Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc
We strive to enhance and promote economic vitality and quality of life in the Highlands community.
Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc at a glance
In short: Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc gave $155K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $31K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $155,000
- -63.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -37.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $31,000
- -40.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $1,630,458
- +3.4% 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.
How to apply to Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc
Who Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Performing Arts Center Inc ($50K). Together the top 5 received $155K.
Grant Size Distribution
16 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 16 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+10%). 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 $74K (2021) to $419K (2024). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $155K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Performing Arts Center Inc Highlands, NC | Marketing/Tourism Sponsorship | $50,000 |
| Highlands Chamber Music Festival Highlands, NC | Marketing/Tourism Sponsorship | $30,000 |
| Mountain Top Rotary Highlands, NC | Marketing/Tourism Sponsorship | $25,000 |
| The Bascom Highlands, NC | Marketing/Tourism Sponsorship | $25,000 |
| Highlands Motoring Festival Inc Highlands, NC | Marketing/Tourism Sponsorship | $25,000 |
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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 | $1,630,458 | $1,560,616 | $1,409,466 | $155,000 | 5 | $5,899 |
| 2024 | $1,576,320 | $1,616,835 | $1,721,515 | $418,500 | 8 | $1,832 |
| 2023 | $1,541,760 | $1,619,014 | $1,408,432 | $151,650 | 1 | $108 |
| 2022 | $1,310,841 | $1,592,422 | $1,273,752 | $140,521 | 1 | $146 |
| 2021 | $987,368 | $1,330,501 | $908,905 | $74,380 | 1 | $83 |
| 2020 | $566,387 | $897,706 | $945,035 | $167,893 | 1 | $19 |
About Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc
Based on IRS filings
Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc is a public charity, based in Highlands, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $155K. Net investment income was $6K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc is led by Kaye McHan, Executive Director on every filing since 2024; 1 of 10 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kaye McHan
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$89K (2024) → $96K (2025)
Blye Hunsinger
Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charlote Muir
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tricia Cox
Past Chair & Member
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
Chair → Past Chair & Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bryan Lewis
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leigh Hartman
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shayna Bigazzi
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Bubinic
Member
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Swift Bennett
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Upshaw
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Pat Gleeson (2020–2024) — Member
- Former: John Woods (2020–2023) — Past Chair
- Former: Elizabeth Swift (2021–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Anita Lupoli (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Mary Adair Trumbly (2020–2022) — Past Chair
- Former: Patricia Cox (2022) — Chair
- Former: Brad Spaulding (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Pat Turnbull (2020) — Director
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 $96K, to Kaye McHan (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc
How much does Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc give each year?
Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc gave $155K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $419K across 8 grants.
What is Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc's typical grant size?
Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $31,000, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc give grants?
Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Highlands, NC (5 grants).
Does Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Marketing/Tourism Sponsorship" (5 grants).
Who are Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc's largest grantees?
Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Performing Arts Center Inc ($50,000), Highlands Chamber Music Festival ($30,000) and Mountain Top Rotary ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc?
Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.6M.
What is Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc's EIN?
Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-0713509. 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 23, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?