Friends of the Katy Trail

What Friends of the Katy Trail does

Friends of the Katy Trail is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997 that operates and maintains the 3.5-mile Katy Trail, an urban greenbelt park in Dallas, Texas built on an abandoned Union Pacific railroad line. The Trail serves Dallas residents, commuters, and visitors with paths for walking, running, cycling, and recreation, alongside supporting amenities including security patrols, lighting, water stations, organic landscaping, and safety signage funded by the organization on public land owned by the City of Dallas.

The organization runs a diversified fundraising and event operation. Annual membership donations start at $75 and support day-to-day operations; the 28th Annual Katy 5K presented by Michelob ULTRA is the flagship fundraiser, with tiered individual registration ($35 youth; $60-$80 standard; $155-$180 VIP). Supplemental revenue comes from event hosting fees ($1,000+ for two-hour table activations; $1,500+ minimum for run/walk activations), individual and corporate donations, named-feature gifts via the Greenscape Fund, and major capital campaigns. The 2018-2020 Complete the Trail Campaign raised $8.5M from more than 180 donors, and the 2024 Bond Projects Campaign closed at $3.53M including a $1M Addy Foundation gift and a $1M City of Dallas matching pledge.

FKT functions as the official managing partner of the Trail in partnership with the City of Dallas, holding exclusive responsibility for approving events and activations on the corridor. Operations are delivered by a 11-person team with major-gift leadership (e.g., Executive Director Amy Bean, Major Gifts Director Ann Whitley Wood) and an active Board, supported by flagship corporate partners including Michelob ULTRA and Katy Trail Ice House (over $700K lifetime contributions). The technology footprint is intentionally light: Blackbaud for payment processing, a direct website (katytraildallas.org), email newsletter, and social channels (Facebook, Strava, Spotify).

Name

Friends of the Katy Trail

Legal name

Friends of the Katy Trail

Website

https://katytraildallas.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Friends of the Katy Trail is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates and maintains the 3.5-mile Katy Trail urban greenbelt in Dallas, Texas, funding a $1.5M+ annual operating budget through memberships, sponsorships, donations, event hosting, and capital campaigns for residents, visitors, and corporate partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Donations: Annual membership donations that provide members access to events and discounts. Memberships fund security patrols, lights, water, organic landscaping, safety signage, and day-to-day operations.
2. Event Sponsorships: The Katy 5K presented by Michelob ULTRA is the largest event fundraiser. Sponsorships include race presenting sponsorship and various picnic partner and vendor opportunities.
3. Individual and Corporate Support: Corporate partnerships, individual donations, and capital campaign contributions. Major gifts include Addy Foundation $1M, Snyder Foundation $1M, Perot Family, Lyda Hill Philanthropies.
4. Event Hosting Fees: Table activations start at $1,000 for two hours. Run/Walk activations are priced per participant or minimum $1,500. Fees help sustain the beauty, safety, and accessibility of the urban greenspace.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Friends of the Katy Trail operates, maintains, and enhances the 3.5-mile Katy Trail urban greenbelt park in Dallas as a public space for recreation, wellness, and alternative transportation. It funds operations through annual memberships starting at $75, individual and corporate donations, the annual Katy 5K flagship event, and capital campaigns for trail improvements. The organization also manages and approves third-party events and activations held on the trail.

Product overview

Friends of the Katy Trail is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates and maintains the 3.5-mile Katy Trail urban greenbelt park in Dallas. The organization offers a suite of programs and services centered on trail stewardship, community engagement, and fundraising. Core offerings include trail operations and maintenance (funded by annual donations exceeding $1.5M), the annual Katy 5K flagship fundraising event, membership programs providing member benefits and event access, event/activation hosting on the trail, and capital campaigns for major improvements. Additional programs include the Katy Trail Art Program (including the upcoming KTX Art Biennial), the Greenscape Fund for naming trail features, an email newsletter, and volunteer opportunities. The portfolio works together to sustain and enhance the trail through diversified revenue streams and community participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Katy 5K: Annual 5K race event presented by Michelob ULTRA, one of Dallas's most iconic running events with the Katy Picnic Party finish line celebration.
• Katy Trail Ice House
• Snyder's Union
• Delagi Family Plaza

Products and services

• Katy Trail Operations & Maintenance Core service maintaining, enhancing, and advocating for the 3.5-mile Katy Trail urban greenbelt park in Dallas, including security patrols, lighting, water stations, organic landscaping, native plantings, and safety signage for the benefit of citizens, commuters, and visitors.
• Katy 5K Flagship annual fundraising event featuring a 5K run/walk through Turtle Creek, Uptown Dallas, and the Katy Trail, ending with a picnic party featuring local food vendors, live entertainment, sponsor activations, and VIP hospitality options.
• Membership Program Annual membership donation program starting at $75 per year that funds trail operations and provides members with access to events, discounts, and recognition benefits.
• Trail Events & Activations Management and exclusive approval of events, activations, and corporate gatherings on the Katy Trail. Includes table activations starting at $1,000 for two hours and run/walk events with a $1,500 minimum, plus corporate event sponsorships.
• Capital Campaigns Major multi-year fundraising initiatives for trail construction and enhancement projects. Notable campaigns include Complete the Trail (2018-2020) and the 2024 Bond Projects Campaign, each combining private donations with City of Dallas matching pledges.
• Katy Trail Art Program Public art installations on the Katy Trail, including holiday snowflake decorations, ongoing commissioned works, and the inaugural KTX Art Biennial, a first-of-its-kind-in-Texas public art exhibition opening April 2027.
• Greenscape Fund Dedicated giving program that allows donors to fund native landscaping, plantings, and green space enhancements along the trail, often with the opportunity to name a trail feature in connection with the gift.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trail usage quadrupled from 2021 to 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Michelob ULTRAflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the annual Katy 5K. Provides race beverages, branded merchandise, and marketing support for the flagship fundraising event.
• Katy Trail Ice HouseflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner and Award Finalist for Corporate Partner of the Year. Major supporter with donations totaling over $700,000. Their annual Katy Trail Ice House Invitational golf tournament (founded 2016) has donated $90,000 in 2023 alone.
• City of DallascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity owns the Trail land and partnered with FKT for 2024 Bond projects with a $1 million matching pledge. FKT is the official managing partner with exclusive responsibility for events and activations.
• Pegasus BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual donor providing holiday lights on the Trail, creating a sparkling winter wonderland for trail users.
• The Loop DallascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Loop Dallas project will connect a 50-mile path of trails around the city, including connection to the Katy Trail. This will further increase trail usage and importance.
• BumbleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that has hosted activations on the Katy Trail.
• Wings for LifeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRace organization that has hosted events on the Katy Trail.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Atlanta BeltLine: Atlanta-based nonprofit-led urban trail loop combining parks, trails, and transit. Comparable as a multi-mile urban trail operator with significant corporate partnerships, capital campaigns, and event programming.
• Emerald Necklace Conservancy: Boston-based nonprofit maintaining Frederick Law Olmsted-designed park system including urban trails and waterways. Comparable as a historic urban greenway stewardship nonprofit with membership and capital campaign model.
• Hudson River Park Trust: NYC public-benefit corporation operating a 4-mile waterfront park and trail along the Hudson River. Comparable in operating a major urban linear park with public-private partnership structure, events, and donor support.
• Klyde Warren Park: Dallas-based nonprofit foundation operating a 5.4-acre urban deck park over a freeway. The closest comparable peer given shared Dallas geography, nonprofit operating model, event programming, and corporate sponsorship strategy.
• The 606 / Friends of the 606: Chicago-based park and trail foundation operating the 606 elevated linear park. Comparable urban greenway operator with nonprofit stewardship, event hosting, and community programming model.
• Friends of the High Line: NYC-based nonprofit operating and maintaining the High Line elevated linear park built on a historic railroad. Direct comparable in operating an urban greenbelt, running major annual fundraising events, and managing corporate partnerships with public-land stewardship.

Broad incumbents

• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: National nonprofit dedicated to converting former rail corridors into multi-use trails. Highly comparable mission and trail-management focus, but operates at national advocacy and policy scale rather than single-asset operations.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on creating parks and protecting land for public use. Comparable park-building and capital campaign model, but at national scale across many geographies and asset types.
• Prospect Park Alliance: NYC-based nonprofit operating Brooklyn's 526-acre Prospect Park in partnership with the city. Comparable nonprofit that operates a major urban park, runs capital campaigns, and hosts major annual events.

Emerging players

• Friends of the Underline: Miami-based nonprofit developing the Underline, a 10-mile urban trail beneath the Metrorail. Emerging comparable peer with similar urban linear park concept at earlier stage of capital campaign and operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/katytraildallas
• Facebookfacebook.com/katytraildallas
• Instagraminstagram.com/katytraildallas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friends-of-the-katy-trail

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Friends of the Katy Trail