C&o Canal Trust Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Education, interpretation and outreach: interpretation and education - as the official nonprofit partner of the c&o canal national historical park, the c&o canal trust works closely with the national park service (nps) to develop and manage unique and innovative interpretive and education programs that enhance the visitor experience. 1) the c&o canal trust's nationally acclaimed and award-winning canal quarters program continues to provide immersive interpretive experiences for overnight visitors. The seven restored lockhouses provide a unique experience from different periods in the c&o canal's history. The program hosted nearly 3,000 visitors for overnight programs in fy25. 2) the c&o canal trust provided critical funds to support the park's canal classrooms education program, which delivers curriculum-based steam (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) instruction to area school children. Programs immerse k-12 students into the natural and historical resources of the c&o canal by planning programming in an "outdoor classroom" setting in the park. In fy25, over 3,000 students visited the park through the canal classrooms program. Over 35 field trips were delivered, with student groups participating in a variety of different program offerings across the 184.5 miles of the park, in keeping with local curriculum needs and standards. In-person programming was delivered at the following primary gateway sites: 24 programs at great falls, 10 programs in williamsport, two programs in cumberland, and one program at fletchers cove. Additionally, teachers may choose from a digital library of topics - currently, there are five topics available for educators to use to introduce their students to the c&o canal. This outreach program benefits schools that rely on distance learning and allows for expanded engagement with the canal classroom's unique program on a broader national scale. The park's education staff and canal classrooms teachers also worked with high-school students in montgomery and Washington counties to provide citizen scientist field studies as part of students' advanced placement environmental science studies program.3) the c&o canal trust's canal explorer is an award-winning downloadable geolocation-based mobile app, that has been downloaded by more than 12,000 park visitors. The app features more than 800 points of interest, including information about historic landmarks, and assists users with creating saved itineraries.community outreach and engagement-1) the c&o canal trust connects with local communities to identify priorities and engage their support in key park initiatives. The canal towns partnership provides regional economic development and community enhancement on behalf of 11 communities along the canal, reaping the benefits of trail-based tourism and recreation. In fy25, the c&o canal trust continued to serve as the fiscal agent for the partnership and helped to support tourism in nearby communities.2) historic preservation and park infrastructure: the c&o canal trust raised $88,841 in fy25 to improve the resiliency and surface of the park's towpath, including support for towpath maintenance and rehabilitation, and repairs for historic culverts.3) natural resource conservation: the c&o canal trust raised $134,122 in fy25 to support the conservation of rare, threatened, and endangered plants and advance native plants throughout the park, including efforts for invasive plant management.4) in fy25, community outreach and canal for all programs focused on engaging a broad range of audiences throughout the park for recreational, volunteer, and educational opportunities. Community outreach initiatives welcomed over 1,400 youth and adults to locations throughout the c&o canal for experiential learning, fostering a shared responsibility for protecting, preserving, and restoring this national treasure. In addition, the c&o canal trust mobilized over 700 volunteers for the 18th year of the canal community days p

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 62%; rating input score 62
• Program expense ratio: 84.5%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: $96.27 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 86; 86th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 27.1%; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.68; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.18; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 9.7%; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 9.6% per year; rating input score 100; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 9.2% per year; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 16.1% per year; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings