Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota

What it reported doing in 2025

Research and public policy: p&tc's research & policy program advances data-driven decision-making that improves the planning, funding, and accessibility of parks and trails across Minnesota. As a trusted, independent source of analysis, the program equips policymakers, partners, and communities with credible research to inform public investments and policy decisions. By connecting research to advocacy, the program helps secure resources, protect access to outdoor recreation, and advance long-term conservation and recreation goals.see schedule o for addtional program language. In 2025, the program translated research and policy expertise into significant state-level impacts for parks and trails. During a challenging legislative session marked by a statewide budget deficit and cuts across government, p&tc's advocacy helped secure $3 million in additional general fund appropriations for state parks over the biennium, protecting critical funding for park operations and access. The program also helped keep state parks affordable by advancing alternatives to proposed fee increases, supported efforts to replace state park land lost in 2024, and secured $2 million for state trail rehabilitation thanks to data gathered through p&tc's research bike. Staff also provided research, testimony, and technical expertise alongside partners to advance trail projects driven by our friends group partners and supported environment and natural resources trust fund (enrtf) appropriations. Together, these efforts helped direct public funding toward maintaining and improving the parks and trails that communities rely on for recreation, health, and connection to the outdoors.finally, as the go to source of information on all things parks and trails, p&tc develops, maintains and updates several fact sheets that are used by decision makers and are accessible in the "our research" page of the "impact" section of our website at www.parksandtrails.org. A more detailed summary of p&tc's legislative accomplishments can also be found in "public investment" page of the "impact" section of our website.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 69.1%; rating input score 69
• Program expense ratio: 79.2%; rating input score 79
• Fundraising efficiency: $13.66 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings

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; 64th 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: 22.4%; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 11.47; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 17.7%; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.9% per year; rating input score 100; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.1% per year; rating input score 100; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2% per year; rating input score 100; 22nd percentile among comparable filings