Rails to Trails Conservancy

What it reported doing in 2024

Trail development: since its inception, rtc has worked to reimagine public corridors and rights of way for people to walk, bike and be active outside creating vibrant public spaces that engage, inspire and empower communities from coast to coast. This work embodies best practices and leading-edge initiatives to guide trail development in ways that promote community engagement, bring innovation to trail development and planning, and prioritize trail networks and the connections that trails can deliver between people and places.through our trailnation portfolio of projects, rtcs creating national models that showcase the outsized benefits that connected trails and active transportation routes can deliver - locally, regionally and nationally. The portfolio is focused on nine places across the country that are diverse in their geography, culture, size, and scope - southeast Wisconsin, the san francisco bay area, the industrial heartland (western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and New York state), greater philadelphia, Maryland, Washington, d.c., miami, northern New Jersey and new england. The lessons from trail nation are shared among rtc's trail nation collaborative, a nationwide peer learning community that brings together advocates, leaders, and professionals from across disciplines to establish and accelerate trail networks across america. The collaborative provides proven tools, methods, and resources, combined with rtc's expertise and network of partners across the country, to accelerate the development of connected trail systems. The great american rail trail is a flagship trail development project. It will be the nation's first cross-country multiuse trail, stretching more than 3,700 miles between Washington, d.c., and Washington state. This trail is an iconic piece of american infrastructure that will connect thousands of miles of rail-trails and other multiuse trails, serving tens of millions of people living along the route as well as those who visit the trail from around the country and the world. Rtc provides the national leadership and on the ground support - the work to organize people, plans, and ideas; trail planning and community engagement; and the advocacy and marketing to eventually complete the great american rail trail. Rtc continues to support trail builders nationwide in several ways, including managing an early warning system to notify stakeholders of upcoming railway abandonments; creating statewide trail inventories and development plans; providing technical assistance and grants for local trail development and management projects; and providing best practices training and education.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 81.4%; rating input score 81
• Program expense ratio: 74.9%; rating input score 75
• Fundraising efficiency: $4.97 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 95.9%; rating input score 96; 25th 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; 66th 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: -6.3%; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.63; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.27; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 12.1%; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.5% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.2% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 11.5% per year; rating input score 100; 71st percentile among comparable filings