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C&O Canal Trust Inc

EIN 30-0401642 · Williamsport, MD

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO PROTECT, RESTORE AND PROMOTE THE C&O CANAL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK. THE TRUST SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT THE PARK'S NATURAL, HISTORICAL, AND RECREATIONAL POTENTIAL IS FULLY REALIZED.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
9
Volunteers
700
Highest pay
$126,986, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 (3)
  1. $757,307 spent. INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION:AS THE OFFICIAL NONPROFIT PARTNER OF THE C&O CANAL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, THE C&O CANAL TRUST WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS) TO DEVELOP AND MANAGE UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE INTERPRETIVE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE. 1) THE C&O CANAL TRUST'S NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED AND AWARD-WINNING CANAL QUARTERS PROGRAM CONTINUES TO PROVIDE IMMERSIVE INTERPRETIVE EXPERIENCES FOR OVERNIGHT VISITORS. THE SEVEN RESTORED LOCKHOUSES PROVIDE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FROM DIFFERENT PERIODS IN THE C&O CANAL'S HISTORY. THE PROGRAM HOSTED 2,668 VISITORS FOR OVERNIGHT PROGRAMS IN FY24. 2) THE C&O CANAL TRUST PROVIDED CRITICAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE PARK'S CANAL CLASSROOMS EDUCATION PROGRAM WHICH DELIVERS CURRICULUM-BASED STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, MATH) INSTRUCTION TO AREA SCHOOL CHILDREN. PROGRAMS ARE TYPICALLY DELIVERED IN AN "OUTDOOR CLASSROOM" SETTING AT THE CANAL. IN FY24, OVER 3,000 STUDENTS VISITED THE PARK THROUGH THE CANAL CLASSROOMS PROGRAM, LEARNING ABOUT TOPICS SUCH AS WEATHERING & EROSION, DENDROLOGY, TRANSPORTATION HISTORY, IMMIGRANT HISTORY, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AND PLANT IDENTIFICATION. IN ADDITION TO FUNDING IN-PARK LEARNING PROGRAMS, THE TRUST'S SUPPORT ALSO INCLUDES THE PURCHASE OF INTERPRETIVE SUPPLIES AND RESOURCES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN CANAL EXPLORER BACKPACKS. 72 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY JOINED THE CANAL EXPLORER BACKPACK PROGRAM, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS FROM 40 TO 112. THE PROGRAM NOW INCLUDES 14 ALLEGANY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 26 WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND 72 MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHICH INCREASES THE REACH TO OVER 42,000 STUDENTS. EACH BACKPACK INCLUDES READY-MADE ACTIVITIES AND CURRICULUM THAT CAN BE PUT TO USE IN THE CLASSROOM, SCHOOLYARD, OR IN THE PARK. 3) THE C&O CANAL TRUST'S CANAL EXPLORER IS AN AWARD-WINNING DOWNLOADABLE GEOLOCATION-BASED MOBILE APP, THAT HAS BEEN DOWNLOADED BY MORE THAN 12,000 PARK VISITORS. THE APP FEATURES MORE THAN 800 POINTS OF INTEREST, INCLUDING INFORMATION ABOUT HISTORIC LANDMARKS, AND ASSISTS USERS WITH CREATING SAVED ITINERARIES.
  2. $3,467 spent. VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT:THE C&O CANAL TRUST ACTIVELY RECRUITS AND OVERSEES SEVERAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CARE AND SUPPORT OF THE PARK.1) THE C&O CANAL TRUST MOBILIZED OVER 700 VOLUNTEERS IN FY24 FOR THE 17TH YEAR OF THE CANAL COMMUNITY DAYS PROGRAM. THESE VOLUNTEERS DONATED OVER $300,000 WORTH OF IN-KIND LABOR TO CONSERVATION, ACCESS, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECTS IN THE PARK. 2) THE C&O CANAL TRUST'S VOLUNTEER QUARTERMASTERS PROGRAM CONTINUES TO PROVIDE VOLUNTEER SUPPORT FOR THE UPKEEP AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE AND PRESERVATION OF THE CANAL QUARTERS LOCKHOUSES. THE PROGRAM HAD 40 VOLUNTEER QUARTERMASTERS IN FY24.
  3. $271,044 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT:1) THE C&O CANAL TRUST CONNECTS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO IDENTIFY PRIORITIES AND ENGAGE THEIR SUPPORT IN KEY PARK INITIATIVES. THE CANAL TOWNS PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT ON BEHALF OF 11 COMMUNITIES ALONG THE CANAL, REAPING THE BENEFITS OF TRAIL-BASED TOURISM AND RECREATION. IN FY24, THE C&O CANAL TRUST CONTINUED TO SERVE AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR THE PARTNERSHIP AND HELPED TO SUPPORT TOURISM IN NEARBY COMMUNITIES.2) HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND PARK INFRASTRUCTURE(a) THE C&O TRUST RAISED $55,962 IN FY24 TO FUND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT THE PARK'S MULTI-YEAR TOWPATH RESURFACING CAMPAIGN.3) IN FY24, OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND CANAL FOR ALL PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON ENGAGING A BROAD RANGE OF AUDIENCES THROUGHOUT THE PARK FOR RECREATIONAL, VOLUNTEER, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES WELCOMED OVER 1,000 YOUTH AND ADULTS TO LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE C&O CANAL FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, FOSTERING A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROTECTING, PRESERVING, AND RESTORING THIS NATIONAL TREASURE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.