Portland Trails
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, PORTLAND TRAILS WILL WORK TO TRANSFORM GREATER PORTLAND INTO A REGIONAL HUB OF CONNECTIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY. BY FACILITATING THE EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMENT OF OUR TRAIL NETWORK, WE WILL FOSTER INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND CHAMPION INNOVATIVE, CLIMATE- RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALTER BEHAVIORS THAT FAVOR GREATER TRAIL USAGE. WE WILL WORK TO ENSURE THAT ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SAFE, VIBRANT PUBLIC SPACES, PROMOTE SAFE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, AND POSITION GREATER PORTLAND AS A LEADER IN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND SUSTAINABLE STEWARDSHIP. AS WE EVOLVE, WE WILL GROW SUSTAINABLE SOURCES OF FUNDING AND COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO CREATE A ROBUST, INTERCONNECTED TRAIL SYSTEM THAT CATALYZES COMMUNITY HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND TRANSPORTATION INNOVATION.
- Income
- $853,332
- Spending
- $937,123
- Spent on programs
- 52%
- Reserves
- 15 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 84%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 922
- Highest pay
- $104,059, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1552% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $486,139 spent. NOW 32 YEARS OLD, PORTLAND TRAILS IS A NON-PROFIT URBAN LAND TRUST THAT SERVES THE 230,000+ RESIDENTS OF GREATER PORTLAND AND MANY OF THE AREA'S 4 MILLION ANNUAL VISITORS. THE 76+ MILE TRAIL NETWORK, WHICH IS WITHIN A 10- MINUTE WALK OF EVERY RESIDENCE, PROVIDES FREE NATURE-BASED RECREATION AND TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN. GUIDED BY THE FOUNDATIONAL BELIEF THAT TRAILS ARE TOOLS FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE, PORTLAND TRAILS IS FOCUSING ON REDUCING SOCIAL BARRIERS SO THAT ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS FEEL WELCOME AND SAFE ON THE TRAILS. WHILE THE TRAILS PHYSICALLY REACH WITHIN 1/4 MILE OF EVERY RESIDENT IN PORTLAND, NOT EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME, SAFE, AND COMFORTABLE IN THESE PUBLIC SPACES. TRAILS NOT ONLY PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT CONNECTION TO NATURE BUT SERVE AS A VITAL LINK IN A MORE EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK, CONNECT NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, IMPROVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ENHANCE ECOLOGICAL AND HUMAN HEALTH, AND CREATE A MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY. IN 2022, PORTLAND TRAILS FOCUSED ON THREE MAIN AREAS OF WORK: BUILDING NEW TRAILS AND PROVIDING NECESSARY MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES TO EXISTING TRAILS, IMPROVING WAYFINDING AND MAPPING WITHIN THE NETWORK, AND DEVELOPING AND LAUNCHING THE HEALTHIER NEIGHBORHOODS FOR ALL PROGRAM. PORTLAND TRAILS STARTED ITS LARGEST TRAIL PROJECT IN A DECADE: THE CLARK BROOK TRAIL IN WESTBROOK. THIS TRAIL PROJECT, FUNDED GENEROUSLY BY THE IDEXX FOUNDATION, WILL PROVIDE A CRITICAL OFF-ROAD LINK BETWEEN PORTLAND AND WESTBROOK. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRAIL WILL MEET OFFICIAL BYWAY STANDARDS, MEANING IT IS SIX FEET WIDE WITH A SMOOTH STONE DUST SURFACE. IT'S DESIGNED FOR COMMUTING AND IS SUITABLE FOR ROAD BICYCLES, STROLLERS, AND POTENTIALLY WHEELCHAIRS IN THE RIGHT WEATHER CONDITIONS. ANOTHER AREA OF FOCUS WAS NEW TRAIL USERS; CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT USING TRAILS, AND MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRAIL EXPERIENCE SO THAT ALL FEEL SAFE AND WELCOME. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF AN AMERICORPS VOLUNTEER, PORTLAND TRAILS CREATED NEW SIGNAGE AND "YOU ARE HERE" MAPS TO GUIDE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE TRAIL SYSTEM. 2022 ALSO SAW THE LAUNCH OF OUR HEALTHIER NEIGHBORHOODS FOR ALL PROGRAM WITH THE HIRING OF OUR FIRST FULL-TIME INCLUSION COORDINATOR, ANGELIQUE BITSHILUALUA. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF PORTLAND'S NEIGHBORHOODS, WITH A FOCUS ON LOW- INCOME, BIPOC, AND IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS, BY INCREASING AWARENESS AND USAGE OF LOCAL TRAILS AND OUTDOOR SPACES. PORTLAND TRAILS LOOKS FORWARD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROGRAM, AND WORKING WITH RESIDENTS TO CO-CREATE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN CHANGES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SUPPORT ACTIVE LIFESTYLES, IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH, AND PROVIDE CAR-FREE TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES. NOW 32 YEARS OLD, PORTLAND TRAILS IS A NON-PROFIT URBAN LAND TRUST THAT SERVES THE 230,000+ RESIDENTS OF GREATER PORTLAND AND MANY OF THE AREA'S 4 MILLION ANNUAL VISITORS. THE 76+ MILE TRAIL NETWORK, WHICH IS WITHIN A 10- MINUTE WALK OF EVERY RESIDENCE, PROVIDES FREE NATURE-BASED RECREATION AND TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN. GUIDED BY THE FOUNDATIONAL BELIEF THAT TRAILS ARE TOOLS FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE, PORTLAND TRAILS IS FOCUSING ON REDUCING SOCIAL BARRIERS SO THAT ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS FEEL WELCOME AND SAFE ON THE TRAILS. WHILE THE TRAILS PHYSICALLY REACH WITHIN 1/4 MILE OF EVERY RESIDENT IN PORTLAND, NOT EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME, SAFE, AND COMFORTABLE IN THESE PUBLIC SPACES. TRAILS NOT ONLY PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT CONNECTION TO NATURE BUT SERVE AS A VITAL LINK IN A MORE EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK, CONNECT NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, IMPROVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ENHANCE ECOLOGICAL AND HUMAN HEALTH, AND CREATE A MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY. IN 2022, PORTLAND TRAILS FOCUSED ON THREE MAIN AREAS OF WORK: BUILDING NEW TRAILS AND PROVIDING NECESSARY MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES TO EXISTING TRAILS, IMPROVING WAYFINDING AND MAPPING WITHIN THE NETWORK, AND DEVELOPING AND LAUNCHING THE HEALTHIER NEIGHBORHOODS FOR ALL PROGRAM. PORTLAND TRAILS STARTED ITS LARGEST TRAIL PROJECT IN A DECADE: THE CLARK BROOK TRAIL IN WESTBROOK. THIS TRAIL PROJECT, FUNDED GENEROUSLY BY THE IDEXX FOUNDATION, WILL PROVIDE A CRITICAL OFF-ROAD LINK BETWEEN PORTLAND AND WESTBROOK. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRAIL WILL MEET OFFICIAL BYWAY STANDARDS, MEANING IT IS SIX FEET WIDE WITH A SMOOTH STONE DUST SURFACE. IT'S DESIGNED FOR COMMUTING AND IS SUITABLE FOR ROAD BICYCLES, STROLLERS, AND POTENTIALLY WHEELCHAIRS IN THE RIGHT WEATHER CONDITIONS. ANOTHER AREA OF FOCUS WAS NEW TRAIL USERS; CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT USING TRAILS, AND MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRAIL EXPERIENCE SO THAT ALL FEEL SAFE AND WELCOME. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF AN AMERICORPS VOLUNTEER, PORTLAND TRAILS CREATED NEW SIGNAGE AND "YOU ARE HERE" MAPS TO GUIDE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE TRAIL SYSTEM. 2022 ALSO SAW THE LAUNCH OF OUR HEALTHIER NEIGHBORHOODS FOR ALL PROGRAM WITH THE HIRING OF OUR FIRST FULL-TIME INCLUSION COORDINATOR, ANGELIQUE BITSHILUALUA. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF PORTLAND'S NEIGHBORHOODS, WITH A FOCUS ON LOW- INCOME, BIPOC, AND IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS, BY INCREASING AWARENESS AND USAGE OF LOCAL TRAILS AND OUTDOOR SPACES. PORTLAND TRAILS LOOKS FORWARD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROGRAM, AND WORKING WITH RESIDENTS TO CO-CREATE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN CHANGES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SUPPORT ACTIVE LIFESTYLES, IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH, AND PROVIDE CAR-FREE TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1992.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
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