South Mountain Conservancy Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Other programs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Wildflower Sculpture Park (WSP)* -- Started in 2012, this program offers the public the opportunity to see innovative art pieces in a naturalistic setting. Located on a broad strip of land outside the 14-acre Wildflower and Forest Preserve along Bear Lane and within the Preserve, the WSP provides artists a chance to present their work to the public and expand on ideas in a much larger format. It augments its set of 16 permanent pieces each year with three to four new works on short-term loan. In addition, the WSP curator, artists and volunteers occasionally provide classes for community groups to better understand the art and the creative process. The WSP is supported by grants and infrastructure improvements by the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs. In 2024, we had three new exhibits, two of which were installed in the adjoining Preserve. ----------------------------------------------------------------------*Fairy Trail* -- Nationally publicized (NY Times, Reader's Digest), this enormously popular half-mile path at the start of the Rahway Trail near the Locust Grove picnic area in Millburn features dozens of "fairy houses" consisting of weathered wood and natural materials built and maintained by SMC volunteers. Originally created and maintained independently by local resident Therese Ojibway, the South Mountain Conservancy joined with Therese several years ago to enhance the experience of visitors of all ages to improve the trail by putting down woodchips, installing railings, improving drainage, etc. Our aim is to make it sustainable in light of its enormous popularity. In 2022, when Therese left the area, the SMC recruited, trained, and provided resources for two new program coordinators to maintain and construct new houses, some in coordination with the local schools and community groups. In 2024, dozens of new houses were constructed in part through a competition that awarded prizes. These were installed just before our second "Fairy Tales at the Fairy Trail" program in May, which attracted hundreds of children and their families. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*Map and Wayfinding Systems* -- The Conservancy has spent significant resources publishing an updated SMR every few years since 2007 and expanding its wayfinding system to improve access to and the safety within the reservation. Ten large-sized kiosk displays are maintained at major access points to the reservation, along with 40 small, 12"x12" localized "mini-maps" at trail intersections. (The smaller maps have generally been installed as part of Eagle Scout projects we oversee.) In 2024, we continued to offer a smartphone app on the Avenza platform along with our printed 2023 SMR map. In addition, an updated map was used to update all 10 of the information kiosks through an Eagle Scout Project. These efforts are all in service to our mission to encourage safe exploration of the park. ----------------------------------------------- *Trail Maintenance and Construction* -- This stewardship program area involves an enormous volunteer effort throughout the year through four coordinated Conservancy programs. Though collectively these generally require far fewer financial resources than our Forest Regeneration program, it has a more direct impact on the thousands of people who visit the Reservation each month. These programs are: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Trailkeepers* Forty volunteers who independently monitor, brush back vegetation, clean water bars, culverts and swales, and blaze our 50-plus miles of trails and woods roads---------------------------------*Chainsaw

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 65.6%; rating input score 66
• Program expense ratio: 73.5%; rating input score 73

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Limited

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 16.7%; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.1; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 17.9% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 8.3% per year; rating input score 100; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 9.7% per year; rating input score 100; 71st percentile among comparable filings