2025-11-15T08:48:53-08:00 2024-12-31 202571677 CORLISS & SOLOMON PLLC 242 CHARLOTTE ST SUITE 1 ASHEVILLE NC 28801 990 2024-01-01 561216642 Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust Inc HIGH 8285261111 PO Box 1703 Highlands NC 287411703 Ann Huckstep President 8285261111 2025-11-12 true true Todd Oldenburg P02281691 8282360206 2025-11-15 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Ann Huckstep PO Box 1703 Highlands NC 28741 1828278 false X http://www.hicashlt.org X 1883 NC The mission of the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is to safeguard the unique and irreplaceable landscape of our area through conservation of ecologically valuable land and protection of the biodiversity dependent on such landscapes. 19 19 7 70 0 0 636630 1691622 17923 12423 116726 60235 1846 838 773125 1765118 0 0 348272 395943 57510 170124 232470 316043 580742 769496 192383 995622 30431544 31648302 1380 15091 30430164 31633211 The mission of the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is to safeguard the unique and irreplaceable landscape of our area through conservation of ecologically valuable land and protection of the biodiversity dependent on such landscapes. false false 446615 0 12423 In 2024 the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust (HCLT) completed three land projects (1) the fee simple acquisition of 100 acres of ecologically sensitive forestland containing some of the headwaters of the Chattooga River, (2) the fee simple acquisition via donation of more than 55 acres of biodiverse habitat, including almost a mile of Overflow Creek, the primary source of Glen Falls, and via transfer the fee simple acquisition of an 8 acre tract within the Cashiers Township, protecting it from development. HCLT also provided stewardship of conserved land by completing 100% monitoring of all conservation easements and fee simple lands held by HCLT. HCLTs commitment to stewardship is perpetual. Worked with conservation easement landowners to ensure protection of conservation values, rare habitat types, and plant communities. Built trails and expanded community access to conserved lands. Engaged the Highlands and Cashiers communities for involvement with trail maintenance and improvements, invasive species mitigation, and habitat restoration. HCLTs education and outreach efforts focus on educating the public about conservation and the natural world by providing opportunities for children, families, and adults to engage in hands-on environmental education and exploration activities at no cost. Our programming generally encompasses three types of outreach (1) guided events for adults and families, such as hikes and clinics, (2) youth- focused environmental education programs, and (3) community speaker events. In 2024 we hosted more that 60 events open to the public, including on such topics as forest bathing, fungi identification, pollinator habitats, wildflower identification, and so on; more than 40 youth events, including programming for organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, local schools and preschools, and local day camps; and several speaker events, including 6 Village Nature Series lectures. In 2024 HCLT created more than 1,800 individual interactions with youth and adults through our various outreach and environmental education programming. HCLT continues to ensure that it operates ethically and morally, and proactively complies with all legal and statutory requirements. HCLT is an accredited organization by the Land Trust Alliance and in 2024 successfully participated in the re-accreditation process, a complete and thorough review, undertaken every five years, of all HCLTs policies and practices. HCLT has stringent requirements for board members, maintains robust by-laws and policies that are reviewed regularly, engages the services of a third-party bookkeeper, and maintains all appropriate insurance coverages. HCLT completed an independent audit of its 2024 financial statements and received an unqualified opinion. 446615 true true false false false false true false false true true false false false false true true false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false true 1 0 7 true false false false false false false false false false false false false false X 19 19 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true false false GA NC X X Lance Hardin 8285261111 PO Box 1703 Highlands NC 28741 Lance Hardin Executive Director 40.00 X 96000 0 9797 F Carlton King Departing President 5.00 X X 0 0 0 Ann Huckstop Incoming President 5.00 X 0 0 0 Bill Mauldin Vice President 3.00 X X 0 0 0 Martha Wright Secretary 3.00 X X 0 0 0 Karen Patterson Treasurer 3.00 X X 0 0 0 Brad Armstrong Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Chuck Auster Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Lawrence Dimmitt Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Wally Evans Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Hugh Fitzpatrick Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Rick Hildbold Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Chris Hohlstein Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Walter Wingfield Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Russ McLauchlan Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Amy Patterson Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Tom Holmes Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Victoria Stephens Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Bill Stiefel Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Jeffrey Zahner Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 96000 0 9797 false false false 1691622 350833 1691622 Easement Fees 523991 12423 0 0 12423 123395 0 123395 63160 -63160 -63160 0 0 -63160 Miscellaneous Income 523991 838 0 0 838 838 1765118 12423 0 61073 105797 64262 25470 16065 237610 170458 26042 41110 18513 12671 2777 3065 6034 4145 905 984 27989 19134 4198 4657 21182 21182 0 0 20058 0 20058 0 57510 57510 7486 0 7486 0 3000 3000 0 0 17988 6649 10604 735 12542 6270 3136 3136 17432 8742 8667 23 9477 5837 1856 1784 20285 0 20285 0 15804 4725 9898 1181 Property Management 69270 69270 0 0 Americorp Volunteers 22949 15667 3442 3840 Other Program Expenses 1542 842 512 188 Memberships 35145 0 0 35145 41883 33761 7421 701 769496 446615 152757 170124 259793 341162 225411 146795 27664044 60597 26649616 27603447 3177517 3430375 119207 126523 30431544 31648302 1380 15091 1380 15091 X 12453591 13787331 17976573 17845880 30430164 31633211 30431544 31648302 995622 207425 X false true X true false X 0 1869995 4445588 604615 636630 1691622 9248450 0 0 1869995 4445588 604615 636630 1691622 9248450 4180352 5068098 9061 11882 39595 21957 123395 205890 0 1047 206 533 1846 838 4470 9458810 72746 0.53580 0.50950 X 0 0 0 Pt II Ln 10 Other Income Part II, Line 10 Description: Other Income 2020: 1047. 2021: 206. 2022: 533. 2023: 1846. 2024: 838. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED X X X 70 32430.20 0 1 true 1976.00 92894 true 119207 8385 1069 126523 99453 10493 10310 1049 119207 302942 -42728 158978 1783 99453 269686 8000 27980 2724 302942 248151 6100 25348 8111 1802 269686 1.00000 0.00000 0.00000 true false 27539881 27539881 71587 42774 28813 52576 17823 34753 27603447 X 1965057 207425 207425 1757632 7486 7486 1765118 762010 762010 7486 7486 769496 Pt II, Line 5 Monitoring and enforcement is scheduled and performed by employees. Pt II, Line 3 Donated easements for year Pt II, Line 9 The Organization records donated lands on its financial statements as contributions and land assets. Conservation easements are not recorded for financial statement purposes. Pt X, Line 2 HCLT 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 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. true ESB Consulting Inc Grant writing/ Development false 0 57510 -57510 0 57510 -57510 X 7 47833 Stock Market Value X 2 303000 Appraisal false true false Pt VI, Line 11b The 990 is prepared by a CPA firm, reviewed by management, electronically presented to the board for review, proposed revisions and final approval. Pt VI, Line 15a In the annual budgeting process, the board approves a budget line for aggregate salary expense. Thereafter, individual salaries adjustments are determined by the executive director. The HCLT Administrative Committee reviews the HCLT Executive Director and makes salary a recommendation to the full HCLT Board of Directors. The Board of Directors sets the Executive Directors salary after a check of comparable salary information for similar organizations with similar budgets. Pt VI, Line 12c The HCLT ethics policy is reviewed annually by all Board Members and Staff.