Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Cultural Partners Support The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area worked diligently to support its cultural partners that were impacted by Hurricane Helene. Support from the NC Arts Foundation offered BRNHA the opportunity to provide stipends to 150 artists and programming support to four organizations that were devastated by the storm in Ashe, Rutherford, Madison, and Buncombe Counties. Blue Ridge Music Trails Partnered with the Jazz Foundation of America (JFA) to support traditional artisans after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Together we organized 11 performances in 9 locations throughout the 25-county BRNHA footprint. Through this effort BRNHA was able to provide work for 49 musicians and sound technicians and reach more than 3,800 people. Created partnerships with Rare Bird Farm and White Horse in Black Mountain for musical performances. Produced 20 BRMT Podcasts in partnership with WNCW Public Radio and WPVM Radio Produced the annual Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails magazine/festival guide with partner Smoky Mountain News.Blue Ridge Craft Trails: With grant funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission and Dogwood Health Trust, BRNHA promoted more than 350 craft artists and offered opportunities for hurricane impacted artists to exhibit their work for additional exposure and connection with buyers. Opportunities included: Exhibition at Mars Landing Galleries, featuring 28 artists impacted by Hurricane Helene Tale of Two Cities, a cultural exchange between New Orleans and Asheville commemorating Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Helene Earl Scruggs Music Festival, attracting more than 10,000 attendees and providing opportunities for BRCT artists to exhibit and sell their work as part of the three-day festival. A marketing partnership with non-profit Artsville USA expanded exposure by creating an online exhibition of BRCT's Mars Landing Craft Trails Exhibit the Tale of Two Cities Exhibit in New Orleans. To support community needs, BRNHA launched the Heritage Hearth program, resulting in 3,839 fiber-made items from more than 30 states, totaling 25,502 volunteer hours resulting in $854,045 match funding for the organization. We were amazed at the outpouring of support and care through this project. With support from media sponsors, Smoky Mountain News published its first ever Blue Ridge Craft Trails Magazine. Offered 5 peer-to-peer networking events and artists talks for creative entrepreneurs around the region reaching more than 70 people. Organized an online Holiday Market for Craft Artists, increasing participation from 40 to 66 artists. Continued to work with the Appalachian Regional Commission Office in Washington DC to change out art works provided by Blue Ridge Craft Trails partners. Marketing and Visitor Services Managed marketing partnerships with Alleghany, Graham and McDowell Counties resulting in branded videos, itineraries, media opportunities, and social media campaigns focused on the Blue Ridge Craft Trails and the Blue Ridge Music Trails. Printed small-run updates to its Asheville Regional Map and distributed 100,000 to area hotels, welcome centers, and tourist attractions. Provided visitor services at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center in Asheville, including brochure distribution, responding to phone and email inquiries, and working with partners to receive and stock their visitor brochures. Visitorship was down because of the hurricane and only 57,000 visited. Hosted one group tour at the Visitor Center attracting 63 people. Provided visitor information at the Asheville Outlets through partner brochure distribution and continued distribution of BRNHA visitor materials to regional and state-wide welcome centers, tourist attractions, music, and craft venues. Asheville Outlets contract ended Summer 2025. Thanks to support from the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources BRNHA continued to highlight its cultural trails through short videos at five NC Welcome Centers in North Caroli

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 80.6%; rating input score 81
• Program expense ratio: 93%; rating input score 93
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 13.3%; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.98; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.17; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 14.1%; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -0.6% per year; rating input score 0; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 0.6% per year; rating input score 100; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -2.6% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings