Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Appalachian Trail Conservancy reported $23.5 million in revenue and $16.1 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $72.45 went to program services, $14.34 to management and general costs and $13.21 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 65.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $249,568 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 147% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $16MFor context, the median across 237 covered recreation & sports charities: $88.05 programs, $10.89 management, $1.06 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $24MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 72.4% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.3% | 10.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 13.2% | 1.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.14 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 65.8% | 25.2% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 26.0% | 61.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $249,568 | $365,322 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.55% | 2.14% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 16 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 26.7 | 14.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 20 of 20 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseFounded in 1925, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy works passionately to manage and protect the appalachian national scenic trail. As the only non-profit devoted exclusively to the entirety of the trail and its landscape, the atc endeavors to keep its vast natural and scenic beauty healthy, resilient, and connected, so that everyone can experience its transformative power for generations to come. Each year, the a.t. Landscape draws millions of visitors (16.9 million recreation visits in 2025), serves as a critical wildlife corridor and refuge for thousands of diverse species, and plays a…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 & CEO Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $230,137 | $0 | $19,431 | $249,568 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $167,919 | $0 | $19,942 | $187,861 |
| CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $166,397 | $0 | $18,735 | $185,132 |
| ASSOC VP DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $165,691 | $0 | $14,856 | $180,547 |
| VP OF REGIONAL & TRAIL OPE Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $155,083 | $0 | $17,713 | $172,796 |
| VP FOR CONSERVATION AND GOVERNMENT Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $156,403 | $0 | $15,667 | $172,070 |
| DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $121,959 | $0 | $16,474 | $138,433 |
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $21,499 | $0 | $817 | $22,316 |
16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Appalachian Trail Conservancy (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $460K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b20 · 20 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5129
- Volunteers Part I, line 64,592
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| RP3 LLC Consulting services | $655,121 |
| K2D STRATEGIES Consulting services | $303,256 |
| ONE SOURCE PRODUCTION Mailing services | $248,248 |
| ADVANTAGE TECHNOLOGY It services | $194,461 |
| MONUMENT ADVOCACY Consulting services | $164,320 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
75 private foundations reported grants to Appalachian Trail Conservancy totaling $663K 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 Appalachian Trail 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 Appalachian Trail Conservancy, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Appalachian Trail Conservancy spent in 2025, $72.45 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Young Men's Christian Association of Greater Waukesha CountyNew Berlin, WI · revenue $24M · programs 89.0% · 2025
- Leroy Springs & CompanyFort Mill, SC · revenue $24M · programs 85.7% · 2024
- United States Anti-Doping AgencyColorado Springs, CO · revenue $23M · programs 92.8% · 2024
- Lulu's PlaceEl Segundo, CA · revenue $24M · programs 64.3% · 2024
- Next Door FoundationMilwaukee, WI · revenue $23M · programs 87.8% · FY2025
All recreation & sports charities · Largest charities in West Virginia
Questions people ask
How much of Appalachian Trail Conservancy's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Appalachian Trail Conservancy reported that 72.4% of its $16.1 million in expenses went to program services, 14.3% to management and general and 13.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Appalachian Trail Conservancy pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Appalachian Trail Conservancy reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $249,568, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Appalachian Trail Conservancy get its money?
Of $23.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 65.8% came from contributions and grants and 26.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Appalachian Trail Conservancy a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-6046689 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202631359349304223 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202511359349300311 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202421769349300212 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202311359349308506 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202241619349300514 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202132429349300408 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202031979349301778 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-6046689: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.