Center for Heirs' Property

“The Form 990 is provided for review to the finance committee for a comment period. At the end of this period, questions and comments are addressed and the Form 990 is officially approved for issuance.”

“On an annual basis the Board of Directors discusses the need for disclosure of any possible conflicts of interest. Board members must also complete an annual conflict of interest form to disclose any interest they have in a transaction or matter that is before the Organization where said interest could be reasonably viewed by others as affecting the objectivity of independence of the decision maker.”

“The Center's Chief Executive Officer's salary is negotiated based upon the budget. Comparability data is used to determine compensation for executive director from data on other legal nonprofits of similar size. Comparability data is used to determine compensation for officers hired from data on other legal nonprofits of similar size.”

“The Center allows public inspection of its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements and those items are available to anyone who makes a request. Form 990 is available on an outside website at Guidestar.org as well.”

“The mission of the Center for Heirs' Property Preservation (CHPP) is to protect heirs' property and promote the sustainable use of land to provide increased economic benefit to historically underserved and low-wealth families through legal and forestry education and services. Heirs' property (HP) is land owned in common by multiple family members. In the Lowcountry of South Carolina, much of this land is held by African American families whose property passed through generations without a will, creating heirs' property. This form of ownership is unstable and creates a risk of land loss. The only way to resolve heirs' property issues is through legal processes that many families cannot readily afford. CHPP helps prevent land loss through legal education and direct services and supports wealth-building through sustainable forestry. Forestry is a $23 billion industry in South Carolina. While rooted in South Carolina, CHPP is having measurable impact beyond the state, building the national infrastructure families need to protect, use, and maximize the value of their land. Through legal services, sustainable forestry, community engagement, and multi-state partnerships, CHPP and its partners help families secure their rights, strengthen their legacy, and build long-term economic opportunity.”