Nonprofit · EIN 57-1070433
UPSTATE FOREVER
Tax-exempt · GREENVILLE, SC 29601
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $7,284,433 | $7,691,756 | -$407,323 | $9,505,667 | $88,315 | $9,417,352 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $3,966,855 | $4,432,831 | -$465,976 | $9,434,451 | $155,180 | $9,279,271 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $4,583,091 | $3,162,353 | $1,420,738 | $9,459,000 | $81,807 | $9,377,193 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $6,625,405
- of which government grants
- $4,861,292
- Program service revenue
- $47,250
- Investment income
- $239,778
- Other revenue
- $372,000
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $4,317,625
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $257,558
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,745,068
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $2,279,547
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $30,694
- Occupancy
- $44,195
- Travel
- $48,888
- Depreciation
- $26,220
- Program services (functional)
- $6,967,244
- Management and general (functional)
- $202,268
- Fundraising (functional)
- $522,244
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $9,434,451
- Total assets, end of year
- $9,505,667
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $88,315
- Net assets, end of year
- $9,417,352
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $528,549
- Publicly traded securities
- $6,488,849
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $3,959,880
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $5,457,472
- Gross receipts
- $7,284,433
- Employees
- 32
- Volunteers
- 312
- Year formed
- 1998
- State of legal domicile
- SC
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 December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALDON KNIGHT | EXECUTIVE DI Officer | 40 | $143,670 | $0 |
| MORGAN MARTIN | DEVELOPMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $120,000 | $2,631 |
| JOY DICKERSON | FINANCIAL DI Officer | 40 | $102,128 | $11,760 |
| LISA HALLO | DEPUTY EXEC. Highest-paid employee | 40 | $108,050 | $3,339 |
| ALLEN JACOBY | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN BAUKNIGHT IV | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| EVAN CRAMER | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFF TILLERSON | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BOB BARRETO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE BAUR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| PHIL FEISAL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| STINSON FERGUSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MARGARET HARRISON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| GLENN HILLIARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN KEITH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
7 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOM KESTER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| KATE KONOPASEK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| MAURIE LAWRENCE | DIRECTOR (FR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| ERWIN MADDREY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| CHRISTINE NACHMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| GARY POLIAKOFF | DIRECTOR (FR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| MARK WESSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 20 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALDON KNIGHT | EXECUTIVE DI Officer | 40 | $133,765 | $4,050 |
| JOY DICKERSON | FINANCIAL DI Officer | 40 | $96,538 | $12,655 |
| LISA HALLO | DEPUTY DIREC Highest-paid employee | 40 | $102,875 | $3,180 |
| ANDREA COOPER | EXEC DIR JAN Officer | 40 | $39,591 | $1,499 |
| JOHN KEITH | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ALLEN JACOBY | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| EVAN CRAMER | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFF TILLERSON | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BOB BARETO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN BAUKNIGHT IV | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE BAUR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| PHIL FEISAL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| STINSON FERGUSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MARGARET HARRISON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| GLENN HILLIARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TOM KESTER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| KATE KONOPASEK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ERWIN MADDREY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRISTINE NACHMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MARK WESSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 20 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANDREA COOPER | EXECUTIVE DI Officer | 40 | $128,401 | $5,681 |
| ALDON KNIGHT | DEVELOPMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $124,545 | $3,750 |
| JOY DICKERSON | FINANCIAL DI Officer | 40 | $91,513 | $14,469 |
| JOHN KEITH | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ALLEN JACOBY | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TOM KESTER | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFF TILLERSON | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BOB BARETO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN BAUKNIGHT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE BAUR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| EVAN CRAMER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| SAM ERWIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| PHIL FEISAL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MARY HAQUE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MARGARET HARRISON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| GLENN HILLIARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| KATE KONOPASEK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ERWIN MADDREY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRIS RICHARDSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| MARK WESSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 507 PETTIGRU ST, GREENVILLE, SC 29601-3116
- In care of
- % BRAD WYCHE
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- ALDON KNIGHT, 507 PETTIGRU STREET, GREENVILLE, SC 29601
- Signed the 990
- ALDON KNIGHT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (864) 250-0500
- Website
- WWW.UPSTATEFOREVER.ORG
- Return prepared by
- GREENE FINNEY CAULEY LLP
Mission
UPSTATE FOREVER IS A CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO PROTECT CRITICAL LANDS, WATERS, AND THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF THE UPSTATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Program accomplishments
- AS OF DEC 31, 2025, THE UPSTATE FOREVER LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM IS ACCREDITED BY THE LAND TRUST ACCREDITATION COMMISSION AND HAS PROTECTED 34,872 ACRES THROUGH 183 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN THE UPSTATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 30% OF THE EASEMENTS PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS AND 24% ARE WORKING FARMS. IN 2025, UPSTATE FOREVER HELPED TO PRESERVE 12 PROJECTS TOTALING ABOUT 2,767 ACRES AND CONTINUES THEIR LAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO HELP RESTORE HABITAT ON CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROPERTIES.Expenses $5,240,672 · grants $4,314,025 · revenue $47,250
- IN 2025, THE CLEAN WATER PROGRAM COLLABORATED WITH DRINKING WATER UTILITIES AS WELL AS LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO INSTALL A VARIETY OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO REDUCE WATER POLLUTION AND PERMANENTLY PROTECTING LAND IN THE TYGER RIVER WATERSHED IN GREENVILLE AND SPARTANBURG COUNTIES AND THE THREE AND TWENTY CREEK WATERSHED IN ANDERSON AND PICKENS COUNTIES, SOUTH CAROLINA. THE PROGRAM ALSO INITIATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PLAN FOR THE ROCKY RIVER WATERSHED IN ANDERSON AND ABBEVILLE COUNTIES, SOUTH CAROLINA. THE CLEAN WATER PROGRAM ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE WATER PLAN BY SERVING ON THE SALUDA AND UPPER SAVANNAH RIVER BASIN COUNCILS TO DEVELOP A SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE WATER RESOURCE ALLOCATION PLANS FOR THESE BASINS. THE PROGRAM ALSO SERVED ON THE BOARDS OF THE ANDERSON WATER COUNCIL, LAKE KEOWEE SOURCE WATER PROTECTION TEAM, THE LAKE HARTWELL PARTNERS FOR CLEAN WATER AND PARTNERED WITH THE REEDY RIVER WATER QUALITY GROUP TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY THROUGH LOCAL ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND PROJECT ENGAGEMENT.Expenses $427,324
- IN 2025, LAND PLANNING AND POLICY STAFF ENGAGED WITH LOCAL ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS AND GOVERNMENT STAFF ON ISSUES RELATED TO SMARTER LAND DEVELOPMENT, WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS ON ADVANCING POLICIES THAT IMPLEMENT CITY AND COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLANS.THEY PARTNERED ON EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS WITH TRANSIT AND HOUSING ADVOCATES AND FACILITATED A CITIZENS PLANNING ACADEMY TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS ON LOCAL LAND USE POLICIES AND AVENUES TO INFLUENCE DECISION-MAKING. SOCIAL MEDIA AND DEDICATED EMAIL LISTS WERE USED TO ENGAGE AND ACTIVATE RESIDENTS. THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED THE ADOPTION OF A NEW CITY OF GREENVILLE DEVELOPMENT CODE, A UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE IN THE CITY OF GREER, A NEW ZONING ORDINANCE IN THE CITY OF WOODRUFF, AND AN IMPROVED TREE AND LANDSCAPING ORDINANCE IN THE CITY OF ANDERSON. CITIZENS WERE MOBILIZED TO INFLUENCE THE CITY OF GREENVILLE'S PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT CODE AND TO ADVANCE STRENGTHENED REQUIREMENTS FOR RIPARIAN BUFFERS IN GREENVILLE COUNTY. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PARTICIPATED IN OTHER LOCAL PLANNING AND POLICY EFFORTS IN THE CITY OF SPARTANBURG AND SPARTANBURG COUNTY.Expenses $291,289 · grants $600
- OTHER WORK OF UPSTATE FOREVER INCLUDES ADVOCACY FOR PROJECTS THAT IMPACT THE UPSTATE COMMUNITY INCLUDING THE PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE THE SALUDA GRADE RAIL TRAIL PROJECT, ADMINISTRATION OF THE UPSTATE LAND CONSERVATION FUND (ULCF), THE ENERGY AND STATE POLICY PROGRAM THAT MAINTAINS A LEGISLATIVE FOCUS OF KEEPING UPSTATE CITIZENS AWARE OF ISSUES THAT AFFECT DAILY LIFE, AND THE HEALTH OF THE UPSTATE COMMUNITY.Expenses $1,007,959 · grants $3,000
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 March, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | March 31, 2026 | August 17, 2026 | Not on file |
| 2024 | March 31, 2025 | August 15, 2025 | Check at the IRS |
| 2023 | March 31, 2024 | August 15, 2024 | Check at the IRS |
IRS record
- EIN
- 57-1070433
- 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
- 1998
- Accounting year ends
- March
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Environment (C013)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $9,505,667
- Income (IRS master file)
- $7,284,433
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $7,284,433 | $7,691,756 | $9,505,667 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $3,966,855 | $4,432,831 | $9,434,451 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $4,583,091 | $3,162,353 | $9,459,000 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $2,494,400 | $2,690,777 | $7,494,973 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | 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 57-1070433).
Questions about UPSTATE FOREVER
- What is the EIN of UPSTATE FOREVER?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of UPSTATE FOREVER is 57-1070433.
- Is UPSTATE FOREVER tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1998.
- Are donations to UPSTATE FOREVER tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does UPSTATE FOREVER 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 UPSTATE FOREVER due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending March 31, 2026) is due August 17, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did UPSTATE FOREVER last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of UPSTATE FOREVER?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names ALDON KNIGHT.
- Who are the officers and directors of UPSTATE FOREVER?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 22 people; 4 received compensation from the organization, the highest $143,670 (ALDON KNIGHT, EXECUTIVE DI).
- How much revenue does UPSTATE FOREVER have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $7,284,433, expenses of $7,691,756 and total assets of $9,505,667 at year end.
Other nonprofits in GREENVILLE
- UNITED STATES ENDOWMENT FORFORESTRY AND COMMUNITIES INC EIN 20-5583324 · last filed 990 for 2024
- NATURALAND TRUST EIN 23-7293632 · last filed 990 for 2025
- TREES GREENVILLE INC EIN 16-1718587 · last filed 990 for 2025
- FRIENDS OF CLEVELAND PARK INC EIN 92-2324779 · last filed 990 for 2024
- UPSTATE GREENWAYS AND TRAILS ALLIANCE EIN 84-3900245 · last filed 990 for 2024
- RECRAFT CREATIVE REUSE CENTER EIN 83-2639222 · last filed 990 for 2025
- CAROLINA RECYCLING ASSOCIATION EIN 56-1600416 · last filed 990 for 2025
- GRACE HARBOR MINISTRIES INC EIN 57-1017178 · last filed 990-EZ for 2025