Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

The principal program services are as follows:1) preservation of grandfather mountain by protecting and monitoring endangered species, eradicating and managing invasive species, creating and implementing a resource management action plan, reducing light pollution in the night sky, developing and executing citizen science programs to better understand our natural communities, preserving our forests to increase carbon sequestration and seeking ways to reduce our greenhouse emissions from the nature park. 2) active participation in the southern appalachian man and biosphere program, a unit of the unesco man and biosphere program, work collaboratively with community partners, agencies and non-profit organizations to determine best practices in natural resource management. 3) educating the public through hands-on immersive environmental education experiences both in the field on grandfather mountain and in school classrooms across the region. Education staff work closely with teachers and other community partners to provide high quality educational experiences that expand learners' understanding of the natural world. Educational curriculum for grades k-12 with two new in-depth partnerships with all first grade students through a program called wild watch in all avery county, nc elementary schools to better understand their local natural ecosystems and the flora and fauna that live here. Growing educational partnerships for 5th grade students the ecowatch program.4) operating the nature park for public enrichment, enjoyment and understanding. Provide ongoing maintenance and upkeep, adequate staffing levels to provide high-level experiences in one of the most biologically diverse mountains in the eastern united states. Park engagement opportunities include native animal exhibits, natural history museum exhibits, cultural museum exhibits, gift shops, restaurant and food service, miles of hiking trails, paved road and walkways, special events, and the historic mile high swinging bridge. Work in conjunction with the adjacent grandfather mountain state park to provide emergency response support, educational programs and trail maintenance.5) partner and collaborate with organizations and agencies within the community to form and nurture relationships with those who share the foundation's values, including the grandfather mountain highland games, blue ridge conservancy, blue ridge natural heritage area, North Carolina audubon, blue ridge parkway, lees-mcrae college, appalachian state university, mayland community college, chambers of commerce in the local region, girl scouts of the USA and other organizations. Promote a family culture where employees feel a sense of ownership of our mission, pride, value and satisfaction in their daily activities and in their contributions to the foundation's mission. Act as an economic driver within the region by positively influencing the local economy by drawing visitors to grandfather mountain. Engage with donors and operate fundraising campaigns to further our mission of inspiring conservation of the natural world by helping guests explore, understand and value the wonders of grandfather mountain.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 95.2%; rating input score 95
• Program expense ratio: 85.6%; rating input score 86
• Fundraising efficiency: $16.8 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• 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; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 9.7%; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 4.02; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 93; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 2.5%; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 12.6% per year; rating input score 100; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7.8% per year; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 16.1% per year; rating input score 100; 83rd percentile among comparable filings