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Down East Lakes Land Tr

EIN 01-0541131 · Grand Lk Strm, ME

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE DOWNEAST LAKES LAND TRUST EXISTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL WELL-BEING OF THE DOWNEAST LAKES REGION-OF MAINE THROUGH THE CONSERVATION AND EXEMPLARY MANAGEMENT OF ITS FORESTS AND WATERS.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$956,930
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
5
Volunteers
54
Highest pay
$69,870, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 60% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 197% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $290,396 spent. DOWNEAST LAKES LAND TRUST (DLLT) MANAGES ITS CONSERVATION LANDS FOR THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL WELL-BEING OF THE REGION. THE 58,203 ACRE DOWNEAST LAKES COMMUNITY FOREST IS MANAGED FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT, SUSTAINABLE TIMBER HARVEST, AND PUBLIC RECREATIONAL ACCESS. DLLT HOLDS AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY FOREST MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION. WILDLIFE HABITAT AND TIMBER MANAGEMENT ARE INTEGRATED TO MAINTAIN HABITATS FOR THE FULL RANGE OF NATIVE WILDLIFE ON A LANDSCAPE SCALE. DLLT HAS IMPROVED RECREATIONAL ACCESS BY MAINTAINING FOREST ROADS, ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING ELEVEN HIKING TRAILS AND THE DOWNEAST LAKES WATER ACCESS CAMPSITE TRAIL. DLLT TIMBER HARVESTS SUPPORT THE LOCAL ECONOMY, WHILE WILDLIFE HABITAT AND RECREATIONAL ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS SUPPORT NATURE BASED TOURISM BUSINESSES, INCLUDING SPORTING LODGES AND GUIDES.
  2. $277,289 spent. DOWNEAST LAKES LAND TRUST (DLLT) PLANS AND IMPLEMENTS CONSERVATION PROJECTS INTENDED TO PERMANENTLY CONSERVE NATURAL RESOURCES, INCLUDING WILDLIFE HABITATS AND SUSTAINABLE TIMBER HARVESTS, AND GUARANTEE PUBLIC RECREATIONAL ACCESS TO HIGH PRIORITY FOREST, WETLAND, AND LAKEFRONT PROPERTIES IN THE DOWNEAST LAKES REGION OF MAINE. SINCE INCORPORATION IN 2001, DLLT HAS LED A COMMUNITY-BASED EFFORT THAT HAS SUCCESSFULLY CONSERVED NEARLY 370,000 ACRES, AND HAS PLAYED A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ADDITIONAL CONSERVATION PROJECTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2001.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.