To promote the teaching and preservation of the cultural and artistic heritage of the Southern Appalachians and Cherokee people and to serve as a community resource and gathering place.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
66¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 55 volunteers and 2 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 2
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $54K a year · 22% of revenue · last 2 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 2 of the last 2 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 2 filings
Spent on programs
66%
of spending
Fine: 66% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$50K
to officers and key staff · 25% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 25% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
8 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 8.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $5K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$44K
26% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 26% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 11 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$258K
+8% vs prior year
Spent
$204K
To programs
66%
Net assets
$128K
By yearFY2022–FY2025
Revenue
$258K
FY2025▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2022$104K
FY2023$143K
FY2024$238K
FY2025$258K
Expenses
$204K
FY2025▲ +11%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2022Not on file
FY2023Not on file
FY2024$184K
FY2025$204K
Net assets
$128K
FY2025▲ +72%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2022$47K
FY2023$25K
FY2024$74K
FY2025$128K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jun 2015.

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

Where the money goes

66 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 66% · $134K Management & general 25% · $50K Fundraising 10% · $20K

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

12 people listed on the 990; $50K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$50,400Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Laura Brooks’s $50K as Executive Director is at the 38th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2168 $100K–1M human services 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023
Laura Brooks$50,400$49,038$31,437
Stacy Guffey——$15,200

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.

See Macon County Heritage Center executive salaries →

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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

Preserves and promotes Southern Appalachian and Cherokee cultural heritage through teaching and community gatherings.

Questions for Macon County Heritage Center

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $134K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Promoting Regional Culture

In FY25, CSAHC celebrated southern Appalachian and Cherokee culture and heritage through the following programs: Where We Live: History, Nature and Culture Speaker Series - provided enriching content on local culture, heritage and arts.

$134Kprogram expense
02

Educational Opportunities

CSAHC hosted local students for Heritage Days to learn about our local culture and craft traditions. Resident artists offered classes in music, dance, pottery, felting, painting, quilting and wellness. Two Free Community Art Days were held in FY25, and featured our resident artists along with Cherokee guest artists.

Pt IX · col B
03

Serve as a Community Gathering Place

CSAHC facilities are used weekly for exercise classes and outdoor recreation. CSAHC Cowee Kitchen Project began in FY25, and provides meals during regular events to support and promote community gathering.

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 · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$5K
Grants paid · 6 grants · $32K · 2023–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$10,375
Unitemized GrantFY2024$5,000
Unitemized GrantFY2024$200
Unitemized GrantFY2023$10,775
Unitemized GrantFY2023$5,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$300

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$258K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$196K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$55K
Other incomeLn 4–11$6K
Money outPt IX
$204K
Ln 25
Programscol B$134K
Managementcol C$50K
Fundraisingcol D$20K
Owns and owesPt X
$128K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$137K
Total assetsLn 16$172K
LiabilitiesLn 26$44K
PeoplePt VI, VII
12
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$196K
Government grantsLn 1e$45K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$8K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$55K
Other incomeLn 4–11$6K
Total revenueLn 12$258K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$137K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$137K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$34K
Total assetsLn 16$172K
LiabilitiesLn 26$44K
Net assetsLn 32$128K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 52
VolunteersI 655
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$163K$137K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$11K$34K
Total assetsLn 16$176K$172K
LiabilitiesLn 26$102K$44K
Net assetsLn 32$74K$128K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$16K$16K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$55K$19K$25K$11K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$28K$10K$12K$6K
Payroll taxesLn 10$6K$2K$3K$1K
Accounting feesLn 11c$6K$0$6K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$273$0$273$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$13K$13K$0$0
Office expensesLn 13$12K$11K$533$1K
Information technologyLn 14$2K$1K$459$805
OccupancyLn 16$24K$24K$0$0
InterestLn 20$1K$0$1K$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$3K$3K$0$0
InsuranceLn 23$5K$4K$1K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$32K$32K$238$0
All other expensesLn 24e$52$0$0$52
Total functional expensesLn 25$204K$134K$50K$20K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $258K$204K$54K$128K 990 PDF
FY2024 $238K$184K$54K$74K 990 PDF
FY2023 $143K$25K 990 PDF
FY2022 $104K$47K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $257,722 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $182,637$196,446
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $49,661$54,911
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $5,572$6,365
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $237,870$257,722
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $16,075$15,575
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $70,894$88,956
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $96,755$99,470
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $183,724$204,001
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $54,146$53,721
Part VI · Governance 11 of 11 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members11
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $257,722 across 7 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $3,728 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$44,892
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$151,554
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$8,500
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$196,446
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$54,911
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $2,637 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$2,637
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $57,548 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $3,728$257,722
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $204,001 across 15 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $15,575$15,575
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $19,268 · Management $24,772 · Fundraising $11,010$55,050
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $9,655 · Management $12,415 · Fundraising $5,517$27,587
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $2,212 · Management $2,844 · Fundraising $1,263$6,319
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $6,050 · Fundraising $0$6,050
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $0 · Management $273 · Fundraising $0$273
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $12,683 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$12,683
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $10,675 · Management $533 · Fundraising $1,221$12,429
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,077 · Management $459 · Fundraising $805$2,341
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $24,320 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$24,320
IX-20 InterestPrograms $0 · Management $1,446 · Fundraising $0$1,446
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $2,596 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$2,596
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $3,569 · Management $1,425 · Fundraising $0$4,994
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $32,048 · Management $238 · Fundraising $0$32,286
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $52$52
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $133,678 · Management $50,455 · Fundraising $19,868$204,001
Part X · Balance sheet $172,065 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $162,712$136,741
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,636$1,333
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $11,010$33,991
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $176,418$172,065
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,036$925
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $46,583$2,518
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $54,365$40,467
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $101,984$43,910
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $40,966$100,337
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $33,468$27,818
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $74,434$128,155
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $176,418$172,065
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $128,155 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$257,722
XI-2 Total expenses$204,001
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$53,721
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$74,434
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$128,155

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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