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Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Inc at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Public charity

Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Inc

Preserving, interpreting, and developing the heritage resources of the North Carolina mountains.

$143k
Granted FY2022
5
Grants FY2022
1
States reached
$102k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0190% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2022.

Arts & Culture$323kEnvironment$60kRecreation & Sports$30kEducation$21kOther$0
02FY2022 · 5 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2022

  • Under $10k2 grants · $13k
  • $10k–50k2 grants · $29k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $102k
$12,820
Median grant
1
States reached
$775k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
OTHER VARIOUS 5000$101,719
ALLEGHANY JAM$16,000
ALTAPASS FOUNDATION$12,820
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY$6,779
Individual grant recipient$6,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–17, $7k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 13%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 13%MACON COUNTY HERITAGE CENTER: $7k → 12%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

60%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$347k · 10 repeat orgs$232k to everyone else

10 repeat relationships: 2 still active in FY2022, 8 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2022 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

10
22

Total granted

$347k
$203k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+37%
+56%

Still filing today

90%
68%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2022, 80% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $29k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22
Arts & CultureEnvironmentEducationHuman ServicesYouth DevelopmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • WA
    WILL AND DENI MCINTYRE FOUNDATION
    3× · 2017–2021 · $47k · revenue +28%
  • MC
    Madison County Arts Council
    2× · 2019–2021 · $24k · revenue +147%
  • NC
    North Carolina Folklife Institute
    2× · 2019–2021 · $21k · revenue +163%

Funded once

  • SH
    SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS RESERVE INCgraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $16k · revenue +656%
  • SH
    SOUTHERN HIGHLAND HANDICRAFT GUILD
    one grant, 2018 · $16k · revenue -2%
  • BR
    BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY FOUNDATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $16k · revenue +140%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Upcountry History Museum

The upcountry history museum connects people, history and culture.

Arts & Culture
2
Rockingham County Historical Society Museum and Archives

The preservation of the heritage and history of Rockingham County, North Carolina

—
3
Appalachian Heritage Schools

Preserve culture and heritage Appalachia

Arts & Culture
4
Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Inc

Preserving, interpreting, and developing the heritage resources of the North Carolina mountains.

Environment
5
Holston Mountain Arts & Crafts Coop

preserve heritage of hand made crafts

Arts & Culture
6
The Piedmont Arts Association

To provide experiences in the visual and performing arts

—
7
South Carolina Artisans Center

Cultural and educational resource

—
8
Caldwell Arts Council Inc

To promote the arts in caldwell county, nc

—
9
Highland Center for the Arts
Arts & Culture
10
Traditional Arts in Upstate New York in

To explore and educate the public about traditional culture and folklife in northern new york.

Arts & Culture
11
Watauga County Arts Council

To sponsor and encourage the cultural arts in watauga county nc

—
12
Wilkes Playmakers Inc

Provide cultural and artistic programs for the public of Wilkes County, NC and the surrounding area

Arts & Culture
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Wilkes Heritage Museum Inc; the most unlike its peers is Southern Highlands Reserve Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

25 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 25 of the 35 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
12
Early backer (in before they grew)
25/25
Grantees still filing
22/25
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

OTHER VARIOUS 5000: $138,454 · OtherOTHER VARIOUS 5000Madison County Arts Council: $24,000 · OtherMadison County Arts CouncilSURRY ARTS COUNCIL: $18,000 · OtherSURRY ARTS COUNCILTOE RIVER ARTS COUNCIL INC: $12,000 · OtherWILKES HERITAGE MUSEUM INC: $10,000 · OtherCOVE CREEK PRESERVATION & DEV: $10,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $10,000 · Other+8 more: $55,550 · Other+8 moreWILL AND DENI MCINTYRE FOUNDATION: $47,000 · Arts & CultureWILL AND DENI MCINTYRE FOUNDATIONCENTER FOR CULTURAL PRESERVATION INC: $29,470 · Arts & CultureCENTER FOR CULTURAL PRESERVATION INCNorth Carolina Folklife Institute: $20,920 · Arts & CultureNorth Carolina Folklife InstituteJohn C Campbell Folk School Inc: $18,950 · Arts & CultureJohn C Campbell Folk School IncALLEGHANY JAM: $16,000 · Arts & CultureALLEGHANY JAMSOUTHERN HIGHLAND HANDICRAFT GUILD: $16,000 · Arts & CultureSOUTHERN HIGHLAND HANDICRAFT GUILDMuseum of the Cherokee People: $9,947 · Arts & CultureTHE BLOWING ROCK ART & HISTORY MUSEUM: $9,400 · Arts & CultureWestern North Carolina Historical Association Inc: $8,085 · Arts & CulturePenland School Of Craft: $7,850 · Arts & CultureJUNIOR APPALACHIAN MUSICIANS INC: $6,615 · Arts & CultureThe North Carolina Arboretum Society: $20,000 · EnvironmentThe North Carol…ALTAPASS FOUNDATION INC: $18,320 · EnvironmentALTAPASS FOUNDA…SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS RESERVE INC: $16,000 · EnvironmentSOUTHERN HIGHLA…BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY FOUNDATION: $16,000 · EnvironmentBLUE RIDGE PARK…Mainspring Conservation Trust Inc: $9,890 · EnvironmentMainspring Cons…LOST PROVINCE CENTER FOR THE CULTURAL ARTS: $9,614 · EducationWARREN WILSON COLLEGE: $5,639 · EducationTHE FOREST STEWARDS GUILD: $9,000 · Youth DevelopmentMacon County Heritage Center: $6,600 · Human Services
Other$278,004Arts & Culture$190,237Environment$80,210Education$15,253Youth Development$9,000Human Services$6,600

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetWILL AND DENI MCINTYRE FOUNDATION: $47,000 over 3y, 9.6% of budgetCENTER FOR CULTURAL PRESERVATION INC: $29,470 over 2y, 24% of budgetMadison County Arts Council: $24,000 over 2y, 5.4% of budgetNorth Carolina Folklife Institute: $20,920 over 2y, 12% of budgetJohn C Campbell Folk School Inc: $18,950 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetALTAPASS FOUNDATION INC: $18,320 over 2y, 6.5% of budgetALLEGHANY JAM: $16,000 over 1y, 12% of budgetSOUTHERN HIGHLAND HANDICRAFT GUILD: $16,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetBLUE RIDGE PARKWAY FOUNDATION: $16,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetTOE RIVER ARTS COUNCIL INC: $12,000 over 2y, 1.4% of budgetWILKES HERITAGE MUSEUM INC: $10,000 over 1y, 4.3% of budgetMuseum of the Cherokee People: $9,947 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetMainspring Conservation Trust Inc: $9,890 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetLOST PROVINCE CENTER FOR THE CULTURAL ARTS: $9,614 over 1y, 10% of budgetTHE BLOWING ROCK ART & HISTORY MUSEUM: $9,400 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetTHE FOREST STEWARDS GUILD: $9,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetWestern North Carolina Historical Association Inc: $8,085 over 1y, 14% of budgetJUNIOR APPALACHIAN MUSICIANS INC: $6,615 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetWARREN WILSON COLLEGE: $5,639 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Community Foundat…North Carolina Humani…The Cannon Foundation…Co Tua Marion S Covin…Dogwood Health TrustThe Winston-Salem Fou…North Carolina Commun…Duke Energy FoundationRaymond James Charita…American Endowment Fo…Vanguard Charitable E…Natl Christian Charit…
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina IncNC25.1× affinity10 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc · North Carolina Humanities Council · The Cannon Foundation Inc · Co Tua Marion S Covington Fdn · Dogwood Health Trust · The Winston-Salem Foundation · North Carolina Community Foundation · Duke Energy Foundation · Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund · American Endowment Foundation · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%2%6%14%25%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    12report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Inc?

    Find your warmest path to Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Inc through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 35 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2022, released 2022. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2025) is on record and reports no grant expense, so the figures above are from FY2022, the most recent year this funder made grants.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Blue Ridge National Heritage Area’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

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    The endowment market
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    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
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    where grant money is based, and what stays home