Connecticut Resource Conservation & Dev Area Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

The environmental review team provides technical assistance to towns and land trusts through reports with an emphasis on open space, natural resources, and agricultural planning. Ct rc&d has been providing ert services since 1969 and has completed over 1,000 reports throughout Connecticut's 169 municipalities. This service is important because it AIDS in meeting the challenges of land use decision making at no-cost, or very low cost. Https://ctert.org/ the ct farm energy program provides technical assistance to agricultural producers and agriculture based rural small businesses. This program provides a public service to farms and rural small businesses by identifying which renewable energy systems are appropriate to their site, evaluating the financial and technical feasibility of implementation, and performing renewable energy assessments. Https://ctfarmenergy.org/ the climate smart agriculture sub grant program and agriculture equipment sharing hub has served over 50 ct farmers by providing financial support to those seeking to implement climate smart energy or soil health projects through a sub grant program and by establishing and managing 4 equipment hubs around the state. Https://ctrcd.org/climate-smart-agriculture/ the job jumpstart (jjs) program fosters the professional development of job jumpstart program staff, through job placement in usda nrcs offices, to support future conservationist careers. The ct soil health initiative focuses on education and outreach opportunities that include on-farm training exercises. This program increases awareness, at a statewide level, about soil health, climate-smart agricultural practices, and innovative soil health techniques to agricultural producers, forest landowners, federal agency staff, local land use officials, and partner organizations alike. Https://ctrcd.org/agriculture/soil-health-initiative/ veteran farmer resource hub and marketing initiative established a ct veteran grown marketing initiative. Through this program, ct rc&d has offered outreach/trainings, workshops/farm field days, and networking opportunities. In addition, the veteran farmer resource hub consists of direct marketing assistance and an online ct veteran grown webpage. The webpage will house resources, usda program information, training videos, event listings of upcoming training, and other at-your-own-pace learning opportunities available to all veteran farmers in Connecticut. Https://ctveterangrown.org/

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 77.4%; rating input score 77
• Program expense ratio: 85.9%; rating input score 86
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• 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: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 10.7%; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.85; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.43; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.6%; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 15.1% per year; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 14% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3.8% per year; rating input score 100; 33rd percentile among comparable filings