2026-03-10T12:04:54-07:00 2025-06-30 202571677 CORLISS & SOLOMON PLLC 242 CHARLOTTE ST SUITE 1 ASHEVILLE NC 28801 990 2024-07-01 237412910 Friends of the WNC Nature Center Inc FRIE 8282598092 PO Box 19151 Asheville NC 28815 Kate Frost Executive Director 8282598092 2026-03-10 true true Todd Oldenburg P02281691 8282360206 2026-03-10 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Kate Frost PO Box 19151 Asheville NC 28815 1816368 false X wildwnc.org X 1975 NC The Friends is a conservation organization that inspires a passion to know more, care more, and do more for the wildlife of the Southern Appalachians. We advance the critical work of the Nature Center through fundraising, membership, outreach education, marketing and volunteer service. 13 13 17 60 0 0 921883 1347545 47314 64297 46622 51393 303178 215280 1318997 1678515 131591 412899 0 631384 708784 0 329177 288319 294205 1051294 1415888 267703 262627 2114777 2326486 482787 423976 1631990 1902510 The Friends is a conservation organization that inspires a passion to know more, care more, and do more for the wildlife of the Southern Appalachians. We advance the critical work of the Nature Center through fundraising, membership, outreach education, marketing and volunteer service. false false 874484 412899 64297 The Friends of the WNC Nature Center provided $760,309 to the WNC Nature Center in FY25. Donations were a combination of cash, services, in-kind, and volunteer hours. Through Friends support, the Nature Center finished and outfitted their new veterinary clinic; constructed the Gateway to the Southern Appalachians and Butterfly Pollinator Garden; and added necessary updates to the otter, black bear, and fox habitats. Breaking records set during The Great Flood of 1916, Tropical Storm Helene devastated the region in September 2024, and the WNC Nature Center was closed to the public for more than five months, reopening in March 2025. While the closure impacted attendance, membership numbers, and Gift Shop revenues, the Friends of the WNC Nature Center leaned into their mision of connecting people to the wildlife of the Southern Appalchians by providing hands-on, affordable outreach education to schools, libraries, and communities across the region. As a partner organization, the Friends organization operates the Gift Shop, Membership, Volunteer, and Outreach Education Programs and provides full marketing services to increase Nature Center admission numbers annually. 2025 was the WNC Nature Centers centennial year, and the 50th anniversary of the Friends. As part of the Gateway to the Southern Appalachians project, the side of the historic barn now tells the story of the WNC Nature Center with a colorful mural and a 75-foot history wall with panels sharing fun facts, important milestones, and photos and news articles from the past 100 years. 874484 true true false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true false false false false false false false true false false true true false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false true 9 0 true 17 true false false false false false true true false false false false false false X 13 13 false false false false false false false true true false false true true false true true true true false false NC X X Kate Frost 8282980182 75 Gashes Creek Rd Asheville NC 28805 Kate Frost Executive Director 40.00 X 77168 0 8452 Sarah Thomas-Moore President 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Ellen Patrick Vice President 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Jonathan Thompson Treasurer 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Amy Cocanour Secretary 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Scott Farkas Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 David Rodgers Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Katlin Moran Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Dacia Harris Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Beth Lane Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Kim Wood Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Laura McCue Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Salley Williamson Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Taylor Caulk Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 77168 0 8452 false false false 555477 24163 767905 64368 1347545 Program Events 611000 64297 0 0 64297 49901 0 49901 1492 1492 1492 0 0 1492 51414 24163 6268 45146 0 45146 293109 131585 161524 161524 Other Income 999999 8610 0 0 8610 8610 1678515 64297 0 266673 397246 397246 15653 15653 91321 50795 13686 26840 533876 293632 74743 165501 9771 7434 520 1817 27177 18209 8968 0 46639 26773 6180 13686 32885 0 32885 0 1073 0 1073 0 22745 0 22745 0 38382 9682 23763 4937 33830 11840 13532 8458 4227 4227 0 0 3784 0 3784 0 33148 20552 3315 9281 Board and Staff Expenses 7033 0 7033 0 Animal Enrichment 337 337 0 0 Event Expense 22695 0 0 22695 Membership Expenses 26831 0 0 26831 67235 18104 0 49131 1415888 874484 212227 329177 365551 319571 1410848 1699815 53523 38000 7790 79905 91666 11215 5350 51055 38277 16562 12778 177173 151516 2114777 2326486 72867 132019 357854 274097 52066 17860 482787 423976 X 1337463 1576225 294527 326285 1631990 1902510 2114777 2326486 262627 7893 X false true X true false X 0 522560 898029 837031 921883 1347545 4527048 0 5000 5000 0 0 0 10000 527560 903029 837031 921883 1347545 4537048 0 4537048 621 429 685 45565 49901 97201 0 15389 18034 18666 8610 60699 4694948 2192061 0.96640 0.96980 X 0 0 0 Pt II Ln 10 Other Income Part II, Line 10 Description: Other Income 2020: 15389. 2021: 18034. 2022: 18666. 2024: 8610. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 123795 0 10861 3570 1073 130013 92371 25000 7437 1013 123795 87088 5948 665 92371 38034 62000 -12226 720 87088 30816 7527 309 38034 1.00000 0.00000 0.00000 0 0 10261 6456 3805 40794 31821 8973 12778 Investment Community Foundation WNC 130013 Right of Use Asset 17446 Other Asset 4057 151516 Operating Lease Liability 17860 17860 X 1835005 7893 11817 137853 157563 1677442 1073 1073 1678515 1564485 11817 137853 149670 1414815 1073 1073 1415888 Pt V, Line 4 Annual distributions from the Community Foundation endowment are used for purposes approved annually by the Friends board. Pt X, Line 2 The Friends is exempt from federal income taxes under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under the Code, however, income from certain activities not related to an organizations tax-exempt purpose may be subject to taxation as unrelated business income. The Friends had no income from unrelated business activities during the 2024-2025 fiscal year and was, therefore, not required to file Federal Form 990-T (Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return). The Friends believes that it has appropriate support for all tax positions taken, and as such, does not have any uncertain tax positions that are material to the financial statements. Pt XI, Line 2d COGS; Fundraising expenses Pt XII, Line 2d COGS; Fundraising expenses Brews and Bears 75577 24163 51414 1801 1100 3367 75577 24163 51414 1801 1100 3367 6268 45146 true City of Asheville 70 Court Plaza Asheville NC 28801 566000224 11573 384673 FMV Initiatives/Enhancements Annual agreement w/COA 1 0 Hurricane Relief 2 15653 X Materials 25 57930 fair market value Complimentary Memberships 64 6438 fair market value false true false Pt VI, Line 11b The 990 is prepared by a CPA firm. The organizations board of directors and management reviews and approves the Form 990 prior to its filing. Pt VI, Line 12c The conflict of interest policy stipulates an annual review by the board of directors to ensure compliance with the policy. Pt VI, Line 15a The board of directors annually reviews the compensation for the organizations executive director to ensure the reasonableness of the compensation package. Comps provided by studies from AZA, Museums, Nonprofits, etc., based on budget size, organization size, etc. Pt VI, Line 18 The organizations Form 990 is available to the public through charity watchdog organizations. Copies are available upon written request. Pt VI, Line 19 The organization makes its governing documents, financial statements, and conflict of interest policy available to the public upon request.