Natural Resources Trust of Easton
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IT IS THE MISSION OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST OF EASTON (NRT) TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC OF SIGNIFICANT NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES AND TO ACQUIRE AND PRESERVE LAND OF SPECIAL CHARACTER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.
- Income
- $686,096
- Spending
- $723,344
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 12.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 46%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 80
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
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $516,485 spent. THE NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST OF EASTON OWNS AND MAINTAINS SEVERAL PROPERTIES IN AND AROUND EASTON, MASSACHUSETTS FOR THE PURPOSES OF LAND AND RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. SINCE 1967, THE NRT HAS FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY IN ITS EFFORTS TO CONSERVE LAND AND RESOURCES AS WELL AS EDUCATE INDIVIDUALS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTH. THE NRT HAS FOCUSED ITS EFFORTS IN CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, PRESERVATION OF LAND AND LOCAL CULTURE, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EXCEPTIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS EACH YEAR. THE NRT'S SHEEP PASTURE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON MAIN STREET IN EASTON. THIS LOCATION IS THE SIGNATURE CONSERVATION AREA OF THE ORGANIZATION AND IS THE PRIMARY LOCATION FOR COMMUNITY ACCESS. THE SHEEP PASTURE IS VERY WELL KNOWN AND MUCH LOVED BY INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES, AND THE PROPERTY PROVIDES ACCESS TO MANY DIFFERENT FORMS OF INTERACTION. PASSIVE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNTIES ABOUND ON THE PROPERTY IN ALL SEASONS, AND INDIVIDUALS FROM NOT ONLY EASTON, BUT ALL OVER THE AREA, COME TO SHEEP PASTURE TO ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS. EACH YEAR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ALSO BRING THEIR LEASHED PETS TO ENJOY WALKING AND RUNNING THE TRAIL SYSTEM TOGETHER. SOME TRAILS ON THE PROPERTY ARE HANDICAPPED-ACCESSIBLE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY REQUIRE ASSISTANCE TO ENJOY THEIR NATURE EXPERIENCE, AND THE PROPERTY IS FREQUENTLY UTILIZED BY ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, INCLUDING THE ELDERLY AND VETERANS. BEGINNING WITH THE EASTON SCHOOLS IN 1973, THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS HAVE COME THROUGH SHEEPS PASTURE'S PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE PAST 40 YEARS. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE NOT ONLY TAUGHT GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN ABOUT LOCAL GEOLOGY, LOCAL FLORA AND FAUNA, MAPPING, LIFE SCIENCES, AND MORE, BUT HAVE INSPIRED FUTURE CONSERVATIONISTS, ECOLOGISTS, BIOLOGISTS, AND ENGINEERS. OVER 5,500 STUDENTS FROM EASTON, BOSTON, QUINCY, REHOBOTH, RAYNHAM, BRIDGEWATER, BROCKTON, SHARON, STOUGHTON, ATTLEBORO, NORTH ATTLEBORO, AND OTHER SURROUNDING TOWNS AND CITIES PARTICIPATE IN THESE HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMS EACH YEAR. LED BY AWARD-WINNING PROFESSIONAL TEACHER/NATURALISTS, EACH CLASS IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE, EDUCATE, AND ENLIGHTEN STUDENTS WITH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO ENRICH THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL WORLD. THE NRT ALSO OFFERS SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT AND CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY. FOR DECADES THE NRT HAS MANAGED THE COMMUNITY GARDEN ON THE SHEEP PASTURE PROPERTY, WHERE INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND EVEN LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS FROM EASTON AND BEYOND CREATE WONDERFUL VEGETABLE AND FLOWERS GARDENS. EACH FALL BRINGS THE HARVEST FAIR, NRT'S LARGEST FUNDRAISER, INVITING THOUSANDS OF VISITORS FROM ALL OVER NEW ENGLAND TO THE GROUNDS FOR ENTERTAINMENT, LOCAL ARTISANS' CRAFTS, AND AS A CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY. SPRING BRINGS A FOCUS ON TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL- RELATED TOPICS AT THE NRT'S SPRING FAMILY FESTIVAL IN MAY. ACTIVE EVEN IN THE WINTER, THE NRT'S SHEEP PASTURE PROPERTY OPENS EACH DAY, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOMES AND BECOME ENGAGED IN FUN AND HEALTHY OUTDOOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES. THE NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST OF EASTON IS TRULY A LEADING ORGANIZATION IN CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND IS PROUD OF THE SUPPORT IT HAS RECEIVED FROM ITS MEMBERS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUALLY SEEKS TO IMPROVE ITS PROGRAMS, UPGRADE ITS PROPERTIES, AND OFFER EVERYONE A WELCOMING OUTDOOR SPACE TO INTERACT WITH THE NATURAL WORLD. THE NRT OF EASTON CONTINUES TO PROVIDE SOUND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THE NRT LOOKS FORWARD TO SUSTAINING ITS LONG TRADITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND EXCELLENCE IN THE COMING YEARS. THE NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST OF EASTON OWNS AND MAINTAINS SEVERAL PROPERTIES IN AND AROUND EASTON, MASSACHUSETTS FOR THE PURPOSES OF LAND AND RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. SINCE 1967, THE NRT HAS FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY IN ITS EFFORTS TO CONSERVE LAND AND RESOURCES AS WELL AS EDUCATE INDIVIDUALS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTH. THE NRT HAS FOCUSED ITS EFFORTS IN CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, PRESERVATION OF LAND AND LOCAL CULTURE, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EXCEPTIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS EACH YEAR. THE NRT'S SHEEP PASTURE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON MAIN STREET IN EASTON. THIS LOCATION IS THE SIGNATURE CONSERVATION AREA OF THE ORGANIZATION AND IS THE PRIMARY LOCATION FOR COMMUNITY ACCESS. THE SHEEP PASTURE IS VERY WELL KNOWN AND MUCH LOVED BY INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES, AND THE PROPERTY PROVIDES ACCESS TO MANY DIFFERENT FORMS OF INTERACTION. PASSIVE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNTIES ABOUND ON THE PROPERTY IN ALL SEASONS, AND INDIVIDUALS FROM NOT ONLY EASTON, BUT ALL OVER THE AREA, COME TO SHEEP PASTURE TO ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS. EACH YEAR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ALSO BRING THEIR LEASHED PETS TO ENJOY WALKING AND RUNNING THE TRAIL SYSTEM TOGETHER. SOME TRAILS ON THE PROPERTY ARE HANDICAPPED-ACCESSIBLE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY REQUIRE ASSISTANCE TO ENJOY THEIR NATURE EXPERIENCE, AND THE PROPERTY IS FREQUENTLY UTILIZED BY ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, INCLUDING THE ELDERLY AND VETERANS. BEGINNING WITH THE EASTON SCHOOLS IN 1973, THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS HAVE COME THROUGH SHEEPS PASTURE'S PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE PAST 40 YEARS. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE NOT ONLY TAUGHT GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN ABOUT LOCAL GEOLOGY, LOCAL FLORA AND FAUNA, MAPPING, LIFE SCIENCES, AND MORE, BUT HAVE INSPIRED FUTURE CONSERVATIONISTS, ECOLOGISTS, BIOLOGISTS, AND ENGINEERS. OVER 5,500 STUDENTS FROM EASTON, BOSTON, QUINCY, REHOBOTH, RAYNHAM, BRIDGEWATER, BROCKTON, SHARON, STOUGHTON, ATTLEBORO, NORTH ATTLEBORO, AND OTHER SURROUNDING TOWNS AND CITIES PARTICIPATE IN THESE
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
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 June 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 July 1968.
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.