Upstate Forever

Analysis

Upstate Forever is a registered charity in United States, based in Greenville, SC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in December 1998, 28 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment, which this site groups under environment and conservation. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Upstate Forever reported income of $4.6m and spending of $3.2m, leaving 31% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $2.0m to $4.6m (+132%), an average of +23% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 84%. Over the whole period it spent 94% of the income it received.

Among 10,430 United States charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Upstate Forever sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 92nd percentile, and in the 94th percentile within SC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Mothers Out Front Inc ($4.6m), Creo Family Office Syndicate ($4.6m) and Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute ($4.6m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 95% and program service revenue 0.4% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $240k (7.6% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $1.5m. It paid $165k in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $9.5m against liabilities of $82k, net assets of $9.4m. It reported 30 employees.