assetsLn 32$892K$1.3M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$47K$47K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$165K$25K$99K$41K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$145K$84K$48K$13K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$960K$930K$30K$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$21K$21K$0$66
Other employee benefitsLn 9$118K$111K$6K$603
Payroll taxesLn 10$104K$87K$14K$4K
Management feesLn 11a$3K$0$3K$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$13K$0$13K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$89K$89K$251$75
Office expensesLn 13$34K$29K$5K$368
Information technologyLn 14$19K$19K$0$0
OccupancyLn 16$11K$6K$5K$445
TravelLn 17$27K$18K$7K$1K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$70K$60K$7K$4K
InsuranceLn 23$59K$50K$8K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$285K$283K$2K$0
All other expensesLn 24e$47K$23K$24K$116
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.2M$1.9M$272K$66K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $3.6M$2.9M$675K$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $2.7M$2.2M$493K$1.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.5M$1.4M$183K$892K 990 PDF
FY2021 Not on file
FY2020 $1.3M$785K$525K$624K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,712,464 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,541,538$2,498,762
I-9 Program service revenue$203,258
I-10 Investment income−$548
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $1,113$10,992
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,542,651$2,712,464
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$47,143
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,023,286$1,514,302
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $336,225$658,459
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,359,511$2,219,904
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $183,140$492,560
Part VI · Governance 8 of 8 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members8
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,712,464 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$1,169,783
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,328,979
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,498,762
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$203,258
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $113$113
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$661−$661
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $10,992$10,992
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $203,258 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $10,444$2,712,464
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,219,904 across 18 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $47,143$47,143
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $24,901 · Management $99,118 · Fundraising $41,447$165,466
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $84,313 · Management $47,879 · Fundraising $12,791$144,983
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $929,785 · Management $30,276 · Fundraising $0$960,061
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $21,251 · Management $0 · Fundraising $66$21,317
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $111,054 · Management $6,487 · Fundraising $603$118,144
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $86,625 · Management $13,670 · Fundraising $4,036$104,331
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $0 · Management $3,453 · Fundraising $0$3,453
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $12,700 · Fundraising $0$12,700
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $89,034 · Management $251 · Fundraising $75$89,360
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $28,646 · Management $4,687 · Fundraising $368$33,701
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $19,253 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$19,253
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $6,177 · Management $4,867 · Fundraising $445$11,489
IX-17 TravelPrograms $18,405 · Management $6,964 · Fundraising $1,462$26,831
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $59,643 · Management $7,017 · Fundraising $3,508$70,168
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $50,499 · Management $7,844 · Fundraising $1,067$59,410
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $282,572 · Management $2,353 · Fundraising $0$284,925
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $22,661 · Management $24,392 · Fundraising $116$47,169
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,881,962 · Management $271,958 · Fundraising $65,984$2,219,904
Part X · Balance sheet $1,310,386 assets, 10 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $201,928$229,080
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $267,782$613,675
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $461,272$467,631
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $930,982$1,310,386
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $38,513$15,327
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $38,513$15,327
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $862,216$859,014
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $30,253$436,045
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $892,469$1,295,059
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $930,982$1,310,386
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,295,059 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,712,464
XI-2 Total expenses$2,219,904
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$492,560
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$892,469
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$89,970
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,295,059

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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