The Pisgah Conservancy

What it reported doing in 2024

Supporting recreation - maintenance and construction - a primary goal of tpc will be to enhance the recreational experience of visitors to the pisgah while protecting the rich natural resources that attract them in the first place. Construction and maintenance of infrastructure, including trails, trailheads, buildings, monuments, parking lots, and other facilities will play a central role in accomplishing that goal. We work to maintain trail stability, reduce erosion and flow of sediments to waterways, prevent unacceptable trail impacts on wildlife and cultural resources, ensure that trails and trail shelters are not in disrepair and are supported by user groups and volunteers, make sure that they serve a meaningful purpose within a trail complex (or, if not, support their decommissioning), promote user safety (including through improved signage), help open and maintain approved scenic vistas, and contribute sustainable funding for the trails. We also seek to make improvements to trails and trailheads that are aesthetically pleasing. To the extent reasonably possible they should blend with the landscape and augment the natural beauty of the pisgah. Watershed improvement - through our trail maintenance and education programs we help reduce sediment runoff and keep trash from fouling our streams and rivers. When needed, we will take other steps to improve riparian health, opening clogged culverts, reducing damage from river access sites, and the like. Non-native invasive species eradication - we support the eradication of non-native invasive species from the pisgah in conjunction with the efforts of the forest service and other agencies. Removal of waste, litter, & graffiti - we support the forest service and organizations employed by the forest service in keeping the pisgah pristine. It is not acceptable to have waste, litter, and graffiti spoiling our campgrounds, trails, rivers, and forests. We plan to help through our education and volunteer activities to keep them clean and beautiful. Wildlife habitat improvement & restoration - we take steps to maintain and improve the environment for wildlife on the pisgah, in conjunction with the forest service and in accordance with its policies. Education - our goal is to enhance the awareness of individuals in local communities and users of the pisgah about its importance to our region and what is needed to protect it. We promote "leave-no-trace" principles, encouraging methods of trail usage that reduce damage to the environment. We will provide mechanisms both for educating users and for improving feedback to government agencies and volunteer trail maintainers on trail conditions.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 58%; rating input score 58
• Program expense ratio: 66.5%; rating input score 66
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.9 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 19th 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 7 controls in place; rating input score 86
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • 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: 14%; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.06; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.07; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 21.3% per year; rating input score 100; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 23.5% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 28.7% per year; rating input score 100; 90th percentile among comparable filings