Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Partnership for the National Trails System

EIN 39-2015324 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO CONNECT, STRENGTHEN AND AMPLIFY A VIBRANT NETWORK OF PARTNERS UNITED TO PRESERVE, ENHANCE AND PROMOTE NATIONAL HISTORIC & SCENIC TRAILS.

Income
$506,575
Spending
$496,406
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 49%
Employees
5
Volunteers
42
Highest pay
$113,075, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2025, 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 (4)
  1. $331,887 spent. MEMBER SERVICES AND COORDINATION:THE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM (PNTS) IS A COLLECTIVE VOICE, A RESOURCE PROVIDER AND A HUB FOR EXCHANGE, LEARNING, AND ACTION FOR THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM. AS A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION AND THE ONLY 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON THE 32 NATIONAL SCENIC AND HISTORIC TRAILS (NSHT), PNTS BRINGS TOGETHER AND STRENGTHENS THE CAPACITY OF PROFESSIONALS, LEADERS AND TRAIL AND HIKING ENTHUSIASTS TO PROMOTE A THRIVING, ACCESSIBLE, AND INCLUSIVE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM.A UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC OF NSHT IS THAT THEY ARE COOPERATIVELY MANAGED BY FEDERAL ADMINISTRATORS AND PRIVATE NONPROFIT PARTNERS. THE 32 NSHT NONPROFIT PARTNERS ARE ALSO PNTS TRAIL ORGANIZATION MEMBERS AND OUR VOLUNTEER LEADERS. THIS ENSURES THAT OUR WORK IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE NATIONAL TRAILS AND ADVANCES THE VISION AND PRIORITIES OF THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM COMMUNITY. SIMILARLY, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH FEDERAL PARTNERS THROUGH COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS TO PROVIDE RESOURCES THAT ENHANCE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS' ABILITIES AND CAPACITIES AND TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC ISSUES IN THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM.
  2. $51,752 spent. TRAIL LAND CONSERVATION POLICY: THE PARTNERSHIP CONTINUED TO ENCOURAGE THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT AND THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE (USFS) TO ADOPT SPECIAL MANAGEMENT CORRIDORS TO GUIDE LAND USE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT FOR THE SCENIC AND HISTORIC TRAILS. DESPITE REDUCTIONS IN FORCE AND FROZEN FUNDING WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH BOTH DEPARTMENTS TO ADVANCE TRAIL INITIATIVES AND HOST THE LANDS SUMMIT IN SAN ANTONIO TO ADDRESS PROTECTING TRAIL CORRIDORS.
  3. $56,553 spent. NEXT GENERATION PROGRAMS:THE PARTNERSHIP CONTINUED THE YOUTH OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM BEGUN IN 2009 WITH FEDERAL FUNDING BY PROVIDING GRANTS TO THE NATIONAL TRAILS PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO FUND TRAIL APPRENTICES TO WORK ON PROJECTS, PROGRAMS, AND ACTIVITIES DETERMINED TO BE PRIORITIES BY EACH TRAIL PARTNERSHIP. WE ALSO PROVIDED STIPENDS TO SEVEN TRAIL APPRENTICES FOR THE 2025 WORKSHOP IN SAN ANTONIO.
  4. $6,575 spent. ADVOCACY:HOSTED HIKE THE HILL 2025, AN ANNUAL CONVENING OF TRAILS GROUPS TO MEET IN WASHINGTON DC AND DISCUSS POLICY WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES AND LEGISLATION WITH CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES. IN 2024, WE SUCCEEDED IN OBTAINING A LINE ITEM FOR TRAILS FUNDING IN THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT BUDGET AND SUCCEEDED IN ACHIEVING UNIT STATUS FOR ALL OF THE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAILS WITHIN THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. IN 2025 WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE LINE ITEM FUNDING FOR TRAILS STATIC RATHER THAN REDUCED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 December 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 March 2003.

    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.