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Dunstable Rural Land Trust

EIN 04-2974279 · Dunstable, 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 AND ENCOURAGE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF ECOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT LAND, TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR THAT PURPOSE BY GIFT OR PURCHASE AND TO EITHER MAINTAIN EACH PARCEL OF LAND ITSELF, PROVIDING LIMITED PUBLIC ACCESS.

Income
$221,152
Spending
$114,572
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-280.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
0
Volunteers
10

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

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 48% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 July 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 (1)
  1. $102,405 spent. CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE OWNED BY THE DUNSTABLE RURAL LAND TRUST AND HOLDING CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS ON PROPERTY OWNED BY OTHERS (APPROXIMATELY 814 AND 360 ACRES RESPECTIVELY)ONE LARGE AREA CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 400 ACRES IS REFERRED TO AS THE "DUNSTABLE RURAL LAND TRUST WILDLIFE REFUGE" IS USED EXTENSIVELY BY WALKERS, HIKERS AND NATURE LOVERS IS USED BY THE NATURE OF THINGS ACADEMY AS PART OF ITS OUTDOOR CLASSROOM (PROPERTY ABUTS THE DUNSTABLE MA/NASHUA NH BORDER)SEVEN OF THE CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS HELD COVER LAND OWNED BY THE TOWN OF DUNSTABLE MAACQUISITION AND RESTORATION OF HISTORIC MCLOON BARN, CRAFTSMAN STYLE HOME AND RESTORATION OF SURROUNDING PROPERTY CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 100 ACRES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 July 2026.

    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 1989.

    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.