The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is a nonprofit, membership based, organization that is the principal conserver of the Appalachian Trail. While the current connections between the ATC and the Trail clubs is more compatible today, their intial relationship was strained. In the 1970s, there was minimal contact between the ATC and clubs, with only social metings every few years. However, the ATC belived that they should have more of a substantial role among the Trail clubs, and soon the clubs were brought under the ATC's authority.

To ensure more outreach and presence among the Trail clubs, the ATC establsihed regional offices for the clubs. In addition, biannual club president meetings were held, from the 1980s to 1990s, with a representative from the ATC present. Currently, the ATC allows the Trail clubs to have more freedom in how they manage and operate, but the clubs are still obligated to communicate with the ATC. 

Similar to the Trail clubs, the ATC receives money from its membership dues and donations; however, the ATC also obtains substantial funds from the 14 states and federal government. While 2016's financial data has not been released, it is still prominent to note, that from 1997 to 2015, the ATC and the Trail clubs have had a fluctuating financial relationship. In more recent years, since 2012, there has been an increase in the ATC's revenue, but decline in financial contributions to the Trail clubs.

For example, in 2013, the ATC's revenue was totaled to $7,323,448 and provided $178,966 among the Trail clubs, while in 2015, the ATC's revenue was $7,654,300 and provided only $164,162. The decrease in funding to the Trail clubs, is partly factored by the clubs becoming more independent. Over the years, the ATC has only provided funds to the Trail clubs for shelter and privy construction, purchasing tools and safety gear, and other projects. Most of the assistance the ATC provides, is no longer directly monetary. Now the Trail clubs rely on membership dues, grant programs, donations, and fundraising for most of their revenue.

For this reason, the ATC does not distribute the same amount of funds among the Trail clubs instead, the amount is determined by certain aspects performed by the clubs. These aspects are the levels of enterprise and volunteer activity of each Trail club. 

Since the 1960s, the ATC has required information, from the Trail clubs, about the number of volunteers and work being done on the assigned sections of the trail. Every October, the 31 Trail clubs are required to record and submit the number of volunteers who worked, their work hours, and the time they spent traveling to and from field work sites during the federal fiscal year ending on September 30. This annual report enables the ATC to clearly note the extent of volunteer contributions to the Appalachian Trail.

In addition, this report makes the ATC and Trail clubs eligible for not only special NPS funding, for volunteer recognition and training, but the ATC provides additional funds to Trail clubs that have substantial activity. In order to create appeal and gain a considerable amount of money from the ATC, this single report has been an important factor for the 31 Trail clubs.