Catawba Lands Conservancy

What it reported doing in 2024

The Carolina Thread Trail is an initiative to develop a regional network of greenways, trails and blueways (river paddling trails) that covers 1,600 miles and reaches 15 counties in both North and South Carolina, centered on the Greater Charlotte metropolitan area. It is a unique collaboration that will connect communities and conserved land via a network of trails developed through the implementation of locally adopted master plans that all connect to create a single network. The development of the network is predicated on cultivating partnerships with a variety of entities such as local governments, other non-profits and foundations, and private landowners.This long-term project will permanently protect the region's history, natural beauty, and social diversity, while conserving local lands and fostering free and equitable accessibility for residents and visitors. This includes enhancing bicycle and pedestrian transportation as a viable and convenient choice. The Thread Trail will connect more than 2.5 million citizens in North and South Carolina. It will connect points of regional and local significance. It provides multiple public benefits including economic development, conservation of land, enhancement of water quality, cleaner air, non-motorized transportation, and healthy recreation activities. At the end of 2024, there were 1,630 planned trail miles, of which approximately 435 trail miles and 200 designated blueway miles are complete.Previously, Carolina Thread Trail was a separate corporation that was a supporting organization of Foundation for the Carolinas. As of December 31, 2022, Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail merged. The merger eliminated the separate corporate entity for Carolina Thread Trail but otherwise did not affect its goals, objectives, personnel or plans.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 80%; rating input score 80
• Program expense ratio: 93.3%; rating input score 93
• Fundraising efficiency: $31.24 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 89.5%; rating input score 89; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd 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: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 15%; rating input score 71; 71st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 8.53; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 2.9%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.4% per year; rating input score 100; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.5% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 8.9% per year; rating input score 100; 54th percentile among comparable filings