Nonprofit · EIN 81-0757744
ASHEVILLE POVERTY INITIATIVE
Tax-exempt · ASHEVILLE, NC 28806
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $604,660 | $412,399 | $192,261 | $686,666 | $10,577 | $676,089 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $548,987 | $326,429 | $222,558 | $499,950 | $16,122 | $483,828 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $216,222 | $197,647 | $18,575 | $268,588 | $7,318 | $261,270 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $603,845
- of which government grants
- $3,016
- Program service revenue
- $3,024
- Investment income
- $12,326
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$17,399
- Net income from gaming
- $2,447
- Net income from sales of inventory
- -$254
- Other revenue
- -$14,535
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $340
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $86,000
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $279,603
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $2,150
- Accounting fees
- $5,230
- Occupancy
- $53,414
- Travel
- $1,889
- Depreciation
- $8,093
- Program services (functional)
- $342,479
- Management and general (functional)
- $32,004
- Fundraising (functional)
- $37,916
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $499,950
- Total assets, end of year
- $686,666
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $10,577
- Net assets, end of year
- $676,089
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $37,669
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $522,691
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $153,398
- Gross receipts
- $631,261
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 100
- Year formed
- 2016
- 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 December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Williamson | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $86,000 |
| Kimberleigh Wells | Board Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
| Philip Leonard | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 20 | $0 |
| Bill Buchanan | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Kyle Yoder | Incoming Treasurer Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| TJ Amos | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Micah Blaise | Board Member - left mid-year Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Anson Cooke | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Leslee Johnson | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Steve Leventer | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Shaad Bellamy | Board Member - left mid-year Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Shunyu Huang | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Stacey Sparks | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Andy Thomas | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Taija Ventrella | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 10 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Williamson | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $71,032 |
| Shaad Bellamy | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $1,633 |
| TJ Amos | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $506 |
| Kimberleigh Wells | Board Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| Philip Leonard | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 20 | $0 |
| Bill Buchanan | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Melissa Harris | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Steve Leventer | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Shunyu Huang | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Taija Ventrella | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberleigh Wells | Board Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 |
| Philip Leonard | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 20 | $0 |
| Bill Buchanan | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Melissa Harris | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| TJ Amos | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Steve Leventer | Board Member Trustee or director | 20 | $0 |
| Michael Poulos | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 610 HAYWOOD RD STE B, ASHEVILLE, NC 28806-3269
- In care of
- % SHANNON SPENCER
- Mailing address (990-N for 2016)
- 789 Merrimon Ave, Asheville NC 28804
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Kyle Yoder, 610 Haywood Road Ste B, Asheville, NC 28806
- Principal officer (990-N for 2016)
- Shannon Spencer, 789 Merrimon Ave, Asheville NC 28804
- Signed the 990
- Kyle Yoder, Treasurer
- Phone
- (828) 222-0393
- Return prepared by
- CORLISS & SOLOMON PLLC
Mission
The mission of Asheville Poverty Initiative is to build community and educate about the realities of poverty.
Program accomplishments
- Asheville Poverty Initiative advances its mission to build community and educate about the realities of poverty through two primary programs: 12 Baskets Cafe and the Realities of Poverty Education Program. In 2025, services expanded following Tropical Storm Helene, providing consistent access to food, resources, and community connection while elevating the voices of individuals with lived experience of poverty. Programs were supported by approximately 100 volunteers contributing about 10,500 hours of service.Expenses $342,479 · grants $340 · revenue $3,024
- 12 Baskets Cafe provided free community meals and grocery distribution rooted in dignity and abundance. In 2025, the cafe served approximately 200 meals per lunch service, totaling more than 40,000 meals. The free grocery store distributed approximately 24,000 bags of groceries annually, while partnerships with local food businesses enabled the program to divert an estimated 180,000 pounds of food each year from landfills and redistribute it to community members. The cafe also hosted mutual aid partners and supportive services that foster community connection and access to resources.
- The Realities of Poverty Education Program hosted 35 educational activities reaching approximately 640 participants through poverty walks, panel discussions, and storytelling events led by educators with lived experience. Program leaders also shared community perspectives before Asheville City Council to encourage compassionate responses to poverty and homelessness.
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 December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 81-0757744
- 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
- 2016
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Food, agriculture and nutrition (K34)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $686,666
- Income (IRS master file)
- $631,261
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $604,660 | $412,399 | $686,666 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $548,987 | $326,429 | $499,950 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $216,222 | $197,647 | $268,588 | XML |
| 990-EZ | December 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2016 Officer: Shannon Spencer | December 31, 2016 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
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 81-0757744).
Questions about ASHEVILLE POVERTY INITIATIVE
- What is the EIN of ASHEVILLE POVERTY INITIATIVE?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of ASHEVILLE POVERTY INITIATIVE is 81-0757744.
- Is ASHEVILLE POVERTY INITIATIVE tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2016.
- Are donations to ASHEVILLE POVERTY INITIATIVE tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does ASHEVILLE POVERTY INITIATIVE 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 ASHEVILLE POVERTY INITIATIVE due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did ASHEVILLE POVERTY INITIATIVE 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 ASHEVILLE POVERTY INITIATIVE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Kyle Yoder.
- Who are the officers and directors of ASHEVILLE POVERTY INITIATIVE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 15 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $86,000 (Ben Williamson, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does ASHEVILLE POVERTY INITIATIVE have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $604,660, expenses of $412,399 and total assets of $686,666 at year end.
Other nonprofits in ASHEVILLE
- WNC COMMUNITIES EIN 56-0797766 · last filed 990 for 2025
- 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
- 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