Nonprofit · EIN 64-0387161
THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE DEVELOPMENT LINK
Tax-exempt · COLUMBUS, MS 39703
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2025 | 990 | $3,533,351 | $3,174,545 | $358,806 | $7,990,051 | $2,688,808 | $5,301,243 |
| September 30, 2024 | 990 | $2,857,124 | $2,198,934 | $658,190 | $5,431,856 | $421,968 | $5,009,888 |
| September 30, 2023 | 990 | $2,760,807 | $2,749,745 | $11,062 | $4,418,788 | $67,090 | $4,351,698 |
| September 30, 2022 | 990 | $2,428,677 | $2,076,166 | $352,511 | $4,357,074 | $16,438 | $4,340,636 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $2,453,319
- of which government grants
- $1,856,686
- Membership dues
- $596,633
- Program service revenue
- $424,782
- Investment income
- $654,750
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $415,263
- Other revenue
- $500
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $1,463,810
- Other salaries and wages
- $195,262
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,917,923
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $181,540
- Accounting fees
- $49,715
- Occupancy
- $19,820
- Travel
- $23,661
- Depreciation
- $57,716
- Program services (functional)
- $2,283,958
- Management and general (functional)
- $689,144
- Fundraising (functional)
- $201,443
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $5,431,856
- Total assets, end of year
- $7,990,051
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $2,688,808
- Net assets, end of year
- $5,301,243
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $3,850,489
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $5,301,243
- Gross receipts
- $3,772,036
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 0
- Year formed
- 1959
- State of legal domicile
- MS
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 September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOE MAX HIGGINS | PRIOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Former | 50 | $430,325 | $75,535 |
| MERYL FISACKERLY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $188,750 | $19,935 |
| NEALIE YOUNG | EMPLOYEE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $144,091 | $20,182 |
| LEAH UPTON | OFFICER Officer | 40 | $118,750 | $14,777 |
| BLAKE HILL | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BRUFF SANDERS | V-CHAIR EX. COMMITTEE Trustee or director, Officer | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| AMY BERRY | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT CLARK | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BILLY MILICAN | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| ALBERT JETHROW | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN JEFFERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JERRY TONEY | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BAIN NICKELS | CHAIR EX. COMMITTEE Trustee or director, Officer | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN KEOWN | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JUSTIN CASANO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
19 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRIAN CLARK | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| JULIE BROWN | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| CAREY EDWARDS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| ANDY NICHOLS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| BILL WHITTLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| JULIE JORDAN | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| TIM WESTON | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| BART WISE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| HAYES RECTOR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| CAROLYN POSTON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| CHAD THOMAS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| BILL WEST | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| BRAD LOVE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| WILLIAM CORDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| JOE BEALL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| JOSH MCKAY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| KEN SMITH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| MARK CASTLEBERRY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| TYRONE ELLIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 29 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOE MAX HIGGINS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 50 | $503,828 | $84,535 |
| MERYL FISACKERLY | OFFICER Officer | 40 | $161,097 | $18,275 |
| NEALIE YOUNG | EMPLOYEE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $127,728 | $19,200 |
| LEAH UPTON | OFFICER Officer | 40 | $106,750 | $14,057 |
| BLAKE HILL | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BRUFF SANDER | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| MARY ANN BRIGGS | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT CLARK | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| LADONNA HELVESTON | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| ALBERT JETHROW | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN JEFFERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JERRY TONEY | CHAIR EX. COMMITTEE Trustee or director, Officer | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BAIN NICKELS | V-CHAIR EX. COMMITTEE Trustee or director, Officer | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN RUSH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JUSTIN CASANO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN CLARK | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JULIE BROWN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| CAREY EDWARDS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDY NICHOLS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BILL WHITTLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE HARDY WHITTLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| RUSSEL YOUNG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BART WISE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| HAYES RECTOR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE AMOS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| CHAD THOMAS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BILL WEST | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BRAD LOVE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| WILLIAM CORDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 29 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOE HIGGINS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 50 | $426,846 | $76,774 |
| MERYL FISACKERLY | OFFICER Officer | 40 | $139,530 | $15,794 |
| NEALIE YOUNG | EMPLOYEE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $121,496 | $7,993 |
| BLAKE HILL | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BRUFF SANDER | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| MARY ANN BRIGGS | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT CLARK | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| LADONNA HELVESTON | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| ALBERT JETHROW | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN JEFFERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JERRY TONEY | CHAIR EX. COMMITTEE Trustee or director, Officer | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BAIN NICKELS | V-CHAIR EX. COMMITTEE Trustee or director, Officer | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| CAROLYN POSTON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JUSTIN CASANO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN CLARK | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JULIE BROWN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| CAREY EDWARDS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| DOUG ROBERTSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BILL WHITTLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE HARDY WHITTLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| RUSSEL YOUNG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BART WISE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS POUND | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE AMOS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| CHAD THOMAS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BILL WEST | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| TYRONE ELLIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE GIBBONS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| WILLIAM CORDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2022: 31 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOE HIGGINS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 50 | $403,224 | $77,628 |
| MACAULAY A WHITAKER | EMPLOYEE Officer | 40 | $133,771 | $14,146 |
| MERYL FISACKERLY | OFFICER Officer | 40 | $111,500 | $13,147 |
| DON DURST | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BRUFF SANDER | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| DENNIS ERBY | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BRANDT GALLOWAY | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN MCCASKILL | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID PHILLIPS | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JERRY TONEY | V-CHAIR EX COMMITTEE Trustee or director, Officer | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BAIN NICKELS | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| CAROLYN POSTON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JUSTIN CASANO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN CLARK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JIMMY DAVIDSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| CAREY EDWARDS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| DOUG ROBERTSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BILL WHITTLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE HARDY WHITTLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| RUSSEL YOUNG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BART WISE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS POUND | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDREW DICHIARA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBIN MCCORMICK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| CHAD THOMAS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| BILL WEST | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| LEAH BROWN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| TYRONE ELLIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE GIBBONS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| WILLIAM CORDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| LADONNA HELVESTON | CHAIR EX. COMMITTEE Officer | 0 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 1328, COLUMBUS, MS 39703-1328
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- LEAH UPTON, 2100 AIRPORT ROAD, COLUMBUS, MS 39701
- Signed the 990
- LEAH UPTON, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
- Phone
- (662) 328-8369
- Return prepared by
- T E LOTT & COMPANY PA
Mission
THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE DEVELOPMENT LINK IS A VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE JOINED TOGETHER FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING THE ECONOMIC WELL BEING OF THE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITY OF COLUMBUS-LOWNDES COUNTY, WEST POINT-CLAY COUNTY, AND STARKVILLE-OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, MS.
Program accomplishments
- THE LINK ENCOURAGES, FOSTERS, AND ADVANCES ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND PROMOTES CIVIC PRIDE AND AWARENESS IN COLUMBUS AND LOWNDES COUNTY, MS, WEST POINT AND CLAY COUNTY, MS, AND STARKVILLE AND OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, MS.Expenses $2,283,958
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 September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 30, 2026 | February 15, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | September 30, 2025 | February 16, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | September 30, 2024 | February 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 64-0387161
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(6): Business league or chamber of commerce
- Donations deductible
- No
- Exempt since
- 1976
- Accounting year ends
- September
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $7,990,051
- Income (IRS master file)
- $3,772,036
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | September 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2023 | $2,760,807 | $2,749,745 | $4,418,788 | IRS |
| 990 | September 2022 | $2,428,677 | $2,076,166 | $4,357,074 | IRS |
| 990 | September 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS publishes only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years appear here as 990.tax collects the monthly files. 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.
Questions about THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE DEVELOPMENT LINK
- What is the EIN of THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE DEVELOPMENT LINK?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE DEVELOPMENT LINK is 64-0387161.
- Is THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE DEVELOPMENT LINK tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(6) since 1976.
- Are donations to THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE DEVELOPMENT LINK tax-deductible?
- No. The IRS master file says contributions to it are not deductible.
- Which annual return does THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE DEVELOPMENT LINK 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 THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE DEVELOPMENT LINK due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE DEVELOPMENT LINK last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE DEVELOPMENT LINK?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names LEAH UPTON.
- Who are the officers and directors of THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE DEVELOPMENT LINK?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 34 people; 4 received compensation from the organization, the highest $430,325 (JOE MAX HIGGINS, PRIOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE DEVELOPMENT LINK have?
- On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $3,533,351, expenses of $3,174,545 and total assets of $7,990,051 at year end.
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