Civic Intelligence

Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards

EIN 47-2407669 • 501(c)3 • Asheville, NC

Profile

Educating, cultivating, and empowering an engaged public for the stewardship of

225 E Chestnut StreetAsheville, NC 28801

www.trailcrews.org

Siviq Scores

Precomputed percentiles relative to similar nonprofits. These scores are descriptive rather than judgmental.

Liabilities / Assets

86th percentile

0.42x

Higher debt load relative to assets than 86% of similar nonprofits.

NTEE C • $1M-$5M nonprofits • Source year 2024

Liabilities / Revenue

60th percentile

0.12x

Higher debt load relative to revenue than 60% of similar nonprofits.

NTEE C • $1M-$5M nonprofits • Source year 2024

Net Margin

38th percentile

2.0%

Higher net margin than 38% of similar nonprofits.

NTEE C • $1M-$5M nonprofits • Source year 2024

Top Officer Pay

56th percentile

$83,276

Higher top officer pay than 56% of similar nonprofits.

Top officer pay equals 6.8% of source-year revenue.

NTEE C • $1M-$5M nonprofits • Source year 2024

Asset Growth

81st percentile

36%

Faster asset growth than 81% of similar nonprofits.

NTEE C • $1M-$5M nonprofits • Annualized from 2023 to 2024

Revenue Growth

55th percentile

18%

Faster revenue growth than 55% of similar nonprofits.

NTEE C • $1M-$5M nonprofits • Annualized from 2023 to 2024

Balance Sheet
Liabilities / Assets86th percentile

Assets

Up

$360,918

Up $96,143 (+36%) from 2023

Liabilities

Up

$150,894

Up $72,375 (+92%) from 2023

Net Assets

Up

$210,024

Up $23,768 (+13%) from 2023

Operations
Liabilities / Revenue60th percentileNet Margin38th percentile

Revenue

Up

$1,216,976

Up $182,719 (+18%) from 2023

Expenses

Up

$1,193,208

Up $161,310 (+16%) from 2023

Net Income

Up

$23,768

Up $21,409 (+908%) from 2023

Trend Graphs

Balance Sheet Trend

Asset Growth81st percentile

Grouped bars show assets, liabilities, and net assets across loaded filings.

$400K$300K$200K$100K$0Assets 2015: $122,825Liabilities 2015: $48,072Net Assets 2015: $74,7532015Assets 2016: $138,649Liabilities 2016: $65,000Net Assets 2016: $73,6492016Assets 2017: $190,851Liabilities 2017: $68,440Net Assets 2017: $122,4112017Assets 2018: $200,336Liabilities 2018: $110,811Net Assets 2018: $89,5252018Assets 2019: $101,805Liabilities 2019: $96,648Net Assets 2019: $5,1572019Assets 2020: $193,183Liabilities 2020: $141,821Net Assets 2020: $51,3622020Assets 2021: $134,823Liabilities 2021: $59,470Net Assets 2021: $75,3532021Assets 2022: $252,577Liabilities 2022: $68,680Net Assets 2022: $183,8972022Assets 2023: $264,775Liabilities 2023: $78,519Net Assets 2023: $186,2562023Assets 2024: $360,918Liabilities 2024: $150,894Net Assets 2024: $210,0242024

Highlighted filing

2024

Assets$360,918
Liabilities$150,894
Net Assets$210,024
Open 2024 Filing

Operations Trend

Revenue Growth55th percentile

Revenue, expenses, and net income by year, with the latest filing highlighted.

$1.5M$1.0M$500K$0-$500KRevenue 2015: $419,263Expenses 2015: $344,510Net Income 2015: $74,7532015Revenue 2016: $637,183Expenses 2016: $638,287Net Income 2016: -$1,1042016Revenue 2017: $887,156Expenses 2017: $838,394Net Income 2017: $48,7622017Revenue 2018: $1,050,975Expenses 2018: $1,083,861Net Income 2018: -$32,8862018Revenue 2019: $935,536Expenses 2019: $1,019,904Net Income 2019: -$84,3682019Revenue 2020: $972,676Expenses 2020: $926,471Net Income 2020: $46,2052020Revenue 2021: $1,067,088Expenses 2021: $1,043,097Net Income 2021: $23,9912021Revenue 2022: $1,236,805Expenses 2022: $1,128,261Net Income 2022: $108,5442022Revenue 2023: $1,034,257Expenses 2023: $1,031,898Net Income 2023: $2,3592023Revenue 2024: $1,216,976Expenses 2024: $1,193,208Net Income 2024: $23,7682024

Highlighted filing

2024

Revenue$1,216,976
Expenses$1,193,208
Net Income$23,768
Open 2024 Filing

Filings

Most recent year

2024 • Form 990Facts available. Structured filing facts are available, but richer extracted sections are limited.

Open filing
Assets
$360,918
Liabilities
$150,894
Net assets
$210,024
Revenue
$1,216,976
Expenses
$1,193,208
Net income
$23,768
Balance SheetOperations
YearAssetsLiabilitiesNet AssetsRevenueExpensesNet Income
2024Facts available. Structured filing facts are available, but richer extracted sections are limited.$0.36$0.15$0.21$1.22$1.19$0.02
2023Summary only. Only limited summary data is available for this year.$0.26$0.08$0.19$1.03$1.03$0.00
2022Summary only. Only limited summary data is available for this year.$0.25$0.07$0.18$1.24$1.13$0.11
2021Facts available. Structured filing facts are available, but richer extracted sections are limited.$0.13$0.06$0.08$1.07$1.04$0.02
2020Facts available. Structured filing facts are available, but richer extracted sections are limited.$0.19$0.14$0.05$0.97$0.93$0.05
2019XML pending. An XML filing is linked for this year, but detailed extraction is still pending.$0.10$0.10$0.01$0.94$1.02$0.08
2018XML pending. An XML filing is linked for this year, but detailed extraction is still pending.$0.20$0.11$0.09$1.05$1.08$0.03
2017Summary only. Only limited summary data is available for this year.$0.19$0.07$0.12$0.89$0.84$0.05
2016Summary only. Only limited summary data is available for this year.$0.14$0.07$0.07$0.64$0.64$0.00
2015Detailed filing. Detailed filing data is available for this year.$0.12$0.05$0.07$0.42$0.34$0.07
Latest Filing Detail
Jump To
Filing Snapshot
Filing Period
Oct 1, 2023 to Sep 30, 2024
Signed
Jul 21, 2025
Return Version
2023v6.0
Gross Receipts
$1,216,976
Mission and Program Overview

Mission

Educating, cultivating, and empowering an engaged public for the stewardship of

SAWS exists to set standards of excellence that inspire, connect, and equip people to steward wild landscapes.

Balance Sheet Detail
LineBeginningEndChange
Assets
Accounts Receivable$158,811$135,763▼ $23,048
Savings and Temporary Cash Investments-$128,488-
Cash and Non-Interest-Bearing Accounts$81,940$90,340▲ $8,400
Pledges and Grants Receivable$10,000$4,500▼ $5,500
Inventories for Sale or Use$2,522--
Total Assets$264,775$360,918▲ $96,143
Other Assets Total$11,502$1,827▼ $9,675
Liabilities
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses$68,749$79,972▲ $11,223
Grants Payable-$60,940-
Deferred Revenue-$9,982-
Other Liabilities$9,770$0▼ $9,770
Total Liabilities$78,519$150,894▲ $72,375
Net Assets / Fund Balance
Net Assets Without Donor Restrictions$186,256$188,148▲ $1,892
Net Assets With Donor Restrictions-$21,876-
Total Net Assets Fund Balance$186,256$210,024▲ $23,768
Total Liabilities and Net Assets / Fund Balance$264,775$360,918▲ $96,143

Asset Categories

AssetBook ValueDepreciationBasis
Other Assets Org$0--
Compensation and Service Providers
Top Officer Pay56th percentile

Employees

NameTitleFull / Part TimeBaseOtherTotal
Kaitlin de VaronaExecutive DirectorFT$57,699$25,577$83,276
Tracy HarrellFinance DirectorFT$50,638$6,303$56,941

Board Members and Trustees

NameTitle
Chris SporlChair
Aliya NaimBoard Member
Anya BoykoBoard Member
Bart HawleyBoard Member
Kim Smith WoodfordBoard Member
Lornett VestalBoard Member
Nealon DeVoreSecretary
Paul DickensTreasurer
Revenue and Support

Revenue Composition

Contributions and Grants
$224,067
Program Service Revenue
$991,046
Investment Income
$1,863
Other Revenue
$0
All Other Contributions
$224,067
Change in Net Assets
$23,768

Audited Revenue Reconciliation

Revenue per Audited Statements
$1,216,976
Revenue Not Reported on Form 990
$8,500
Total Revenue per Audited Statements
$1,225,476
Total Revenue per Form 990
$1,216,976
Expenses and Functional Allocation

Major Expense Lines

Line ItemAmount
Salaries, Compensation, and Employee Benefits$884,673
Other Expenses$238,410
Total Fundraising Expense$88,326
Grants and Similar Amounts Paid$70,125
Professional Fundraising Fees$0

Functional Expense Allocation

Line ItemProgramManagementFundraisingTotal
Other Salaries and Wages$505,831$98,595$42,760$647,186
Current Officers, Directors, Trustees, and Key Employees$82,545$43,445$18,826$144,816
Travel$64,908$15,788$7,017$87,713
Grants to Domestic Orgs$70,125--$70,125
Payroll Taxes$44,344$10,786$4,794$59,924
Other Employee Benefits$18,146$9,824$4,777$32,747
Insurance$11,338$10,126$0$21,464
Occupancy$0$17,043$0$17,043
Conferences and Meetings$0$7,724$5,149$12,873
Fees for Services Accounting$0$11,900$0$11,900
Information Technology$4,725$4,614$59$9,398
Fees for Services Other$5,408$2,067$585$8,060
Office Expenses$1,801$3,862$700$6,363
Other Expenses$5,287$601$130$6,018
Advertising$0$0$3,529$3,529
Fees for Services Legal$0$2,304$0$2,304
Total Functional Expenses$866,203$238,679$88,326$1,193,208

Audited Expense Reconciliation

Line ItemAmount
Total Expenses per Audited Statements$1,201,708
Expenses per Audited Statements$1,193,208
Total Expenses per Form 990$1,193,208
Expenses Not Reported on Form 990$8,500
International Activity

Grant and Assistance Recipients

RecipientLocationCategoryPurposeAmount
Conservation LegacyDurango, CO501(c)3Forest Conservation$23,375
The Pisgah ConservancyBrevard, NC501(c)3Forest Conservation$23,375
Wild SouthSpruce Pine, NC501(c)3Forest Conservation$23,375
Fundraising, Events, and Gaming
Fundraising activities
No
Gaming activities
No
Professional fundraiser used
No

Fundraising and Gaming Totals

Line ItemAmount
Professional Fundraising Fees$0
Political and Lobbying Activity
Political campaign activity
No
Lobbying activity
No
Subject to proxy tax
No
Debt and Bond Financing

Other Reported Liabilities

LiabilityAmount
Operating Lease Liability$0
Governance and Compliance

Governance Checklist

Compiled or reviewed by an accountant
No
Annual disclosure for covered persons
Yes
Audit committee
Yes
Backup withholding compliance
Yes
Business relationship with 35% controlled entity
No
Business relationship with family members
No
Business relationship with organization members
No
Material changes to governing documents
No
Compensation from other sources disclosed
No
CEO compensation reviewed
No
Other officer compensation reviewed
No
Conflict-of-interest policy
Yes
Audited financial statements prepared
No
Key decisions subject to board approval
No
Management duties delegated
No
Filing and Contact Details

Filer

Filer Name
Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
EIN
47-2407669
Phone
8287851517
Address
225 E Chestnut Street, Asheville, NC 28801

Signing Officer

Name
Paul Dickens
Title
Board Chair
Phone
8287851517
Signed
2025-07-21
Discuss with paid preparer
Yes

Organization Details

Principal Officer
Paul Dickens
Formed
2014
Legal Domicile
Nc
Voting Board Members
8
Independent Board Members
8
Employees
27
Volunteers
150

Preparer

Firm
Corliss & Solomon Pllc
Address
242 CHARLOTTE ST SUITE 1, ASHEVILLE, NC 28801
Preparer
Todd Oldenburg
Phone
8282360206
Supplemental Narrative

Additional Explanations

Pt VI, Line 11B

“The 990 is prepared by independent accountants, reviewed by management, presented to the Board for review, proposed revisions and final approval.”

Pt VI, Line 12C

“Enforced as necessary. Any Board member with a conflict of interest on any specific issue informs the Board and abstains from voting on the issue.”

Pt VI, Line 18

“Form 990 is posted on the organizations website. In addition, We are happy to discuss our organization, the 990, and our work with you. Please reach out at [email protected] to connect with our team! Form 1023 is available upon request.”

Pt VI, Line 19

“Governing documents, conflict of interest policy and audited financial statements are available upon request.”

Financial Statement Notes

Pt X, Line 2

“SAWS is exempt from federal income taxes under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under the Code, however, income from certain activities not related to the organizations tax-exempt purpose may be subject to taxation as unrelated business income. The organization had no income from unrelated business activities in the year ended September 30, 2024 and was, therefore, not required to file Federal Form 990-T (Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return). The organization believes that it has appropriate support for all tax positions taken, and as such, does not have any uncertain tax positions that are material to the financial statements.”

Raw XML AppendixShowing 400 of 492 raw XML fields

This appendix keeps the raw XML leaves available for debugging and edge-case review. The human report above is the primary experience.

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IRS990/MissionDesc0SAWS sets standards of excellence that inspire, connect, and equip people to steward wild public lands. SAWS provides trail maintenance, restoration, construction, ranger patrols, and disaster recovery in remote and wilderness areas; offers technical training in stewardship and crosscut saw use; and engages communities, volunteers, and the public in transformational conservation and education efforts.
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IRS990/PrincipalOfficerNm0Paul Dickens
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IRS990/ProgSrvcAccomActy2Grp/Desc0Trail Infrastructure Program: Across federal public lands, SAWS field crews maintain, restore, and construct trail tread and infrastructure in remote and wilderness areas. In 2024, we brushed over 15 miles of trail corridor, built 552 feet of rock cribbing, maintained 208 drainage features, installed 56 rock steps, removed 649 downed trees, and constructed 7,328 feet of new trail tread. Training and Education Program: SAWS delivers specialized training in wilderness stewardship, crosscut saw use, wilderness first aid, trail infrastructure, Leave No Trace, and public land management. In 2024, we co-led the annual Wilderness Skills Institute serving 183 participants, 10 national forests and regions, and 28 partner organizations through 9 free courses over two weeks, providing certifications and hands-on learning opportunities to agency staff, partners, and volunteers to promote excellence in stewardship. Additionally, we led 21 trainings including certifying 135 crosscut saw sawyers under U.S. Forest Service standards.
IRS990/ProgSrvcAccomActy3Grp/Desc0Workforce Development Program: SAWS provides paid field positions and leadership development opportunities to the next generation of conservation stewards. In 2024, we created 25 new jobs and delivered 4,720 hours of professional development training for seasonal crews, rangers, and specialists who gained hands-on experience in conservation, trail work, and leadership. Many alumni return for additional seasons or go on to careers in conservation, natural resource management, and public land service. Disaster Response Program: SAWS maintains expert C-certified sawyers and trail specialists ready to lead and mobilize crews for natural disaster response in wilderness areas using traditional tools and adhering to wilderness law and policy. In 2024, SAWS responded to two natural disasters on federal land: Tropical Storm Fred on the Pisgah Ranger District, National Forest in North Carolina and flood damage on the Ocoee Ranger District, Cherokee National Forest. Community Engagement Program: Across the Southern Appalachian Mountains, SAWS engages community volunteers, partners, and the public through stewardship projects, educational outreach, and collaborative events. In 2024, we hosted 98 stewardship events including 62 volunteer projects, 21 trainings, 13 outreach events, and 2 education events. These efforts supported 4,020 hours of volunteer stewardship service.
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IRS990ScheduleA/Form990ScheduleAPartVIGrp/ExplanationTxt0Other Income Part II, Line 10 Description: Other Income 2019: 698. 2020: 4670. 2021: 38. 2022: 9733.
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IRS990ScheduleD/SupplementalInformationDetail/ExplanationTxt0SAWS is exempt from federal income taxes under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under the Code, however, income from certain activities not related to the organizations tax-exempt purpose may be subject to taxation as unrelated business income. The organization had no income from unrelated business activities in the year ended September 30, 2024 and was, therefore, not required to file Federal Form 990-T (Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return). The organization believes that it has appropriate support for all tax positions taken, and as such, does not have any uncertain tax positions that are material to the financial statements.
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IRS990ScheduleI/RecipientTable/PurposeOfGrantTxt0Forest Conservation
IRS990ScheduleI/RecipientTable/PurposeOfGrantTxt1Forest Conservation
IRS990ScheduleI/RecipientTable/PurposeOfGrantTxt2Forest Conservation
IRS990ScheduleI/RecipientTable/RecipientBusinessName/BusinessNameLine1Txt0The Pisgah Conservancy
IRS990ScheduleI/RecipientTable/RecipientBusinessName/BusinessNameLine1Txt1Conservation Legacy
IRS990ScheduleI/RecipientTable/RecipientBusinessName/BusinessNameLine1Txt2Wild South
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IRS990ScheduleI/RecipientTable/USAddress/AddressLine1Txt1701 Camino de Rio Ste 101
IRS990ScheduleI/RecipientTable/USAddress/AddressLine1Txt231 Cross St Ste 227
IRS990ScheduleI/RecipientTable/USAddress/CityNm0Brevard
IRS990ScheduleI/RecipientTable/USAddress/CityNm1Durango
IRS990ScheduleI/RecipientTable/USAddress/CityNm2Spruce Pine
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IRS990ScheduleO/SupplementalInformationDetail/ExplanationTxt0The 990 is prepared by independent accountants, reviewed by management, presented to the Board for review, proposed revisions and final approval.
IRS990ScheduleO/SupplementalInformationDetail/ExplanationTxt1Enforced as necessary. Any Board member with a conflict of interest on any specific issue informs the Board and abstains from voting on the issue.
IRS990ScheduleO/SupplementalInformationDetail/ExplanationTxt2Form 990 is posted on the organizations website. In addition, We are happy to discuss our organization, the 990, and our work with you. Please reach out at [email protected] to connect with our team! Form 1023 is available upon request.

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