Wnc Communities

Tax-deductible

Asheville, NC501(c)(3)Since 1949Food & AgricultureEIN 56-0797766Revenue $4.6M in FY2025

On file with the IRSwnccommunities.org594 Brevard Rd, 28806-2300 · Asheville, NCTax-exempt since Jul 1953Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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WNC Communities empowers the people of Western North Carolina to cultivate the vitality and prosperity of mountain communities through collaboration and agricultural opportunities. This mission is accomplished through a program of work focused on community development, agriculture revenue, and forest health.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
92¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 20 volunteers and 17 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
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $218K a year · 9% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
92%
of spending
Looks good: 92% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$94K
to officers and key staff · 2% of spending
Top officer’s pay lower than 54% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 2% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.8 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
$95K
2% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 2% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
20
of 20 voting members
Looks good: 20 of 20 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.6M
+125% vs prior year
Spent
$4.0M
To programs
92%
Net assets
$4.3M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$4.6M
FY2025▲ +125%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$1.6M
FY2022$2.5M
FY2023$1.6M
FY2024$2.0M
FY2025$4.6M
Expenses
$4.0M
FY2025▲ +88%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$1.4M
FY2022$2.0M
FY2023$1.7M
FY2024$2.1M
FY2025$4.0M
Net assets
$4.3M
FY2025▲ +16%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$3.3M
FY2022$3.9M
FY2023$3.8M
FY2024$3.7M
FY2025$4.3M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jul 1953.

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

Where the money goes

92 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 92% · $3.7M Management & general 7% · $265K Fundraising 1% · $54K

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

21 people listed on the 990; $94K 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
$94,186Pt VII · Sec A
President Emeritus
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
1st Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jennifer L Ferre’s $94K as Executive Director is at the 46th percentile of top reported officer pay among 818 $1–10M food & agriculture 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 · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Jennifer L Ferre$94,186$76,098$73,051$69,305$66,903

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 Wnc Communities 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

Improves rural life and agriculture in western North Carolina through innovative programs.

Questions for Wnc Communities

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $3.7M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Each year since 1949, WNCC has evaluated the applications of community centers across 20 counties in WNC and given cash awards to a network of over 70 community centers that have offered quality programs to serve their residents needs.

$3.7Mprogram expense
02

Hemlock Restoration Initiative (hri)

The objective of HRI is to restore eastern and Carolina hemlocks to their native habitats throughout North Carolina and to mitigate damage to hemlocks caused by infestation of the hemlock woolly adelgid.

Pt IX · col B
03

Wnc Agricultural Options Program

Since 2012, WNC Communities has managed a cost-share grant program to support small family farms in WNC. Funded by the North Carolina General Assembly, through the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, the mission of the WNC AgOptions program is to build sustainable farming communities in the mountain region by providing resources directly…

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 · 25 grants · $4.4M · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$2,207,625
Unitemized GrantFY2024$114,675
Big Ivy Community ClubNC · FY2024$49,000
Unitemized GrantFY2024$44,875
Unitemized GrantFY2024$20,000
Ruritan National CorpNC · FY2024$20,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$252,000
Haywood County SchoolsFY2023$177,818
Unitemized GrantFY2023$79,063
Unitemized GrantFY2022$244,300
See all 25 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.6M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$378K
Investment incomeLn 3$34K
Money outPt IX
$4.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.7M
Managementcol C$265K
Fundraisingcol D$54K
Owns and owesPt X
$4.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.9M
Total assetsLn 16$4.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$95K
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a20
IndependentVI 1b20
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$941K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$378K
Investment incomeLn 3$34K
Other incomeLn 4–11$7K
Gains on assetsLn 7$3K
Total revenueLn 12$4.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$589K
SavingsLn 2$1.3M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.0M
Other assetsLn 15$214K
Total assetsLn 16$4.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$95K
Net assetsLn 32$4.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 517
VolunteersI 620
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
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$1.2M$1.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.0M$2.0M
Total assetsLn 16$3.8M$4.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$138K$95K
Net assetsLn 32$3.7M$4.3M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$329K$329K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$2.4M$2.4M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$97K$53K$29K$15K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$485K$359K$91K$35K
Payroll taxesLn 10$44K$31K$9K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$33K$1K$32K$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$1K$0$1K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$72K$62K$9K$0
Office expensesLn 13$32K$15K$17K$260
Information technologyLn 14$12K$12K$0$0
OccupancyLn 16$33K$0$33K$0
TravelLn 17$13K$13K$524$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$85K$68K$17K$0
InsuranceLn 23$7K$0$7K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$309K$304K$5K$462
All other expensesLn 24e$53K$39K$13K$521
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.0M$3.7M$265K$54K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $4.6M$4.0M$561K$4.3M 990 PDF
FY2024 $2.0M$2.1M−$100K$3.7M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.6M$1.7M−$110K$3.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.5M$2.0M$539K$3.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.6M$1.4M$202K$3.3M 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 $4,553,895 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,161,995$4,134,845
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $783,011$378,217
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $54,056$33,633
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $22,051$7,200
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,021,113$4,553,895
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $578,041$2,715,765
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $510,914$625,542
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,032,185$651,363
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,121,140$3,992,670
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$100,027$561,225
Part VI · Governance 20 of 20 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body20
VI-1b Independent voting members20
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
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-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $4,553,895 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$941,473
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,193,372
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,134,845
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$378,217
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $30,642$30,642
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $7,200$7,200
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $2,991$2,991
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $385,417 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $33,633$4,553,895
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,992,670 across 16 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $328,590$328,590
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $2,387,175$2,387,175
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $53,326 · Management $29,087 · Fundraising $14,543$96,956
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $359,152 · Management $91,254 · Fundraising $34,636$485,042
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $30,925 · Management $8,944 · Fundraising $3,675$43,544
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $1,190 · Management $32,135 · Fundraising $0$33,325
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $1,393 · Fundraising $0$1,393
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $62,408 · Management $9,199 · Fundraising $0$71,607
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $14,993 · Management $16,558 · Fundraising $260$31,811
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $12,397 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$12,397
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $0 · Management $33,396 · Fundraising $0$33,396
IX-17 TravelPrograms $12,567 · Management $524 · Fundraising $0$13,091
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $67,920 · Management $17,371 · Fundraising $0$85,291
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $0 · Management $7,067 · Fundraising $0$7,067
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $303,544 · Management $5,273 · Fundraising $462$309,279
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $39,158 · Management $13,027 · Fundraising $521$52,706
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,673,345 · Management $265,228 · Fundraising $54,097$3,992,670
Part X · Balance sheet $4,362,014 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $364,120$589,406
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $857,358$1,341,926
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $253,628$177,694
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $77,894$10,951
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $54,012$33,463
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $2,024,707$1,994,894
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $196,365$213,680
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,828,084$4,362,014
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $90,678$95,023
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $138,178$95,023
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,370,552$3,562,984
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,319,354$704,007
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,689,906$4,266,991
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,828,084$4,362,014
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,266,991 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,553,895
XI-2 Total expenses$3,992,670
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$561,225
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,689,906
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$15,860
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,266,991

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

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