Higher Living Inc

Higher Living Inc. maintains balanced operations with declining assets and no officer compensation.

EIN: 10601868 · Winston Salem, NC · NTEE: L20 · Updated: 2026-03-28

$290KRevenue
$717KAssets
85/100Mission Score (Excellent)
L20

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Higher Living Inc Financial Summary
MetricValue
Total Revenue$290K
Total Expenses$276K
Program Spending85%
Net Assets$591K
Transparency Score85/100

Search Intent Cockpit

Higher Living Inc Form 990, Revenue, CEO Pay, and IRS Filing Signals

Higher Living Inc is surfaced here as a decision-ready nonprofit financial profile, not just a charity listing. The page consolidates IRS Form 990 revenue, expenses, assets, tax-exempt classification, executive compensation, mission score, red flags, and year-by-year filing history so donors, researchers, journalists, and grant teams can answer the common search questions around Higher Living Inc in one place.

Form 990 Filing Summary

9 filing years are available, with latest revenue of $279K and expenses of $276K.

Revenue and Expenses

Higher Living Inc reported $279K in revenue and $276K in expenses, a surplus of $3K.

Executive Compensation

Officer, director, trustee, and key employee pay is reviewed from IRS 990 compensation disclosures when present.

Charity Score and Red Flags

85/100 mission score, 1 red flag, and 3 strengths are shown from structured and AI review.

Is Higher Living Inc Legit?

Some Concerns

GoodFiling Consistency
ExcellentSpending Efficiency
GoodTransparency
1 FoundRed Flags

Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →

IRS 990 Data Cockpit

Where the Money Comes From and Where It Goes

PendingDonor/Grant Funding
85%Program Expense
$0Grants Paid
9Stored Filing Years

Revenue Source Mix

Revenue-source line items are not available on the stored filing yet. Future ingestion now preserves contribution, program-revenue, and investment-income fields when ProPublica provides them.

Expense Deployment

Higher Living Inc Expense Deployment
Program services$235K (85%)

Across stored filings, Higher Living Inc shows contribution history pending. Next enrichment targets: revenue-source fields, IRS BMF classification.

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Higher Living Inc Donor Decision Matrix
Decision LensSignalWhat to Inspect Next
LegitimacySome ConcernsGood filing record; 1 red flag identified
Mission spend85% to programsExcellent
Financial durabilityGrade A9 stored filing years
Peer contextCompare with Cccp Community TrustNorth Carolina and Category L context

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Higher Living Inc directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.

About Higher Living Inc

Higher Living Inc (EIN: 10601868) is a nonprofit organization based in Winston Salem, NC, classified under NTEE code L20. The organization reported total revenue of $290K and total assets of $717K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Higher Living Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

Organization Overview

10Years Operating
SmallSize Classification
9Years of Filings
MixedRevenue Trajectory

Higher Living Inc is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 10 years, with 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2015–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 2.9%.

Key Financial Metrics (2023)

From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:

Total Revenue$279K
Total Expenses$276K
Surplus / Deficit+$3K
Total Assets$765K
Total Liabilities$174K
Net Assets$591K
Operating Margin1.0%
Debt-to-Asset Ratio22.7%
Months of Reserves33.2 months

Financial Health Grade: A

In 2023, Higher Living Inc reported a surplus of $3K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 33.2 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 22.7% (moderate leverage).

Financial Trends

Over 9 years of filings (2015–2023), Higher Living Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9%.

YearRevenue ChangeExpense ChangeAsset Change
2023+1.5%+6.7%-7.1%
2022+2.4%-3.7%-3.8%
2021+1.6%+19.1%-5.8%
2020-0.1%-5.4%-1.7%
2019-1.0%-5.4%-2.0%

IRS Tax-Exempt Classification

IRS Classification Codes1200
IRS Ruling Date2016

Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.

AI Transparency Report

Higher Living Inc. demonstrates consistent financial activity with revenues and expenses generally in balance over the past nine years. For example, in 2023, revenues were $278,813 against expenses of $276,035, indicating a tight operational margin. The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation, which is a strong indicator of volunteer leadership and efficient use of donor funds, enhancing its transparency and public trust. However, the organization's assets have shown a steady decline from $1,109,047 in 2015 to $764,798 in 2023, while liabilities have also decreased from $538,270 to $173,793 over the same period. This trend suggests a potential reduction in overall scale or a strategic shift in asset management, which warrants further investigation into the nature of these assets and liabilities. Spending efficiency appears high given the minimal difference between revenues and expenses, suggesting that most incoming funds are directly utilized for operations. The consistent reporting of no officer compensation further reinforces this efficiency. While specific program spending percentages are not provided in the raw data, the overall financial picture points to an organization that operates leanly. The declining asset base, even with decreasing liabilities, could be a concern if it impacts long-term sustainability or program capacity, but without more detailed expense breakdowns, it's difficult to fully assess the impact on program delivery. The consistent filing of IRS 990 forms over nine years indicates a commitment to regulatory compliance and transparency.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Higher Living Inc with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.

Spending Breakdown

  • admin: 10%
  • programs: 85%
  • fundraising: 5%

According to IRS 990 filings, Higher Living Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.

Key Financial Metrics (2023)

From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:

$279KTotal Revenue
$276KTotal Expenses
$765KTotal Assets
$174KTotal Liabilities
$591KNet Assets
  • The organization reported a surplus of $3K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
  • Debt-to-asset ratio: 22.7%.

Executive Compensation Analysis

Higher Living Inc. consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all nine years of filings, indicating that its leadership is entirely volunteer-based or compensated through other means not classified as officer compensation, which is highly favorable for donor confidence.

Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.

Red Flags

The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Higher Living Inc's IRS 990 filings:

  • Consistent decline in total assets over the past nine years, from $1,109,047 in 2015 to $764,798 in 2023, which could impact long-term stability.

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for Higher Living Inc:

  • Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all nine years, indicating volunteer leadership and efficient use of funds.
  • Revenues and expenses are generally well-matched, suggesting tight financial management and that funds are being utilized for operations.
  • Consistent filing of IRS 990 forms over nine years demonstrates a commitment to transparency and regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions about Higher Living Inc

Is Higher Living Inc a legitimate charity?

Higher Living Inc (EIN: 10601868) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in North Carolina. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $290K. 1 red flag identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.

How does Higher Living Inc spend its money?

Higher Living Inc directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.

Are donations to Higher Living Inc tax-deductible?

Higher Living Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 10601868). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

What percentage of Higher Living Inc's spending goes to programs?

Higher Living Inc directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.

How does Higher Living Inc compare to similar nonprofits?

With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Higher Living Inc is above average for NTEE category L20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.

Where is Higher Living Inc located?

Higher Living Inc is headquartered in Winston Salem, North Carolina and files with the IRS under EIN 10601868. It is classified under NTEE code L20.

How many years of IRS 990 filings does Higher Living Inc have?

Higher Living Inc has 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $290K in total revenue.

Why have Higher Living Inc.'s assets steadily declined from $1,109,047 in 2015 to $764,798 in 2023?

The consistent decline in assets, alongside a reduction in liabilities, suggests a potential strategic decision to divest certain assets or a natural depreciation without significant new acquisitions. Further details from the full 990 forms would be needed to understand the specific reasons and impact on operations.

How does Higher Living Inc. manage to operate with 0% officer compensation?

The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation implies that the organization's leadership is either entirely volunteer-based or compensated through non-officer roles, which is a strong indicator of dedication and efficient use of funds.

What is the specific breakdown of program expenses for Higher Living Inc.?

While the provided data indicates overall expenses, a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses is not available. This information would be crucial for a more precise assessment of spending efficiency.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for Higher Living Inc showing financial trends over 9 years of public records:

Over 9 years of IRS 990 filings (2015–2023), Higher Living Inc's revenue has grown by 26.1%, moving from $221K to $279K. Total assets decreased by 31% over the same period, from $1.1M to $765K. Total functional expenses rose by 29.5%, from $213K to $276K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Higher Living Inc reported a surplus of $3K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $174K in liabilities against $765K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 22.7%), resulting in net assets of $591K.

YearRevenueExpensesAssetsLiabilitiesOfficer Comp. %PDF
2023 $279K $276K $765K $174K
2022 $275K $259K $823K $235K View 990
2021 $268K $269K $855K $283K View 990
2020 $264K $226K $908K $336K View 990
2019 $264K $238K $924K $382K View 990
2018 $267K $252K $943K $427K View 990
2017 $240K $302K $996K $495K View 990
2016 $221K $228K $1.1M $513K View 990
2015 $221K $213K $1.1M $538K View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

  • 2023: Revenue of $279K, expenses of $276K, and assets of $765K (revenue +1.5% year-over-year).
  • 2022: Revenue of $275K, expenses of $259K, and assets of $823K (revenue +2.4% year-over-year).
  • 2021: Revenue of $268K, expenses of $269K, and assets of $855K (revenue +1.6% year-over-year).
  • 2020: Revenue of $264K, expenses of $226K, and assets of $908K (revenue -0.1% year-over-year).
  • 2019: Revenue of $264K, expenses of $238K, and assets of $924K (revenue -1.0% year-over-year).
  • 2018: Revenue of $267K, expenses of $252K, and assets of $943K (revenue +11.1% year-over-year).
  • 2017: Revenue of $240K, expenses of $302K, and assets of $996K (revenue +8.9% year-over-year).
  • 2016: Revenue of $221K, expenses of $228K, and assets of $1.1M (revenue -0.2% year-over-year).
  • 2015: Revenue of $221K, expenses of $213K, and assets of $1.1M.

View Individual Filing Years

Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Higher Living Inc:

2023 Filing 2022 Filing 2021 Filing 2020 Filing 2019 Filing 2018 Filing 2017 Filing 2016 Filing 2015 Filing

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for Higher Living Inc is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.

IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.

Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.

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