Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
To conserve the unique plant and animal habitat, clean water, farmland, scenic beauty, and places for all people to enjoy outdoor recreation in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, enduring for future generations. Continued-
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy at a glance
In short: Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy gave $19K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $18,500
- -89.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,500
- -79.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $18,500
- Total assets
- $148,373,858
- +18.7% 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 Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Bonesteel Films Inc ($19K).
Grant Size Distribution
9 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 4 grants of 9 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
How Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy gives
- Giving fell 83% 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $19K (2025) to $811K (2023). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $19K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bonesteel Films Inc Asheville, NC | George Masa documentary | $18,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $148,373,858 | $30,646,831 | $8,457,147 | $18,500 | 1 | $1,715,907 |
| 2024 | $125,041,070 | $47,982,742 | $4,225,803 | $182,463 | 2 | $722,180 |
| 2023 | $80,376,793 | $10,962,249 | $3,782,111 | $810,972 | 1 | $64,255 |
| 2022 | $74,900,022 | $12,655,425 | $6,396,426 | $110,440 | 1 | $554,819 |
| 2021 | $70,393,648 | $8,832,084 | $5,946,795 | $529,595 | 4 | $146,465 |
| 2020 | $65,419,215 | $18,992,771 | $4,451,653 | $457,940 | 2 | $155,880 |
| 2019 | $48,456,213 | $4,866,546 | $4,225,719 | $25,000 | 1 | $274,587 |
About Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
Based on IRS filings
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Asheville, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $148.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $19K. Net investment income was $1.7M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is led by Carl Silverstein, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 2 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carl Silverstein
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$106K (2019) → $139K (2025)
Sheryl Aikman
President
Treasurer → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristy Urguhart
Associate Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$104K (2023) → $136K (2025)
Allison Williams
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Fanslow
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Davis
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Pender
Vice President
Board Member → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pam Kelley
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janet Garret
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John McLendon
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Fitzgerald
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Palamar
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Hatling
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kayla Carter
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Spencer Scheidt
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: Chris Soto (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Nancy Edgerton (2019–2024) — President
- Former: Rich Preyer (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Tom Williams (2019–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Randy Hunter (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Hannah Latragna (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Matt Moses (2019–2022) — President
- Former: Popsie Lynch (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jay Leutze (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jeff Needham (2019–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Joe Deloach (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Cynthia Poortenga (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: David Erwin (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: John Mason (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Laura McCue (2019–2020) — President
- Former: Rick Manske (2019–2020) — Vice President
- Former: Anne Kilgore (2019) — Board Member
- Former: James Jim Houser (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $139K, to Carl Silverstein (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
How much does Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy give each year?
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy gave $19K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $182K across 2 grants.
How large is Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy?
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy reported $148.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $30.6M.
What is Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy?
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Asheville, NC. It holds $148.4M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy operate?
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, North Carolina.
What is Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy's EIN?
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1098890. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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 2019 (received by the IRS February 19, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 20, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 2, 2026)
Live grants for the work Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common
Green South Foundation Inc
Carrollton, GA
Green South Foundation supports climate and environmental communications, conservation projects, and land protection, primarily in the Southeast, with emphasis on the Southern Appalachians and Georgia and the Carolinas. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $230,000, with a median of $52,500; its Land program also makes low-interest conservation land-acquisition loans. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$25.0M
Grants
26
Total Given
$1.8M
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
The Jelks Family Foundation Inc
Washington, DC
Assets
$6.5M
Grants
58
Total Given
$229K
Harold M & Adeline S Morrison Family Foundation
Chicago, IL
The foundation supports a range of causes, including education, the environment and wildlife, arts, and programs for children. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $225,000, with a median of $5,000; most funding went to Illinois, with some support in North Carolina and other states. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$32.2M
Grants
87
Total Given
$1.2M
Abner & Mildred Levine Family
Boca Raton, FL
Based in Boca Raton, Florida, the Abner & Mildred Levine Family makes charitable grants across varied causes, with 2025 funding going to organizations working in areas such as civil liberties, health care, community organizing, and environmental protection. Its 90 grants in 2025 totaled $108,700; awards ranged from $100 to $9,000, with a median of $1,000, and the largest shares went to recipients in New York, West Virginia, Maine, Virginia, and Vermont. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.7M
Grants
90
Total Given
$109K
The Three T'S Foundation
Pinedale, WY
Assets
—
Grants
5
Total Given
$40K
More similar funders
More Funders in North Carolina
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy down — hundreds of funders to go?