Pontchartrain Conservancy

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
721152784
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024
Location
Metairie, LA, USA
Phone
5048362215
Rating
77
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Pollution Abatement and Control Services

Reported finances

Revenue
$3,340,085
Expenses
$3,492,859
Assets
$1,945,568
Liabilities
$1,016,191

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

20 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • KRISTI TRAIL (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

Highest reported compensation

  • KRISTI TRAIL (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $190,606 total reported compensation
  • HOLLI HAMILTON LINDSEY (DIRECTOR OF FINANCE): $95,477 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Pontchartrain conservancy's mission is to drive environmental sustainability and stewardship through scientific research, education, and advocacy.

What it reported doing in 2024

Restoration and preservation of the environmental and ecological balance of the lake pontchartrain basin, including community outreach and scientific programs. The outreach activities provide information and referrals regarding our research and educational information to those that live within and around the pontchartrain basin. Research is undertaken in areas such as urban and rural storm water, wastewater treatment systems, industrial discharges, agricultural discharges, saltwater intrusion, coastal land loss, and habitat restoration.pc's award-winning water quality program has produced one of the largest data sources available on the quality of the pontchartrain basin's waterways. Most importantly, our research led to the cleanup of one of the largest wetlands along the gulf coast. Pc's water quality program offers education, technical help, and assistance with permits to the owner/operators of wastewater treatment plants in the lake pontchartrain basin.pc's community program works with partners and community members to ensure that the Louisiana's beautiful pontchartrain basin is preserved and prospering for generations to come. Pc's new canal lighthouse and education center is the only place on the lake's southshore for residents and visitors to learn about our relationship with water and "touch the coast." in addition to daily tours led by pc educators and volunteer docents, we provide numerous hands-on stem learning opportunities for students.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 76% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Expenses are high relative to revenue and total assets are small relative to annual expenses; liquid coverage is unknown.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 80
  • Transparency & Controls: 67
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 22
  • Growth: 80

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 82.5%; rating input score 82
  • Program expense ratio: 78.6%; rating input score 79
  • Fundraising efficiency: $38.49 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 24th 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: 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: 9 of 9 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: 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: -4.6%; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.56; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.52; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 8.2%; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 6.2% per year; rating input score 100; 47th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 5.2% per year; rating input score 100; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: -0.9% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 82.5% of revenue deployed · 78.6% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 18 of 18 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $2.7M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $191K · 20 people listed · 1 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 1 contractor listed · $110K reported
  • Consistency: 38 of 38 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 7 filed schedules · includes major donors and executive pay
  • Filing history: 13 filing years from 2010 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 2 filed money-flow records
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
  • Staff and benefit plans: Retirement and health plans the organization files with the Department of Labor, and the people in them.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 21/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 20/100.
  • High — Growth: Asset growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 20/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 36/100.