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Alabama Trails Foundation Inc

EIN 46-0843052 · Birmingham, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ALABAMA TRAILS FOUNDATION IS TO GUIDE AND PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRAILS BY CONNECTING CITIZENS AND COMMUNITIES WITH THEIR HISTORICAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALABAMA

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 72%
Employees
0
Volunteers
15

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

Fair: 69 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 80% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% 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

Good: 84 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 (3)
  1. $953,119 spent. THE ALABAMA TRAILS FOUNDATION (ATF) SUPPORTS TRAILS THAT BRING ALABAMIANS TOGETHER. TRAILS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUTSIDE, TO MOVE AND EXERCISE, TO EXPERIENCE NATURE AT A TIME WHEN WE ALL NEED A LITTLE SPACE TO DECOMPRESS. TRAILS PROVIDE ECONOMIC IMPACTS IN COMMUNITIES LARGE AND SMALL, FROM TOURISM DOLLARS AND FROM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. TRAILS HELP TELL THE STORIES OF ALABAMA'S PAST, ALL WHILE BRINGING US TOGETHER ON A COMMON PATH MOVING FORWARD.CONCENTRATING ON PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE THE LEADERSHIP FROM A NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION WITH A MANDATE FROM THE STATE OF ALABAMA, THE ALABAMA TRAILS FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO DEEPEN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES. WE HAVE DUG INTO LARGER PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF POLICIES AND LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. WE ARE MAKING MULTI-YEAR INVESTMENTS IN BUILDING THE FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF SUSTAINABLE TRAILS.WE'VE SPOKEN WITH ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS ALABAMA, SHARED OUR TRAILS KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE OF THIS SPECTACULAR PLACE, AND CONTINUED TO GROW OUR NETWORK. WE'VE WORKED WITH STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS AS PART OF OUR ONGOING MISSION TO IMPROVE FLAGG MOUNTAIN, INCLUDING SHEPHERDING THE SITE BECOMING A NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTER SITE, AND SUPPORTING BRINGING WATER TO THE MOUNTAIN. WE'VE BEGUN WORKING WITH THE ALABAMA TOURISM DEPARTMENT TO HELP PREPARE FOR THE 2025 YEAR OF ALABAMA TRAILS CAMPAIGN.
  2. $25,104 spent. 100 ALABAMA MILES CHALLENGE -AN ONGOING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO INSPIRE ALABAMIANS TO WALK, RUN, HIKE, BIKE, SWIM, PADDLE, RIDE, OR ROLL 100 MILES EACH YEAR AND TO DO SO BY EXPLORING THE THOUSANDS OF MILES OF TRAILS AVAILABLE AT ALABAMA'S PARKS, NATURE PRESERVES, AND RIVERS.
  3. $1,028 spent. CAHABA BLUEWAY - THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR THE CAHABA BLUEWAY PROJECT WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING IT GROW INTO ITS OWN SIGNIFICANT PROGRAM. THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA CENTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (UACED) LAUNCHED THE CAHABA BLUEWAY INITIATIVE OVER SEVEN YEARS AGO DEDICATING STAFF AND RESOURCES TO EMPOWER THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF ALABAMA'S LONGEST SUBSTANTIALLY FREE-FLOWING RIVER AS A MARKETABLE OUTDOOR RECREATION DESTINATION.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2015 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on November 15, 2015.

    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 December 2015.

    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.