Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Address:	799 Washington Street, Post Office Box 807
	Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
Phone:	304-535-6331
Web Address:	www.appalachiantrail.org

ATC meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

ATC supplies stewardship for the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail to safeguard its expanse as a recreational, cultural and educational resource for the public. ATC reports collaborating with the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, 30 autonomous Trail-maintaining clubs, and more than 80 federal and state land-managing agency partners and volunteers. ATC coordinates with local agencies and officials as well as neighboring communities in the ATC Land Conservation Program. The organization also cooperates with landowners, government and conservation organizations in the acquisition and management of land along the Trail greenway for its preservation. During the peak months of the hiking season, ATC Ridgerunners and Caretakers live on the Trail to protect high-use sections of its corridor and resources, where they greet visitors, teach backcountry ethics, answer questions, and act as a resource for visitors. In addition to Trail construction and maintenance activities, ATC also provides information and responds to queries the general public has on Trail hiking, safe outdoor recreation, geography and history.

For the year ended December 31, 2009, ATC's program expenses were:

Conservation	2,130,597
Publications	1,456,720
Membership services	328,919
Education and outreach	129,236
Land Trust	121,303
Public information	32,045
Total Program Expenses:	$4,198,820

Chief Executive : David N. Startzell, Executive Director

Compensation*:

$126,405

Chair of the Board: Robert J. Almand
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Retired Vice President of Bank of America

Board Size: 16

Paid Staff Size: 45

*2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, cause-related marketing, and membership appeals.

Fund raising costs were 15% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $2,803,968, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on ATC's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds
Public support, contributions	1,550,217
Contractual services	1,543,817
Net realized and unrealized gains on investment	1,097,753
Memberships	1,078,533
Sales	960,889
In-kind contributions	175,218
Net investment income	145,714
Other income	128,520
Total Income	$6,680,661

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 79%  Fund Raising: 8%  Administrative: 13%

Total income				$6,680,661
	Program expenses			$4,198,820
	Fund raising expenses			409,317
	Administrative expenses			701,538
Total expenses				$5,309,675
Income in Excess of Expenses				1,370,986
Beginning net assets				8,021,640
Other Changes in Net Assets				(30,824)
Ending net assets				9,361,802
Total liabilities				3,398,083
Total assets				$12,759,885

Note: In the above financial summary, "other changes in net assets" represents ATC's annuity actuarial adjustment.