Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is the fundraising partner, 501(c)(3), for the blue ridge parkway, providing support for initiatives along the 469-mile route, including historical and cultural preservation, natural resource protection, visitor amenities, and education and outreach.
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation at a glance
In short: Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation gave $609K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $609K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $609,322
- -33.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $609,322
- -33.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $609,322
- Total assets
- $8,872,962
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Park Service ($609K).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 3 grants of 5 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation gives
- Giving grew 356% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $43K (2021) to $916K (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $609K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Park Service Asheville, NC | Financial Assistance | $609,322 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,872,962 | $5,473,623 | $4,322,130 | $609,322 | 1 | $201,005 |
| 2024 | $7,604,983 | $4,446,949 | $3,848,216 | $916,053 | 1 | $314,950 |
| 2023 | $7,122,212 | $3,324,137 | $3,198,507 | $896,302 | 1 | $176,520 |
| 2022 | $6,777,421 | $3,148,231 | $2,129,050 | $133,644 | 1 | $33,746 |
| 2021 | $6,030,068 | $2,573,105 | $1,959,403 | $43,202 | 1 | $49,319 |
| 2020 | $5,299,669 | $2,828,314 | $2,465,449 | $48,692 | 1 | $20,452 |
About Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Winston-Salem, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $8.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $609K. Net investment income was $201K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is led by Carolyn Ward, CEO on every filing since 2020; 1 of 17 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carolyn Ward
CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$130K (2020) → $172K (2025)
Greg Andeck
Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bob Lassiter
Trustee
Trustee → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Huff
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Barber
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ken McFadyen
Trustee
Trustee → Secretary, 2024
Secretary → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tommy Cabe
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles Hauser
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deanna Ballard
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marsha Hershman
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Hill
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bronwyn Lance
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Maloney
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Whitney Brown
Immediate Pa
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
Chair → Immediate Pa, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roberts Bass
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sam Johnson
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Houchins
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Bob Stout (2020–2024) — Immediate Pa
- Former: Julia Moore (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Tanya Pender (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Timothy Maloney (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Alfred Adams (2020–2022) — Immediate Pa
- Former: Billie Howell (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Jennifer Zuckerman (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Jerry Starnes (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Jim McDowell (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Jim Newlin (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: John Mitchell (2020–2022) — Chair
- Former: Paul Bonesteel (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Rebecca Reeve (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Craig Lancaster (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Cynthia Tessien (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Tanya Marie Cummings (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Brad Wilson (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $172K, to Carolyn Ward (CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
How much does Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation give each year?
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation gave $609K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $916K across 1 grant.
How large is Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation?
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation reported $8.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.5M.
What is Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation?
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Winston-Salem, NC. It holds $8.9M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation operate?
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has awarded grants in North Carolina.
What is Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation's EIN?
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1512730. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 25, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 31, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 18, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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