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John C Campbell Folk School FY2020 filing

Tax-deductible

Brasstown, NC501(c)(3)Since 1925Arts & Culture EIN 56-0552780Revenue $2.9M in FY2020Latest return filed Nov 12, 2025

On file with the IRSfolkschool.org1 Folk School Rd, 28902-8008 · Brasstown, NCTax-exempt since Aug 1943School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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The Folk School transforms lives, bringing people together in a nurturing environmentfor experiences in learning and community life that spark self-discovery.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
55¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$168K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2020 · 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
0 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $521K a year · 9% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 0 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
55%
of spending
Worth a look: 55% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$168K
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $11.6M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 7.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $96K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.8M
9% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 9% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
14
of 14 voting members
Looks good: 14 of 14 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.9M
Spent
$4.3M
To programs
55%
Net assets
$17.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.9M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.9M
FY2021$4.5M
FY2022$7.4M
FY2023$7.8M
FY2024$7.6M
Expenses
$4.3M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.3M
FY2021$5.4M
FY2022$7.7M
FY2023$7.8M
FY2024$7.7M
Net assets
$17.7M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$17.7M
FY2021$17.6M
FY2022$15.3M
FY2023$16.5M
FY2024$17.4M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 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 Aug 1943.

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

Where the money goes

55 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 55% · $2.4M Management & general 41% · $1.8M Fundraising 4% · $181K

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

15 people listed on the 990; $168K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Jerry Jackson
Executive Director
$167,737Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Dina Norris
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Jane Oliver
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Celia Larson
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Bethany Chaney’s $166K as Executive Director is at the 73rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M arts & culture 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 · 4 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2021FY2020
Jerry Jackson——$145,888$167,737
Bethany Chaney$165,572$131,805——
Jerry Jackon—$129,347——
Jared Jack$101,098$52,598——

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 John C Campbell Folk School 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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Brings people together for learning and community experiences that spark self-discovery.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $2.4M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

In 2020 the folk school provided 197 courses to 1,312 students; 23 mentorships to 69 students; and 20 workshops to 95 students.

$2.4Mprogram expense

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
Windgate Charitable TrustFY2025$80K
Marion Stedman Covington Foundation North Carolina Trust Co TteeFY2025$15K
Elbert W Rogers FoundationFY2025$1K
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$96K
See all 3 funders →
Grants paid · 1 grant · $107K · 2024–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$106,715

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$995K
Investment incomeLn 3$235K
Money outPt IX
$4.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.4M
Managementcol C$1.8M
Fundraisingcol D$181K
Owns and owesPt X
$17.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.6M
Total assetsLn 16$19.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
15
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a14
IndependentVI 1b14
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$614K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$995K
Investment incomeLn 3$235K
Other incomeLn 4–11$119K
Total revenueLn 12$2.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$156K
SavingsLn 2$2.4M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$11.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.8M
Other assetsLn 15$47K
Total assetsLn 16$19.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.8M
Net assetsLn 32$17.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 553
VolunteersI 6550
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.5M$2.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$10.7M$11.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.9M$4.8M
Total assetsLn 16$19.5M$19.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M$1.8M
Net assetsLn 32$18.1M$17.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.8M$958K$761K$119K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$81K$81K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$432K$432K
Payroll taxesLn 10$118K$118K
Accounting feesLn 11c$16K$16K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$196K$146K$49K$1K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$220K$201K$2K$17K
Office expensesLn 13$182K$62K$81K$38K
OccupancyLn 16$159K$126K$33K
TravelLn 17$74K$66K$8K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$335K$335K
InsuranceLn 23$78K$78K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$566K$485K$75K$6K
All other expensesLn 24e$25K$2K$23K
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.3M$2.4M$1.8M$181K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 LatestFiled with the IRS Nov 12, 2025 $7.6M$7.7M−$27K$17.4M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Aug 5, 2024 $7.8M$7.8M−$35K$16.5M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Oct 11, 2023 $7.4M$7.7M−$303K$15.3M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS May 13, 2022 $4.5M$5.4M−$849K$17.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 ViewingFiled with the IRS Jul 2, 2021 $2.9M$4.3M−$1.4M$17.7M 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 J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,926,665 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grants$1,577,208
I-9 Program service revenue$994,701
I-10 Investment income$235,383
I-11 Other revenue$119,373
I-12 Total revenue$2,926,665
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefits$2,468,581
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expenses$1,851,405
I-18 Total expenses$4,319,986
I-19 Revenue less expenses−$1,393,321
Part VI · Governance 14 of 14 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body14
VI-1b Independent voting members14
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
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
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,926,665 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $103,742 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$613,500
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$963,708
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,577,208
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $994,701$994,701
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $235,383$235,383
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $1,700$1,700
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$2,205−$2,205
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $16,136$16,136
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,010,837 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $338,620$2,926,665
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,319,986 across 14 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $957,794 · Management $761,105 · Fundraising $118,645$1,837,544
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsManagement $81,163$81,163
IX-9 Other employee benefitsManagement $431,521$431,521
IX-10 Payroll taxesManagement $118,353$118,353
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $15,600$15,600
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $146,384 · Management $48,990 · Fundraising $1,016$196,390
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $200,647 · Management $2,228 · Fundraising $16,845$219,720
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $61,940 · Management $81,166 · Fundraising $38,411$181,517
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $125,855 · Management $33,432$159,287
IX-17 TravelPrograms $65,790 · Management $8,220$74,010
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $335,493$335,493
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $78,403$78,403
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $485,243 · Management $74,906 · Fundraising $5,674$565,823
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $2,422 · Management $22,740$25,162
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,381,568 · Management $1,757,827 · Fundraising $180,591$4,319,986
Part X · Balance sheet $19,445,432 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $282,695$156,028
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $3,232,231$2,447,899
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $17,135$4,874
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $297,660$299,212
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $42,370$41,626
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $4,920,835$4,823,644
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $10,655,874$11,625,441
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $43,245$46,708
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $19,492,045$19,445,432
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $397,395$328,676
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $989,321$1,434,035
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,386,716$1,762,711
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $17,100,897$16,627,650
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,004,432$1,055,071
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $18,105,329$17,682,721
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $19,492,045$19,445,432
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $17,682,721 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,926,665
XI-2 Total expenses$4,319,986
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,393,321
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$18,105,329
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$970,713
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$17,682,721

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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