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Stow Conservation Trust Inc

EIN 04-2625752 · Stow, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE OPEN SPACE IN STOW, MASSACHUSETTS.

Income
$80,722
Spending
$62,084
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-311.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
0
Volunteers
70

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

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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. $49,190 spent. STEWARDSHIP - SCT OWNS AND/OR ACTIVELY STEWARDS MULTIPLE CONSERVATION PROPERTIES IN TOWN, MONITORING FOR ENCROACHMENTS AND MAINTAINING TRAILS FOR USE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THIS YEAR WE HIRED PROFESSIONALS TO CONSTRUCT BOARDWALKS OVER WET AREAS IN OUR SHEPHERD MEMORIAL WOODLANDS PROPERTY, WHERE BEAVER ACTIVITY HAD FLOODED PARTS OF THE TRAIL. WE EMPLOYED OUR VOLUNTEER "STEW CREW" ON NUMEROUS STEWARDSHIP EVENTS INCLUDING TRAIL MARKING/MAINTENANCE/REPAIR AND REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES.
  2. $3,804 spent. EDUCATION - SCT SEEKS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING LAND FOR THE FUTURE VIA VARIOUS COMMUNITY EVENTS AND AWARENESS-GENERATING ACTIVITIES. THIS YEAR WE DESIGNED, WROTE, AND INSTALLED EDUCATIONAL SIGNS ALONG THE TRAIL AT THE SHEPHERD PROPERTY, HIGHLIGHTING THE VARIOUS BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES OF THE WOODS THERE. WE CO-SPONSORED A CELEBRATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRESERVATION OF THE MARBLE HILL CONSERVATION PROPERTY. IN APRIL WE INSTALLED 10 TEMPORARY "AMPHIBIAN CROSSING" SIGNS AROUND TOWN FOR "BIG NIGHT", DURING WHICH AMPHIBIANS CROSS ROADS TO MIGRATE TO BREEDING GROUNDS.
  3. LAND CONSERVATION AND OUTREACH - THE TRUST ACQUIRES OR FACILITATES ACQUISITION OF LAND IN STOW, MA, TO PRESERVE IT AS OPEN SPACE. TRUST MEMBERS WORK WITH LAND OWNERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND OTHER LAND TRUSTS TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE IN PLANNING, ORGANIZING, AND PRESENTING CASES FOR FUTURE LAND ACQUISITIONS OR CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS. THIS YEAR OUR LAND PROTECTION SPECIALISTS ADVANCED SEVERAL POTENTIAL LAND DEAL PROJECTS, WHICH MAY COME TO CLOSURE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 December 1977.

    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.