Portland Trails

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
010463028
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Portland, ME, USA
Phone
2077752411
Rating
74
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Natural Resources Conservation and Protection

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$853,332
Expenses
$937,123
Assets
$1,900,065
Liabilities
$108,179

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

Leadership & pay

14 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • RHONDA FORRESTER (PRESIDENT)
  • PAUL BOTTICELLO (PRESIDENT EM)

Highest reported compensation

  • JON KACHMAR (EXECUTIVE DI): $104,059 total reported compensation

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

Overview

Mission

Over the next five years, portland trails will work to transform greater portland into a regional hub of connectivity and sustainability. By facilitating the expansion and enhancement of our trail network, we will foster inclusive community partnerships and champion innovative, climate- resilient infrastructure and alter behaviors that favor greater trail usage. We will work to ensure that all community members have equitable access to safe, vibrant public spaces, promote safe active transportation options, and position greater portland as a leader in active transportation options and sustainable stewardship. As we evolve, we will grow sustainable sources of funding and collaborate with local partners to create a robust, interconnected trail system that catalyzes community health, wellness, and transportation innovation.

What it reported doing in 2024

Now 32 years old, portland trails is a non-profit urban land trust that serves the 230,000+ residents of greater portland and many of the area's 4 million annual visitors. The 76+ mile trail network, which is within a 10- minute walk of every residence, provides free nature-based recreation and transportation options for adults and children. Guided by the foundational belief that trails are tools for community change, portland trails is focusing on reducing social barriers so that all of our neighbors feel welcome and safe on the trails. While the trails physically reach within 1/4 mile of every resident in portland, not everyone feels welcome, safe, and comfortable in these public spaces. Trails not only provide an important connection to nature but serve as a vital link in a more equitable transportation network, connect neighbors and neighborhoods, improve economic development, enhance ecological and human health, and create a more vibrant community. In 2022, portland trails focused on three main areas of work: building new trails and providing necessary maintenance and upgrades to existing trails, improving wayfinding and mapping within the network, and developing and launching the healthier neighborhoods for all program. Portland trails started its largest trail project in a decade: the clark brook trail in westbrook. This trail project, funded generously by the idexx foundation, will provide a critical off-road link between portland and westbrook. Additionally, the trail will meet official byway standards, meaning it is six feet wide with a smooth stone dust surface. It's designed for commuting and is suitable for road bicycles, strollers, and potentially wheelchairs in the right weather conditions. Another area of focus was new trail users; connecting with people who are not using trails, and making improvements to the trail experience so that all feel safe and welcome. With the assistance of an americorps volunteer, portland trails created new signage and "you are here" maps to guide people throughout the trail system. 2022 also saw the launch of our healthier neighborhoods for all program with the hiring of our first full-time inclusion coordinator, angelique bitshilualua. The purpose of this program is to improve the health of portland's neighborhoods, with a focus on low- income, bipoc, and immigrant residents, by increasing awareness and usage of local trails and outdoor spaces. Portland trails looks forward to the development of this program, and working with residents to co-create community-driven changes in their neighborhoods that support active lifestyles, improve mental health, and provide car-free transportation opportunities.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 83% 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 - The filed numbers largely add up and most voting board members are independent. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and a relatively small share of total spending goes to programs.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 53
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 90
  • Sustainability: 37
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 59.1%; rating input score 59
  • Program expense ratio: 51.9%; rating input score 52
  • Fundraising efficiency: $7.42 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 28; 28th 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; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
    • 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: Fail
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -9.8%; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.03; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 11.1%; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 4.2% per year; rating input score 100; 38th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 5.2% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 5.6% per year; rating input score 100; 41st percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 59.1% of revenue deployed · 51.9% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 13 of 13 board members independent · 6 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $486K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $104K · 14 people listed
  • Consistency: 30 of 30 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 14 filing years from 2010 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • 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.

Key Signals

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

  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 59/100.
  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Program expense ratio scored 52/100.
  • High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 28/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: 2 of 8 not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 17/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 33/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 50/100.