Rails to Trails Conservancy
Rails to Trails Conservancy reported $13.3 million in revenue and $14.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $74.88 went to program services, $8.57 to management and general costs and $16.55 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 87.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $365,031 (PRESIDENT). 21 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 27% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $14MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $13MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 74.9% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.6% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 16.6% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.20 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 87.5% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.1% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 7.0% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $365,031 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.58% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 21 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 14.3 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 18 of 18 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseTrail 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…
Public information/events: rtc serves as the voice of the trail's movement, speaking out about the transformative power of trails, encouraging their use, and generating demand for trails nationwide. Rtc's flagship initiative, traillink.com served millions of visitors in 2025 providing access to more than 5,300 trails representing 41,000 miles through its website and five-star rated apps. This trail content is also offered in a series of print guidebooks. Through storytelling and direct engagement, rtc shares information about trails across a variety of public channels that collectively reach…
Trail policy: as the nation's foremost advocacy organization for trails and active transportation, rtc seeks to grow and safeguard public funding for trails, walking and bicycling at every level - federal, state and local - ensuring the investments needed to create a transformative 21st century active transportation system in america and promoting policies that make trail building possible. At the federal level, rtc leads efforts to grow and protect the legacy transportation alternatives program (which includes the recreational trails program) - the largest source of funding for trail…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $318,418 | $0 | $46,613 | $365,031 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $211,807 | $0 | $42,077 | $253,884 |
| VP OF POLICY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $188,141 | $0 | $40,682 | $228,823 |
| VP OF COMMUNICATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $179,969 | $0 | $40,458 | $220,427 |
| CTO Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $185,132 | $0 | $32,505 | $217,637 |
| VP OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $175,164 | $0 | $39,896 | $215,060 |
| VP OF TRAIL DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $175,519 | $0 | $34,162 | $209,681 |
21 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Rails to Trails Conservancy (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $640K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b18 · 18 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 558
- Volunteers Part I, line 625
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| GENERAL SYSTEMS CORP Data management and programming | $568,460 |
| PLANET DIRECT MAIL Direct mail services | $333,043 |
| MKDM Fundraising services | $315,278 |
| THE SCOTT GROUP INC Direct mail services | $253,929 |
| AMAZONCOM SERVICES LLC Fulfillment services | $205,318 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 14 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
83 private foundations reported grants to Rails to Trails Conservancy totaling $1.1M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Rails to Trails Conservancy's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Rails to Trails Conservancy, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Rails to Trails Conservancy spent in FY2025, $74.88 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Society for the Protection of New Hampshire ForestsConcord, NH · revenue $13M · programs 76.9% · FY2025
- Research Center on Natural ConservationHarriman, NY · revenue $13M · programs 83.2% · 2024
- IslandwoodBainbridge Island, WA · revenue $13M · programs 76.5% · FY2025
- CalCef InnovationsBerkeley, CA · revenue $13M · programs 76.6% · 2024
- Empire Discovery InstituteRochester, NY · revenue $13M · programs 73.9% · 2024
All environment charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Rails to Trails Conservancy's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Rails to Trails Conservancy reported that 74.9% of its $14.1 million in expenses went to program services, 8.6% to management and general and 16.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Rails to Trails Conservancy pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Rails to Trails Conservancy reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $365,031, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Rails to Trails Conservancy get its money?
Of $13.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 87.5% came from contributions and grants (including 1.1% from government grants) and 7.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Rails to Trails Conservancy a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1437006 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202600429349301400 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202510499349300141 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202430519349300623 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202320729349301112 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202210419349300236 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202100409349301350 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1437006: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.