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Trustees of Reservations

EIN 04-2105780 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OVERVIEW - FOUNDED IN BOSTON BY PIONEERING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND OPEN SPACE VISIONARY CHARLES ELIOT IN 1891, THE TRUSTEES IS THE NATION'S FIRST AND THE COMMONWEALTH'S LARGEST CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION NONPROFIT.

Income
$57.9 million
Spending
$49.4 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-15.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
976
Volunteers
756
Highest pay
$476,680, president and ceo

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

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 March 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 (3)
  1. $27.5 million spent. STEWARDSHIP - AS THE FOREVER STEWARDS OF THE SPECIAL PLACES THE TRUSTEES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THESE NATURAL LANDSCAPES, UNIQUE BUILDINGS, AND CHERISHED PROPERTIES ARE HERE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME AND TO CREATE A WORLD-CLASS, HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE VISITOR EXPERIENCE. TRUSTEES PROPERTIES INCLUDE OVER 120 PROPERTIES, 375 MILES OF TRAILS, 76 MILES OF ACCESSIBLE SHORELINE, 113 PARKS AND WOODLANDS, 12 PUBLIC GARDENS, AND 250 BUILDINGS. THE CARE OF THESE PROPERTIES IS HANDLED BY EMPLOYEES SKILLED IN LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT, HORTICULTURE, ARBORICULTURE, AND HISTORIC RESOURCES. HISTORICAL RESOURCE STAFF MEMBERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STEWARDSHIP AND PRESENTATION OF THE TRUSTEE'S HISTORIC PROPERTIES INCLUDING 6 NATIONAL LANDMARKS, HISTORIC HOUSE MUSEUMS, ARCHIVAL OBJECT COLLECTIONS, GARDENS, AND DESIGNED LANDSCAPES.
  2. $10.3 million spent. WELCOMING AND CONNECTION - EACH YEAR, THE TRUSTEES WELCOMES OVER 1.8 MILLION VISITORS TO EXPLORE OUR TREASURED LANDSCAPES AND EXPERIENCE THOUSANDS OF PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. OUR 80,000 TRUSTEES MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS ALSO EXPERIENCE THESE SPECIAL PLACES WHILE ENJOYING EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS. SINCE 1891, SUPPORT FROM MEMBERS HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE TO CARE FOR OUR SPECIAL PLACES, ENSURING THEY REMAIN VIBRANT AND ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE, FOREVER. THE TRUSTEES CONNECTS VISITORS OF ALL AGES THROUGH THOUSANDS OF PROGRAMS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDING OUTDOOR, COMMUNITY, AND CULTURE THROUGH DYNAMIC AND ENGAGING EXPERIENCES. THIS INCLUDES SUMMER AND YOUTH CAMPS, WALKS, TALKS, COOKING CLASSES, CONCERTS, FARM SHARE PROGRAMS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. THE TRUSTEES INSPIRE MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO LEAD HEALTHY, ACTIVE LIFESTYLES WHILE FORMING A DEEPER CONNECTION TO NATURE.
  3. $855,778 spent. CONSERVATION - TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS, THE TRUSTEES CARES FOR NEARLY 52,000 ACRES OF LAND ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH, INCLUDING MORE THAN 27,000 ACRES OF PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE, TREASURED LANDSCAPES. MOST MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS LIVE JUST A FEW MILES FROM A TRUSTEES PROPERTY, WHERE COUNTLESS MEMORIES ARE MADE AND SHARED. THE TRUSTEES ALSO PROTECT 20,700 ACRES OF LAND THROUGH CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS, MAKING THE TRUSTEES THE LARGEST PRIVATE OWNER OF CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 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 October 13, 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 March 2025.

    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 January 1935.

    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 October 21, 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.