Nonprofit · EIN 56-0797766
WNC COMMUNITIES
Tax-exempt · ASHEVILLE, NC 28806
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $4,553,895 | $3,992,670 | $561,225 | $4,362,014 | $95,023 | $4,266,991 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $2,021,113 | $2,121,140 | -$100,027 | $3,828,084 | $138,178 | $3,689,906 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $1,606,254 | $1,716,675 | -$110,421 | $3,818,190 | $38,744 | $3,779,446 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $4,134,845
- of which government grants
- $941,473
- Program service revenue
- $378,217
- Investment income
- $33,633
- Net rental income
- $7,200
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $2,991
- Other revenue
- $7,200
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $2,715,765
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $96,956
- Other salaries and wages
- $485,042
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $625,542
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $33,325
- Occupancy
- $33,396
- Travel
- $13,091
- Depreciation
- $85,291
- Program services (functional)
- $3,673,345
- Management and general (functional)
- $265,228
- Fundraising (functional)
- $54,097
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $3,828,084
- Total assets, end of year
- $4,362,014
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $95,023
- Net assets, end of year
- $4,266,991
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $1,994,894
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $3,562,984
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $704,007
- Gross receipts
- $4,553,895
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 20
- Year formed
- 1949
- State of legal domicile
- NC
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer L Ferre | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $94,186 |
| K Ray Bailey | President Emeritus Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Shelly White | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Dean Kanipe | President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Jimmy Cowan | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Karen Hammett | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Craig DeBrew | 1st Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Jeffrey Owen | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Bill Yarborough | 2nd Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Randy Rogers | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Chivous Bradley | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Sophie Dixon | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Lumpy Lambert | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Laura Leatherwood | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Steve Duckett | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
6 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zeb Smathers | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Kaleb Rathbone | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| LT Ward | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Tammie Whitlock | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Ross Young | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Edie Cecil | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 21 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer L Ferre | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $76,098 |
| K Ray Bailey | President Emeritus Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| LT Ward | Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| Dean Kanipe | President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Jimmy Cowan | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Karen Hammett | 1st Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Craig DeBrew | 2nd Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 |
| Jeffrey Owen | Secretary Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Bill Yarborough | Treasurer Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Randy Rogers | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Chivous Bradley | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Sophie Dixon | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Lumpy Lambert | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Laura Leatherwood | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Harris Prevost | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Zeb Smathers | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Kaleb Rathbone | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Shelly White | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Tammie Whitlock | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Ross Young | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Edie Cecil | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 22 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer L Ferre | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $73,051 |
| K Ray Bailey | President Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 |
| LT Ward | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 |
| Dean Kanipe | Past Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 |
| Jimmy Cowan | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 |
| Karen Hammett | 1st Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Craig DeBrew | 2nd Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 |
| Jeffrey Owen | Secretary Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Bill Yarborough | Treasurer Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Randy Rogers | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Chivous Bradley | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Lumpy Lambert | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Laura Leatherwood | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Joey Owle | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Bruce Peterson | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Harris Prevost | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Zeb Smathers | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Kaleb Rathbone | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Shelly White | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Roger Wiggins | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Ross Young | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| Edie Cecil | Member Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 594 BREVARD RD, ASHEVILLE, NC 28806-2300
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Jennifer L Ferre, 594 Brevard Road, Asheville, NC 28806
- Signed the 990
- Jimmy Cowan, Vice-President
- Phone
- (828) 252-4783
- Website
- wnccommunities.org
- Return prepared by
- CORLISS & SOLOMON PLLC
Mission
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.
Program accomplishments
- 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. Each November, the WNC Awards event brings these community clubs together to celebrate and receive recognition and cash awards for the work they have accomplished during the year. In 2024, 73 participating communities received over $106,000 (donated by WNC business and industry) in awards to recognize their hard work. These good deeds represented 5800 volunteers, clocking 128,600 volunteer hours, representing an estimated $6.7 million investment of time, talent, and money benefitting rural residents in WNC. These efforts include providing food pantries, meals, assistance with accessing medical care, affordable rental space for events, family- oriented social gatherings, free wi-fi, business incubation, afterschool programs, and more.Expenses $3,673,345 · grants $2,715,765 · revenue $378,217
- 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 to farmers who are diversifying and expanding their operations. In 2024, WNC AgOptions awarded 29 farm businesses a total of $228,000 in $4,000 and $8,000 grants. Funded projects highlight farmer innovation, operational improvements, and investments that increase productivity and long-term farm viability. Returns on initial farm investments are often immediate, with new farm income frequently matching the size of the grant in the first year and continuing to grow over time. Since the programs inception in 2004, more than 600 farm businesses in Western North Carolina have received over $3 million in support.
- 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. More specifically, the goal is to work with a variety of partners and current restoration initiatives to ensure that eastern and Carolina hemlocks can resist the deadly hemlock woolly adelgid and survive to maturity on North Carolinas public and private lands. This involves Identifying and establishing hemlock conservation areas, educating landowners on how to economically treat and manage the hemlocks, increasing the number of trees being treated on public lands, implementing Integrated Pest Management and long-term biological controls and advancing the development of other control strategies and restoration techniques. . In 2024, over 19,000 trees were treated in 18 counties in WNC; 26 outreach events, educational hikes, and presentations were given; 4 management workshops/ demonstrations were provided and 858 volunteer hours were utilized in the HRI program.
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 56-0797766
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1953
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Food, agriculture and nutrition (K20D)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $4,362,014
- Income (IRS master file)
- $4,553,895
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $4,553,895 | $3,992,670 | $4,362,014 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $2,021,113 | $2,121,140 | $3,828,084 | XML |
| 990 | June 2023 | $1,606,254 | $1,716,675 | $3,818,190 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | $2,495,883 | $1,956,526 | $3,870,797 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 56-0797766).
Questions about WNC COMMUNITIES
- What is the EIN of WNC COMMUNITIES?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of WNC COMMUNITIES is 56-0797766.
- Is WNC COMMUNITIES tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1953.
- Are donations to WNC COMMUNITIES tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does WNC COMMUNITIES file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of WNC COMMUNITIES due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did WNC COMMUNITIES last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of WNC COMMUNITIES?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names Jennifer L Ferre.
- Who are the officers and directors of WNC COMMUNITIES?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 21 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $94,186 (Jennifer L Ferre, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does WNC COMMUNITIES have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $4,553,895, expenses of $3,992,670 and total assets of $4,362,014 at year end.
Other nonprofits in ASHEVILLE
- FOOD CONNECTION INC EIN 81-4190128 · last filed 990 for 2025
- MEALS ON WHEELS OF ASHEVILLE AND BUNCOMBE COUNTY INC EIN 56-1115597 · last filed 990 for 2025
- THE UTOPIAN SEED PROJECT INC EIN 83-3696014 · last filed 990 for 2025
- ASHEVILLE POVERTY INITIATIVE EIN 81-0757744 · last filed 990 for 2025
- HOMEGOING FARMS EIN 99-3554892 · last filed 990 for 2025
- SOUTHEASTERN ANIMAL FIBER FAIR EIN 56-1800840 · last filed 990 for 2025
- WNC FOOD SYSTEMS COALITION INC EIN 93-2918410 · last filed 990-EZ for 2024
- FREE COUNTRY INC EIN 45-3206359 · last filed 990-N for 2025
All nonprofits in ASHEVILLE · North Carolina · Food, agriculture and nutrition