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Northwoods Stewardship Center

EIN 03-0346759 · E Charleston, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CONNECTING PEOPLE AND PLACE THROUGH SCIENCE, EDUCATION AND ACTION.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 43%
Employees
95
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$100,072, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

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

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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, 2025, 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 (4)
  1. $695,182 spent. THE NORTHWOODS CONSERVATION CORPS IS A HANDS-ON CONSERVATION-BASED EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM FOR YOUTH (AGES 14 AND UP) AND EMERGING PROFESSIONALS (ADULTS WHO COMPRISE THE PROFESSIONAL CREWS). CREW MEMBERS ARE HIRED FROM COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING PROJECT AREAS AND ARE PROVIDED WITH HIGH-QUALITY CONSERVATION TRAINING AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. THE EXPERIENCE PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH TO EXPLORE CAREER PATHS IN VARIOUS FIELDS OF CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND PROVIDES A MEANINGFUL WORK EXPERIENCE FOR EMERGING PROFESSIONALS. IN 2025, WE EMPLOYED MORE THAN 60 CONSERVATION CORPS STAFF! THE CONSERVATION CORPS PROJECT PARTNERS INCLUDE FEDERAL AGENCIES, LOCAL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS, AND A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY, CONSERVATION AND RECREATION ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $197,933 spent. THE EDUCATION PROGRAM INSPIRES STEWARDSHIP OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS BY PROVIDING DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT BRING AWARENESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, CONNECTION TO THE NATURAL WORLD THROUGH EDUCATION AND RECREATION, AND PROVIDE SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, TEAMWORK AND LEADERSHIP THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO BUILDING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE AND PLACE. IN 2025, NORTHWOODS PARTNERED WITH OVER 30 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND 16 SCHOOLS; LED 79 DAY PROGRAMS, 47 OF THOSE ON CAMPUS; FACILITATED 4,093 INDIVIDUAL IMPRESSIONS; 27 RECURRING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS; LED 196 INDIVIDUAL AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES; AND HOSTED 13 SUMMER CAMP WEEKS WITH 153 CAMPERS.
  3. $410,500 spent. THE GOAL OF THE CONSERVATION SCIENCE PROGRAM IS TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS, PARTICIPATE IN WORK GROUPS, AND PROMOTE PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUPPORT ECOLOGICAL HEALTH, HABITAT ENHANCEMENT, AND WATER QUALITY. THE RIPARIAN LANDS CREW CONTINUED A LONGER SEASON, REMAINING FOCUSED ON SEED COLLECTION AND RIPARIAN RESTORATION. THE CREWS ALSO IMPLEMENTED A WIDE RANGE OF WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS - INCLUDING OPEN TOP CULVERTS, INFILTRATION STEPS, INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL, RIPARIAN BUFFER NATIVE PLANTINGS ETC. KEY PARTNERSHIPS WITH AREA LAKE ASSOCIATIONS, STATE WIDE ORGANIZATIONS, AND MUNICIPAL GROUPS WERE ESSENTIAL TO IMPLEMENTING THESE PROJECTS.
  4. $164,126 spent. THE GOAL OF THE FOREST STEWARDSHIP INSTITUTE IS TO PRACTICE AND PROMOTE ECOLOGICALLY SOUND LAND MANAGEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH MANAGEMENT OF THE NORTHWOODS DEMONSTRATION FOREST, BY PROVIDING SERVICES TO FOREST LANDOWNERS, AND THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE FORESTRY INTERNSHIP GRADUATED ITS EIGHTH SUCCESSFUL COHORT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1995.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.