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Nonprofiteer
← UPSTATE FOREVER

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by UPSTATE FOREVER.

Totals

Total revenue
$3,966,855
Total expenses
$4,432,831
Contributions and grants received
$3,674,930
Grants paid
$1,336,980
Program service revenue
$25,245
Investment income
$266,680
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$9,434,451
Total liabilities, end of year
$155,180
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$9,279,271
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$3,632,577
Management and general expenses
$264,096
Fundraising expenses
$536,158
Program service expenses (Part III)
$3,632,577

Program services were 81.9% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $1,268,106

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $2,406,824

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $383,983

  • 2a · Program service revenue: PROGRAM ADMIN FEES

    total $25,245 · related or exempt $25,245

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $266,680 · excluded $266,680

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $542,480 · program services $542,480

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $794,500 · program services $794,500

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $288,096 · program services $94,912 · management and general $121,622 · fundraising $71,562

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,555,955 · program services $1,212,311 · management and general $131,080 · fundraising $212,564

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $49,740 · program services $34,622 · management and general $9,599 · fundraising $5,519

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $86,882 · program services $65,222 · management and general $8,933 · fundraising $12,727

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $134,374 · program services $97,145 · management and general $16,052 · fundraising $21,177

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $26,485 · program services $26,485

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $57,490 · management and general $57,490

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $129,645 · program services $129,645

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $45,000 · fundraising $45,000

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $34,215 · management and general $34,215

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $240,422 · program services $186,399 · management and general $23,349 · fundraising $30,674

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $50,202 · program services $32,636 · management and general $4,996 · fundraising $12,570

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $125,181 · program services $69,112 · management and general $26,435 · fundraising $29,634

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $43,484 · program services $24,786 · management and general $16,792 · fundraising $1,906

  • 17 · Travel

    total $47,712 · program services $42,140 · management and general $1,304 · fundraising $4,268

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $67,384 · program services $26,993 · management and general $3,609 · fundraising $36,782

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $23,664 · management and general $23,664

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $37,721 · program services $12,450 · management and general $24,971 · fundraising $300

  • 24a · Other expenses: ORGANIZATIONAL DUES

    total $31,302 · program services $28,438 · management and general $2,864

  • 24b · Other expenses: EDUCATION/TRAINING

    total $10,661 · program services $10,229 · management and general $89 · fundraising $343

  • 24c · Other expenses: OVERHEAD ALLOCATION

    program services $198,464 · management and general -$243,551 · fundraising $45,087

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $10,236 · program services $3,608 · management and general $583 · fundraising $6,045

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $500,873 · end of year $348,217

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $1,161,053 · end of year $1,209,617

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,540,442 · end of year $1,444,629

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $1,562 · end of year $15,278

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $876,998

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $322,230

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $555,903 · end of year $554,768

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $5,664,390 · end of year $5,847,598

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $17,974

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $16,803 · end of year $14,344

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $81,807 · end of year $155,180

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $4,874,505 · end of year $4,297,397

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $4,502,688 · end of year $4,981,874

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

UPSTATE FOREVER IS A CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO PROTECT CRITICAL LANDS, WATERS, AND THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF THE UPSTATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

  • THE UPSTATE FOREVER LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM IS ACCREDITED BY THE LAND TRUST ACCREDITATION COMMISSION AND HAS PROTECTED 32,102 ACRES THROUGH 171 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN THE UPSTATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 30% OF THE EASEMENTS PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS AND 24% ARE WORKING FARMS. IN 2024, UPSTATE FOREVER HELPED TO PRESERVE 9 PROJECTS TOTALING ABOUT 1,149 ACRES AND CONTINUES THEIR LAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO HELP RESTORE HABITAT ON CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROPERTIES.

    Expenses $2,182,447 · Grants $1,330,980 · Revenue $25,245

  • IN 2024, THE CLEAN WATER PROGRAM COLLABORATED WITH DRINKING WATER UTILITIES AS WELL AS LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO INSTALL A VARIETY OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO REDUCE WATER POLLUTION AND PERMANENTLY PROTECT LAND IN THE TYGER RIVER WATERSHED IN GREENVILLE AND SPARTANBURG COUNTIES AND THE THREE AND TWENTY CREEK WATERSHED IN ANDERSON AND PICKENS COUNTIES, SOUTH CAROLINA. THE PROGRAM ALSO INITIATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PLAN FOR THE ROCKY RIVER WATERSHED IN ANDERSON AND ABBEVILLE COUNTIES, SOUTH CAROLINA. THE CLEAN WATER PROGRAM ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE WATER PLAN BY SERVING ON THE SALUDA AND UPPER SAVANNAH RIVER BASIN COUNCILS TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE WATER RESOURCE ALLOCATION PLANS FOR THESE BASINS. THE PROGRAM ALSO SERVED ON THE BOARDS OF THE ANDERSON WATER COUNCIL, LAKE KEOWEE SOURCE WATER PROTECTION TEAM, THE LAKE HARTWELL PARTNERS FOR CLEAN WATER AND PARTNERED WITH THE REEDY RIVER WATER QUALITY GROUP TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY THROUGH LOCAL ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND PROJECT ENGAGEMENT.

    Expenses $378,233

  • IN 2024, LAND PLANNING AND POLICY STAFF ENGAGED WITH LOCAL ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS AND GOVERNMENT STAFF ON ISSUES RELATED TO SMARTER LAND DEVELOPMENT, WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS ON ADVANCING POLICIES THAT IMPLEMENT CITY AND COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLANS. THEY PARTNERED ON EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS WITH TRANSIT AND HOUSING ADVOCATES AND FACILITATED A CITIZENS PLANNING ACADEMY TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS ON LOCAL LAND USE POLICIES AND AVENUES TO INFLUENCE DECISION-MAKING. SOCIAL MEDIA AND DEDICATED EMAIL LISTS WERE USED TO ENGAGE AND ACTIVATE RESIDENTS. THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED THE ADOPTION OF A NEW CITY OF GREENVILLE DEVELOPMENT CODE, A UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE IN THE CITY OF GREER, A NEW ZONING ORDINANCE IN THE CITY OF WOODRUFF, AND AN IMPROVED TREE AND LANDSCAPING ORDINANCE IN THE CITY OF ANDERSON. CITIZENS WERE MOBILIZED TO INFLUENCE THE CITY OF GREENVILLE'S PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT CODE AND TO ADVANCE STRENGTHENED REQUIREMENTS FOR RIPARIAN BUFFERS IN GREENVILLE COUNTY. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PARTICIPATED IN OTHER LOCAL PLANNING AND POLICY EFFORTS IN THE CITY OF SPARTANBURG AND SPARTANBURG COUNTY.

    Expenses $280,400

  • OTHER WORK OF UPSTATE FOREVER INCLUDES ADVOCACY FOR PROJECTS THAT IMPACT THE UPSTATE COMMUNITY INCLUDING THE PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE THE SALUDA GRADE RAIL TRAIL PROJECT, ADMINISTRATION OF THE UPSTATE LAND CONSERVATION FUND (ULCF), THE ENERGY AND STATE POLICY PROGRAM THAT MAINTAINS A LEGISLATIVE FOCUS OF KEEPING UPSTATE CITIZENS AWARE OF ISSUES THAT AFFECT DAILY LIFE AND THE HEALTH OF THE UPSTATE COMMUNITY.

    Expenses $791,497 · Grants $6,000

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • ALDON KNIGHT

    EXECUTIVE DI

    Total calculated
    $137,815
    From this org
    $133,765
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,050
    Hours/week
    40

  • JOY DICKERSON

    FINANCIAL DI

    Total calculated
    $109,193
    From this org
    $96,538
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,655
    Hours/week
    40

  • LISA HALLO

    DEPUTY DIREC

    Total calculated
    $106,055
    From this org
    $102,875
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $3,180
    Hours/week
    40

  • ANDREA COOPER

    EXEC DIR JAN

    Total calculated
    $41,090
    From this org
    $39,591
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $1,499
    Hours/week
    40

  • JOHN KEITH

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • ALLEN JACOBY

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • EVAN CRAMER

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • JEFF TILLERSON

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • BOB BARETO

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • JOHN BAUKNIGHT IV

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • MIKE BAUR

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • PHIL FEISAL

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • STINSON FERGUSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • MARGARET HARRISON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • GLENN HILLIARD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • TOM KESTER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • KATE KONOPASEK

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • ERWIN MADDREY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • CHRISTINE NACHMAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • MARK WESSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those.

Grants on this return

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
27 October 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.0
Source object
202533039349302258

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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