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Lincoln Land Conservation Trust

EIN 04-6042565 · Lincoln, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROTECT THE RURAL CHARACTER OF LINCOLN, MASSACHUSETTS BY HOLDING CONSERVATION LAND IN TRUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RESIDENTS OF LINCOLN.

Income
$257,277
Spending
$299,491
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
101.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
7
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$191,586, 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 101.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $86,316 spent. EDUCATION: LLCT EDUCATIONAL EVENTS IN 2025 INCLUDED 32 IN-PERSON TRAIL WALKS, WORKSHOPS, OR OTHER OUTDOOR LAND-BASED PROGRAMMING, FIVE VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON LECTURES AND SIX EVENTS FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN. ALL WERE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.THE LLCT WALKS INCLUDED FIVE SPRING BIRDING WALKS, A MOTH WALK, A PLANT IDENTIFICATION WALK, AND A FERN IDENTIFICATION WALK. LLCT ALSO EXPANDED ITS POPULAR NOTICING WALK SERIES TO INCLUDE SIX WALKS IN THE SPRING AND EIGHT IN THE FALL.LECTURES INCLUDED TALKS ON RECENT RESEARCH ON THE ROLE OF FORESTS IN CARBON SEQUESTRATION, PROTECTING THE FOREST CANOPY, SUSTAINABLE PLANTING FOR THE FUTURE, AND THE EFFECT OF LIGHT POLLUTION ON WILDLIFE. ALSO, LEILA PHILIPS SPOKE ABOUT HER RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOK, BEAVERLAND.FAMILY EVENTS INCLUDED THREE CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS ON WATER CYCLES, INSECTS AND LEAF IDENTIFICATION, A VERNAL POOL WALK, A NATURE-THEMED SCAVENGER HUNT, AND A PLANTING CRAFT AND STORY TIME AT THE LINCOLN PUBLIC LIBRARY.LLCT CONTINUED TO SELL ITS CURRENT TRAIL MAP AND ITS TWO BOOKS: THE NATURE OF LINCOLN AND A GUIDE TO CONSERVATION LAND IN LINCOLN. THE POCKET NATURALIST GUIDE WILD ABOUT LINCOLN WAS REPRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND PROGRAM ATTENDEES. IN ADDITION, THE 2026 OPEN SPACES CALENDAR WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FALL OF 2025, AND WE CONTINUED PUBLICATION OF OUR ONLINE MONTHLY WILDLIFE COLUMN.
  2. $45,751 spent. STEWARDSHIP: LLCT STAFF WORKED WITH VOLUNTEERS, FIELDWORK ASSISTANTS, AND TOWN OF LINCOLN CONSERVATION STAFF TO MANAGE AND MAINTAIN DEEDED CONSERVATION LAND AND OVER 80 MILES OF PUBLIC TRAILS. LLCT STAFF ALSO MONITORED LLCT'S DEEDED CONSERVATION LAND AND CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS, AS WELL AS CONSERVATION LAND AND RESTRICTIONS OWNED OR HELD BY THE TOWN OF LINCOLN.TRAIL MAINTENANCE INCLUDED REMOVING DOWNED TREES BLOCKING TRAILS, PRUNING VEGETATION, AND REPAIRING DUCKBOARDS AND BRIDGES. IN ADDITION, NEW DUCKBOARDS AND BRIDGES WERE CONSTRUCTED WHERE NEEDED, INCLUDING AT THE BEAVER POND AND FARRINGTON CONSERVATION PROPERTIES. A NEW BOAT LAUNCH WAS CONSTRUCTED AT BEAVER POND, AND NEW WATER BARS WERE INSTALLED IN AN AREA OF FLINT'S POND TO PREVENT EROSION.LLCT WORKED WITH VOLUNTEERS, SUMMER STAFF AND TOWN OF LINCOLN CONSERVATION STAFF TO REMOVE AND CONTROL INVASIVE PLANTS, INCLUDING GARLIC MUSTARD, WATER CHESTNUT, BUCKTHORN, BURNING BUSH AND JAPANESE KNOTWEED. THROUGHOUT THE SPRING AND SUMMER, LLCT STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS MONITORED ACTIVITY AT BLUEBIRD BOXES IN CHAPMAN PASTURE, THE POLLINATOR MEADOW, AND STONY BROOK SOUTH.WORK ALSO CONTINUED ON THE POLLINATOR ACTION PLAN. LLCT STAFF, SEASONAL FIELD ASSISTANTS AND VOLUNTEERS ADDED MORE THAN 200 ADDITIONAL PLANTS TO LLCT'S EXISTING POLLINATOR GARDENS AROUND LINCOLN AND EXPANDED THE FOOTPRINT OF THE PLANTED AREAS AT THE POLLINATOR MEADOW AND CHAPMAN PASTURE. AT THE POLLINATOR MEADOW, STAFF SUPERVISED CAMP GROUPS AND AN AFTER-SCHOOL GROUP IN LAYING MORE MULCHED PATHS THROUGH THE MEADOW AND WEEDING AROUND NEW PLANTS.
  3. $121,062 spent. ACQUISITION: A GENEROUS LINCOLN RESIDENT DONATED A 1.78 ACRE BUILDING LOT ON PAGE ROAD (PARCEL ID 145 13 0) TO LLCT IN DECEMBER 2025.

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 January 1962.

    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.