Great Smoky Mountains Association
“Support education, science, and historical preservation at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.”
The work
What they do
Cooperating association for the most-visited national park. Operates bookstores, funds research and education, and supports park programs.
Every year they sign one sentence and file it with the federal government: “TO SUPPORT THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK.”
Where the money went, FY2024
The work, and what it cost
Bringing people into the fight
$7.2MSINCE INCEPTION, THE PURPOSE OF THE SMOKIES LIFE IS TO SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION OF THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK.
Including $1,634,054 granted onward, most of it $1,634,054 to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Read it as they filed it
SINCE INCEPTION, THE PURPOSE OF THE SMOKIES LIFE IS TO SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION OF THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK. THROUGH SALES, LABOR, DONATIONS, AND VOLUNTEER EFFORTS, SMOKIES LIFE PROVIDES THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WITH ADDITIONAL TOOLS FOR FULFILLING ITS MISSION.SMOKIES LIFE IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE PARK'S EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND HISTORICAL PROGRAMS. OUR MISSION IS TO ENHANCE PUBLIC ENJOYMENT AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK.TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL SMOKIES LIFE PARTICIPATES IN A VARIETY OF ANNUAL ACTIVITIES THAT INCLUDE: DISTRIBUTION AND PUBLICATION OF EDUCATIONAL BOOKS AND GUIDES, FUNDING VISITOR CENTER EXHIBITS AND ARTIFACT COLLECTIONS, SPONSORING FREE HISTORIC DEMONSTRATIONS AND FESTIVALS, FUNDING THE PARK'S LIBRARY, AND HELPING FUND THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AT THE INSTITUTE AT TREMONT. PUBLICATIONS, IN-PERSON AND ONLINE SALES, AND MEMBERSHIP DUES SUSTAIN THESE OPERATIONS.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2024, signed under penalty of perjury.
Follow the dollar
77 cents of every dollar goes to the work
Read it as a snapshot, not a scorecard. Splits move year to year with grants and campaigns, and healthy shops live all across this range.
$7,214,498 programs, $2,113,398 management, $0 fundraising. Form 990, FY2024.
The people
Who does the work
Took the helm from Jacqueline Harp, who drew $38,249 in the final year on file.
Honesty note: leadership comes from each year’s federal filing, so it can run a year behind. This one caught a changing of the guard in the act: the FY2024 officer table lists Jacqueline Harp, the return itself is signed by Laurel Rematore. Orgs that claim their page can update it same-day. Work at GSMA? Claim this page.
Those 6 volunteers are people who decided this ground was theirs to defend. If GSMA is fighting for your place too, the matchmaker will find your way in.
Make it 7The filings
14 years of filings
14 years of filings
Total revenue by fiscal year, as filed. Point at the line for any year.
| Year | Revenue |
|---|---|
| 2011 | $3,794,807 |
| 2012 | $4,135,842 |
| 2013 | $3,833,679 |
| 2014 | $6,452,710 |
| 2015 | $5,470,638 |
| 2016 | $6,546,628 |
| 2017 | $6,612,058 |
| 2018 | $5,926,907 |
| 2019 | $6,862,770 |
| 2020 | $5,065,895 |
| 2021 | $8,681,942 |
| 2022 | $8,245,646 |
| 2023 | $9,846,297 |
| 2024 | $8,804,233 |
From $3.8M in 2011 to $8.8M in FY24, with no missed filing in 14 years.
The Tennessee congressional delegation averages 13 of 100 on public lands. See the full scorecard
The North Carolina congressional delegation averages 28 of 100 on public lands. See the full scorecard
Ways in
How to help
77 cents of your dollar goes straight to the work above.
Give on their site ↗Show upVolunteer with themFind their volunteer door on their own site.
Find it on their site ↗SpeakComment and callOpen comment windows and call scripts for fights like these, ready to send.
Public Lands Action NetworkFollowWatch the mapEvery threatened place in the country, tracked, with who stands for each.
Threatened Lands MapStand with Great Smoky Mountains Association
73 years on the ground, 6 volunteers, 77 cents of every dollar on the line. That is who is holding it. There is room for one more.