Rural Land Foundation of Lincoln
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO HELP PROTECT THE RURAL CHARACTER OF LINCOLN, MASSACHUSETTS.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $916,740
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- -22.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 50
- 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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 60% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 719% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $839,651 spent. IN 2025, RLF CONTINUED EXPLORING LAND CONSERVATION INITIATIVES IN THE TOWN OF LINCOLN, INCLUDING MONITORING LAND OF CONSERVATION INTEREST, DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAND OWNERS, DEVELOPING LAND PLANNING SOLUTIONS FOR OPEN SPACE PROTECTION AND THE LOCATION OF PUBLIC TRAILS, AND SUPPORTING INITIATIVES TO EDUCATE THE TOWN OF LINCOLN ABOUT LAND CONSERVATION. SPECIFIC RLF ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2025 INCLUDE:ACQUISITION: IN MAY 2024, RLF SIGNED AN AMENDED PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH FARRINGTON MEMORIAL, INC. FOR THE PURCHASE OF 7.6 ACRES OF LAND IN LINCOLN FOR $825,000. THIS LAND WAS DEEDED TO RLF IN DECEMBER 2025. RLF ALSO REACHED PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT WITH FARRINGTON ON TERMS FOR THE PURCHASE AND CONSERVATION OF APPROXIMATELY 60 ADDITIONAL ACRES OF LAND OWNED BY THEM. A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT IS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED IN THE SPRING OF 2026 WITH CLOSING SHORTLY THEREAFTER. RLF INTENDS TO CONSERVE THE LAND AS OPEN SPACE THROUGH CONSERVATION DEED TRANSFERS AND CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS.AS PART OF THE LARGER FARRINGTON CONSERVATION PROJECT, RLF SIGNED AN OPTION AGREEMENT IN OCTOBER 2024 FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE 20-ACRE PANETTA PROPERTY OFF PAGE ROAD AND CAMBRIDGE TURNPIKE. RLF INTENDS TO WORK WITH A DEVELOPER TO CREATE TIGHTLY CLUSTERED HOUSING ON THE PROPERTY AND CONSERVE APPROXIMATELY 12 OF THE 20 ACRES. A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT IS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED IN THE SPRING OF 2026 WITH CLOSING ON THE PROPERTY SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1966.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.