About Appalachian Trail Conservancy
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s mission is to protect, manage, and advocate for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
Focus Areas
conservationland protectiontrail managementadvocacyoutdoor recreationeducationyouth engagementvolunteer programs
Who They Fund
trail stewards, ridgerunners and rangers (A.T. staff)hikers and trail userslocal land/park managers and conservation organizationsyouth participants and summit attendeesheritage/museum organizations (archives)
About Appalachian Trail Conservancy
A $1.34 million purchase-assistance grant to The Conservation Fund stands out in the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s recent giving and points to the scale of its land-focused work. The conservancy funds conservation and land protection alongside trail management, advocacy, outdoor recreation, education, youth engagement, volunteer programs, and heritage documentation. Recent grants also show support for on-the-ground trail staffing and stewardship, including ridgerunner and ranger roles, conservation planning, and infrastructure support tied to the Appalachian Trail corridor. The pattern is practical and place-based. In one stream of grantmaking, the conservancy backed large-landscape protection and conservation planning; in another, it supported regional trail clubs and partner organizations that maintain trail experience and visitor access. It also funded archives work at George Mason University Foundation Inc and museum support for the Appalachian Trail Museum Soc, showing that its interests extend beyond the trail tread itself to the record and history of the A.T. community. Several awards are tied to named programs such as TAG grants, Wild East Action Fund land-protection grants, and ridge-runner support, all consistent with a conservation organization funding project-specific work along the Appalachian Trail landscape.
What Appalachian Trail Conservancy Funds
Land protection is a clear throughline. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy gave $45,000 to Ndponics for a Wild East Action Fund land protection grant, and it also supported The Conservation Fund with $23,000 for a Tennessee TAG grant. Those awards sit alongside other land and landscape efforts, including large-landscape and conservation planning support. Trail stewardship is another major area. The conservancy awarded $31,631 to Potomac Appal Trail Club for Virginia, Maryland, and Michaux ridgerunner positions, and $11,811 to Carolina Mountain Club for Walnut Mountain abatement and relocation and a Hot Springs kiosk. Education and youth engagement appear in the grant record too: Potomac Appal Trail Club received $31,005 for Virginia TAG, ridgerunners, and youth summits. Heritage work also appears through $20,000 to George Mason University Foundation Inc for initial processing of archives.
How Appalachian Trail Conservancy Gives
Typical awards are modest to mid-sized, with a p25 of $10,000, a median of $15,000, and a p75 of $30,502. The record includes both very large land-acquisition support and many smaller operating or project grants tied to trail staffing, stewardship, and planning. Recipients recur across years: Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, Potomac Appal Trail Club, Carolina Mountain Club, and Gatc Doug Haas each appear more than once. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Grants in the sample are project-based and often linked to named initiatives such as TAG, ridgerunner, and Wild East Action Fund support.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.1M
Total Assets
$46.3M
Total Revenue
$19.4M
Total Expenses
$14.1M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $31K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$31K
Geographic Reach
Regional10 states funded
About 0% of grants go to recipients in NC.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
SANDRA MARRA
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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