Vandalia Heritage Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

Thomas revitalization initiative - soon after its inception in 1998, vhf began investing significant resources toward revitalization efforts in thomas, wv, a small, rural mountain community in the heart of central appalachia. When vhf initiated its first efforts in thomas, there were very few occupied commercial storefronts and not much tourism activity. Since then, vhf has preserved and stabilized numerous historic structures in the downtown (historic) commercial district, as well as on douglas road, a mile from downtown. These include properties owned by vhf, including the 1900 buxton & landstreet building or "b&l" (the former davis coal & coke company store); the 1920's peacock (formerly dibacco) building; and the later sagace building. All of these underwent complete renovations to accommodate both small business and residential uses. Vhf also invested its own funding in stabilizing other important local historic properties (owned by non-profits or local government), including cottrill's opera house on front street and the "engineering building" (formerly the davis coal & coke administration building adjacent to the b&l. As the dc&c flagship and one of the most prominent buildings architecturally in tucker county, the b&l is now listed on the national register of historic places and is one of the few remaining coal company stores. As new renovations are now required, vhf is focusing its attention on the b&l and has additional plans that could convert the upper level to affordable, short-term lodging to accommodate the growing tourism economy locally. The lower level features an art gallery and historic displays and due to the proximity of the nearby blackwater river and blackwater heritage trail, the b&l can also serve as a visitors' center and trailhead location. Additional exterior and interior amenities are planned for the site that will provide support to local small businesses, with a focus on the arts and outdoor recreationall in a manner that is compatible with preserving the important coal and coke industrial heritage of the area while educating new visitors.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: Limited
• Program expense ratio: 75%; rating input score 75
• 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: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 75%; rating input score 75; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -405.4%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 14.31; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.12; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 2.6%; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -9.7% per year; rating input score 0; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: Limited
• Asset growth: -12.4% per year; rating input score 0; 11th percentile among comparable filings