FRIENDS OF THE BETSIE VALLEY TRAIL
Helping to make the Trail beautiful and accessible for all
Mission
We are the Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail. A 501(c)3 charitable organization whose sole purpose is to foster the development and successful operation of the Trail. The Friends provide financial, promotional, volunteer labor and supervisorial support for the Trail.
Ruling year
1994
President
Jed Maker
Main address
PO Box 474
Beulah, MI 49617 USA
EIN
38-3092450
NTEE code
Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (N12)
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
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Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
There are two distinct target populations for the Trail: residents and tourists. The Trail provides residents of Elberta with access to a grocery store, restaurants, shops and businesses, and the beach in Frankfort without having to ride a bicycle, or walk on highway M-22. The Trail similarly provides residents of Frankfort with safe access to restaurants and businesses in Elberta, plus the Elberta Bluff natural area, and the Elberta beach.
The Trail provides tourists with an opportunity to sightsee at a slower pace, and visit natural areas that aren't accessible by car. Tourists can also visit neighboring communities without having to drive and find a place to park their car.
Both tourists and residents utilize the Trail as a safe place for outdoor recreation and fitness activities.
In the nearly 20 years the Trail has been in place, the daily usage provides evidence that there is a need for non-motorized travel in the community.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Trail maintenance and education
Raise funds to provide for Trail maintenance, and educate the public about the Trail.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of Facebook followers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of website sessions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail non-profit organization was formed in 1993 "to advocate, promote and encourage the development and successful operation of a recreational trail on the former Ann Arbor Railroad corridor in Benzie County." For over 20 years it has supported the efforts of the DNR and County in creating the Trail, and intends to see that the Trail is maintained and enjoyed.
The Friends grant funds for the maintenance of the Trail above the annual $10,000 grant from the DNR. The Trail is regularly blown free of debris, and volunteers along with Trail Adopters conduct clean-up events. Signage, benches, and overlooks have all been installed over the years.
The Friends communicate by mail three times a year with its membership of 300+, plus an additional list of 400+ individuals and families that have donated to the Trail over the years. These solicitations raise approximately $30,000 annually.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail communicates by mail three times a year with its membership of 300+, plus an additional list of 400+ individuals and families that have donated to the Trail over the years. The Friends also communicates monthly to a list of 400+ e-news subscribers, and 400+ Facebook followers. These solicitations bring in ~$30,000 annually.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail consists of a Board of 9 volunteer members, plus an ex-officio Trail Care Coordinator who oversees maintenance and construction needs for the Trail. They are 100% paid-up members of The Friends, and have made monetary donations of varying amounts to both the operating account and the Wm. R. Olsen Endowment for the Betsie Valley Trail.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The Trail corridor was acquired by the DNR in 1996, and the Trail was paved between Frankfort and Beulah in 2000. All 22 miles of the Trail are maintained regularly with the assistance of a grant from the DNR.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
FRIENDS OF THE BETSIE VALLEY TRAIL
Board of directorsas of 03/04/2023
Jed Maker
Tom Jackson
Avace Wildie
Jan Fiola
Doug Cook
Fred Stransky
Charlie Gregory
Chris Remy
Hunter Steinkamp
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? No -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
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