Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Sudbury Valley Trustees Inc

EIN 04-6049963 · Sudbury, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SUDBURY VALLEY TRUSTEES, INC. ("THE ORGANIZATION") WORKS TO PROTECT NATURAL AREAS AND FARMLAND FOR WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE IN THE 36 COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND THE SUDBURY, ASSABET, AND CONCORD RIVERS. THE ORGANIZATION CARES FOR SOME OF THE REGION'S MOST IMPORTANT FORESTS, WETLANDS, AND GRASSLANDS NATURAL AREAS THAT SUPPORT WILDLIFE HABITAT, WORKING FARMS, AND RECREATIONAL TRAILS. THE ORGANIZATION CURRENTLY OWNS 2,477 ACRES ON 95 PROPERTIES AND HOLDS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS (KNOWN AS CONSERVATION RESTRICTMENTS IN MASSACHUSETTS) ON 103 ADDITIONAL LANDS THAT SPAN 3,523 ACRES. THE ORGANIZATION HAS ALSO HELPED TO PROTECT MORE THAN 70 MILES OF TRAILS.

Income
$5.8 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
54.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
16
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$157,933, executive director (until 7/2024)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 54.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 56% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 191% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    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 June 30, 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. $935,134 spent. AS A REGIONAL NONPROFIT LAND TRUST, THE ORGANIZATION COLLABORATES WITH INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNERS, LOCAL LAND TRUSTS, AND MUNICIPAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO PROTECT LAND FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT, PUBLIC ENJOYMENT, AND AGRICULTURE. IN SOME CASES, THE ORGANIZATION ACQUIRES PROPERTY TO OWN AND MANAGE, AND IN OTHER CASES THE ORGANIZATION MONITORS CONSERVATION LAND OWNED BY OTHERS. IN EITHER SITUATION, THE ORGANIZATION ENSURES THAT NO UNAPPROVED DEVELOPMENT OR OTHER ACTIVITY TAKES PLACE ON THE LAND.
  2. $635,589 spent. THE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CONSERVATION LANDS THAT THE ORGANIZATION OWNS AND FOR THE MONITORING AND OVERSIGHT OF CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS. THE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM INCLUDES ECOSYSTEM AND HABITAT PROTECTION AND RESTORATION, MAINTENANCE OF VIEWS, ACCESS, AND TRAILS, PROTECTION OF THE LEGACY OF THE PROPERTIES, AND COORDINATION OF THE MANY STEWARDSHIP VOLUNTEERS.
  3. $241,387 spent. THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERS WITH MUNICIPAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, LOCAL LAND TRUSTS, AND STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER'S CONSERVATION GOALS AND TO POOL RESOURCES TO ENABLE CONSERVATION. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH LANDOWNERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING LONG-TERM CONSERVATION PLANS FOR THEIR LAND PARTICIPATES IN NON-PARTISAN WORK TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES AND FUNDING THAT DIRECTLY ADVANCE THE LAND PROTECTION AND STEWARDSHIP OF NATURAL AREAS AROUND THE SUDBURY, ASSABET AND CONCORD RIVERS, AS WELL AS IN MASSACHUSETTS IN GENERAL. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CONDUCTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 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 August 1957.

    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.