Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Manchester Essex Conservation Tr Inv

EIN 04-3469549 · Manchester, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MANCHESTER ESSEX CONSERVATION TRUST PRESERVES IN PERPETUITY THE NATURAL BEAUTY, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND OPEN SPACE RESOURCES IN OUR TWO TOWNS AND ADJACENT COMMUNITIES. WE PROTECT THIS LAND THROUGH ACQUISITIONS, CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS, DONATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC. THROUGH SHARING THIS LAND, WE ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT EXPLORATION OF NATURE, EDUCATION, AND SCIENTIFIC STUDY.

Income
$787,753
Spending
$504,984
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
37.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
6
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$4, trustee

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 37.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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. $396,170 spent. MECT CONSERVES LAND THROUGH ACQUISITIONS OF FEE INTEREST AND CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS IN ESSEX AND MANCHESTER MA. IN 2024, WE ACQUIRED SEVERAL PARCELS FOR A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 20 ACRES. WE PARTNERED WITH ESSEX COUNTY GREENBELT ON TWO STATE GRANTS, ACQUIRING OVER 100 ACRES IN CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS IN ESSEX AND GLOUCESTER. WE ARE CONDUCTING INTENSE DEED RESEARCH IN SEVERAL AREAS TO DETERMINE OWNERSHIP FOR CONSERVATION ACQUISITION PURPOSES, INCLUDING A 30+ ACRE PARCEL IN ESSEX, WHICH WILL BE A DONATION. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH SELLERS AND TO MONITOR OUR HOLDINGS. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO PURSUE OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN GOAL OF 5M FOR LAND ACQUISITION AND DEFENSE. WE CONTINUED TO DEFEND OUR CONSERVATION LAND FROM A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AT OUR BORDERS, AND FILED AN APPEAL AT MA SUPERIOR COURT TO FURTHER THESE EFFORTS. MECT CONSERVES LAND THROUGH ACQUISITIONS OF FEE INTEREST AND CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS IN ESSEX AND MANCHESTER MA. IN 2024, WE ACQUIRED SEVERAL PARCELS FOR A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 20 ACRES. WE PARTNERED WITH ESSEX COUNTY GREENBELT ON TWO STATE GRANTS, ACQUIRING OVER 100 ACRES IN CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS IN ESSEX AND GLOUCESTER. WE ARE CONDUCTING INTENSE DEED RESEARCH IN SEVERAL AREAS TO DETERMINE OWNERSHIP FOR CONSERVATION ACQUISITION PURPOSES, INCLUDING A 30+ ACRE PARCEL IN ESSEX, WHICH WILL BE A DONATION. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH SELLERS AND TO MONITOR OUR HOLDINGS. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO PURSUE OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN GOAL OF 5M FOR LAND ACQUISITION AND DEFENSE. WE CONTINUED TO DEFEND OUR CONSERVATION LAND FROM A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AT OUR BORDERS, AND FILED AN APPEAL AT MA SUPERIOR COURT TO FURTHER THESE EFFORTS.
  2. OUR ANNUAL MEETING, KEYNOTED BY SARA LEWIS, PHD ON FIREFLIES, DREW IN APPROX 150 PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION, AND FIREFLIES. DR. LEWIS PARTICIPATES WORLDWIDE IN PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF FIREFLY HABITAT. WE HELD 10 HIKES ON BOTANY, VERNAL POOLS, MUSHROOMS AND OTHERS HIGHLIGHTING THE EXPANSIVE TRAIL NETWORK ON CONSERVATION LAND. OUR OUTREACH THROUGH NEWSLETTERS, E-NEWSLETTERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA HAS INCREASED OUR EFFECTIVENESS AND EDUCATION. A HIGH-TIER DONOR COCKTAIL PARTY INCREASED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

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 November 1999.

    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.