The Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition (RMNC) is an Alabama-based environmental conservation nonprofit founded in 1977 to preserve undeveloped land on Ruffner Mountain in Birmingham. In April 2024, RMNC merged with the Red Mountain Park Foundation to form the Jefferson County Greenways Foundation. ¹

The organization has engaged in federal energy policy advocacy, including signing a 2021 letter urging the Biden administration to phase out nuclear energy. ²

Background

The Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition was incorporated on July 19, 1977, to conserve approximately 500 acres of land on Ruffner Mountain that faced residential development. The preserved land later became the Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve. The organization expanded stewardship to more than 1,038 acres of forested property with hiking trails, environmental education facilities, and habitat restoration programming. ¹

In 2023, the Alabama Legislature passed House Bill 336 establishing the Jefferson County Greenways Commission, a publicly funded entity tasked with overseeing major green spaces in Jefferson County, including Ruffner Mountain, Red Mountain Park, and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. ³

In April 2024, the boards of RMNC and the Red Mountain Park Foundation voted unanimously to merge. The merged organization began operating as the Jefferson County Greenways Foundation on May 1, 2024, in coordination with the Commission. ¹

Leadership

Jessica A. Findley is the co-founder and chief executive officer of the Jefferson County Greenways Foundation. ⁴ She is also a co-founder and CEO of Neowaste, managing director at ProCapital, and director of impact and sustainability at the Trinity Design Group. She previously served as a managing member of Findley Enterprises and executive vice president at Masada Resource Group. She holds an MBA in international business and sustainability from Hult Ashridge Executive Education. ⁵

Carlee Sanford worked as the executive director of the Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition prior to and during the merger. According to the organization’s 2024 tax returns, Sanford received $112,241 in compensation. ⁶ She worked as the chief executive officer of the RMNC from 2016 through November 2024. She previously worked as a Client Services Manager at Scout Branding Company and as an IT Recruiter and Account Manager at TEKsystems. She works as the executive director of EBSCO Community Impact at EBSCO Industries. She holds a marketing degree from the University of Alabama. ⁷

According to 2024 tax returns, Janet Simpson-Templin worked as the deputy executive director and received $65,559 in compensation. Directors listed on the 2024 Form 990 include Melva Tate (Chair), Jessica A. Findley Valentin, Frederic Smit, Nathaniel Rutledge, Amy Rauworth, Becky Patterson, Carmen Mays, Foster Hyde, Kandace R. Hamilton, Christ Devine, Sharonda Childs-Fancher, and Hunter Walls. ⁶

Opposition to Nuclear Energy

The Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition was a co-signer on an April 2021 letter to then-President Joe Biden that asked his administration to promote weather-dependent wind and solar power systems and “end the fossil fuel era.” The letter also advised the president to “Phase out nuclear energy as an inherently dirty, dangerous and costly energy source.”  ²

Funding

The Foundation and its predecessor entity have received financial support from a mix of government and private sources. According to the group’s 2024 tax returns, the organization received more than $1.8 million in public support grants, including government appropriations and foundation contributions. ⁸ The 2024 tax year reported $1,222,513 in government grants and contributions, $132,075 in membership dues, and $1,082,409 in other contributions, gifts, and grants. Over the five-year period from 2020 to 2024, the organization reported $5,176,057 in public support.  ⁹

In 2023, Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition received $105,950 from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, a regional community foundation serving central Alabama. ¹⁰ In 2023, the organization received a total of $105,000 from the Alabama Power Foundation, the charitable arm of Alabama Power, a regulated electric utility subsidiary of Southern Company. ¹¹ In 2023, RMNC also received $20,000 from the Daniel Foundation of Alabama, a Birmingham-based private foundation that funds education, community, and civic initiatives in Alabama. ¹²

Finances

According to its 2024 tax returns, the organization reported $2,740,383 in total revenues, $1,442,510 in total expenses, and $6,847,611 in total assets. ¹³

1. “Announcing the Formation of Jefferson County Greenways Foundation.” Jefferson County Greenways. Accessed February 16, 2026. https://www.jeffcogreenways.org/article/formation-of-the-jefferson-county-greenways-foundation.
2. Center for Biological Diversity, et. al. Letter to “The Honorable President Joseph R. Biden.” RE: NOW IS THE MOMENT TO ACCELERATE THE JUST, RENEWABLE ENERGY FUTURE AND END THE FOSSIL FUEL ERA. April 27, 2021. Accessed July 25, 2025. https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/energy-justice/pdfs/2022-4-27_Letter-to-Pres-Biden-re-End-Fossil-Fuel-Era-Accelerate-Transtion-to-Renewable-Energy.pdf
3. “HB336 INTRODUCED.” Alabama Legislature. Accessed February 16, 2026. https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2023RS/HB336-int.pdf.
4. “Meet the JCG Team.” Jefferson County Greenways. Accessed February 16, 2026. https://www.jeffcogreenways.org/about/team.
5. “Jessica Findley.” LinkedIn. Accessed February 16, 2026. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicafindley/.
6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition Inc. 2024. Part VII, Section A – Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, and Highest Compensated Employees.
7. “Carlee Sanford.” LinkedIn. Accessed February 16, 2026. https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlee-sanford-12003bb/.
8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition Inc. 2024. Schedule A, Part II. Section A – Public Support.
9. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition Inc. 2024. Part VII – Statement of Revenue.
10. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. 2023. Schedule I, Part II – Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments. Line 310.
11. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Alabama Power Foundation Inc. 2023. Part XIV – Grants and Contributions Paid During the Year or Approved for Future Payment.
12. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Daniel Foundation of Alabama. 2024. Part XIV – Grants and Contributions Paid During the Year or Approved for Future Payment.
13. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition Inc. 2024. Part I – Summary.