Watch Hill Conservancy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE WATCH HILL CONSERVANCY WAS INCORPORATED IN 1999 TO PROMOTE THE PRESERVATION OF THE NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENTS OF WATCH HILL, RI; TO CONSERVE, MAINTAIN, AND ENHANCE THE SCENIC, OPEN SPACE AND HISTORICAL VALUES AND THE CHARACTER OF WATCH HILL; TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC CONCERNING THE SAME; TO ACQUIRE AND PRESERVE INTERESTS IN REAL PROPERTY; AND ANY OTHER PURPOSES INCIDENTAL TO THE AFORESAID PURPOSE WHETHER ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN WATCH HILL OR IN OTHER NEARBY AREAS OF THE TOWN OF WESTERLY, RI OR STONINGTON, CT.
- Income
- $804,931
- Spending
- $739,616
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 14.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 189
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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.
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 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 (3)
- $404,774 spent. CONSERVATION EFFORTS - 2024 WAS THE 19TH YEAR OF THE CONSERVANCY'S INVOLVEMENT IN NAPATREE POINT CONSERVATION AREA PROGRAMMING, AND THE 12TH YEAR THAT THE CONSERVANCY HAS BEEN LEAD STEWARD OF NAPATREE, ASSUMING THIS ROLE FROM THE WATCH HILL FIRE DISTRICT IN 2013. THE CONSERVANCY CONDUCTS A VARIETY OF STEWARDSHIP AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE CONSERVATION AREA. IT ALSO CONDUCTS ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ECOLOGICAL PRESERVATION ON NAPATREE. OUR POPULAR CHILDREN'S PROGRAM, THE NAPATREE INVESTIGATORS HAD 75 YOUNGSTERS PARTICIPATE IN 2024. OUR NAPATREE CONSERVATION EFFORTS INCLUDE THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE PROPERTIES CURRENTLY IDENTIFIED IN THE NAPATREE POINT CONSERVATION AREA CONSERVATION EASEMENT WITH THE WHFD, PROPERTY THE CONSERVANCY OWNS UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENT WITH RIDEM, AND OTHER PARCELS THE CONSERVANCY OWNS ON NAPATREE POINT. NAPATREE POINT IS THE MOST PRISTINE BARRIER BEACH ECOSYSTEM IN THE REGION AND IS HIGHLY VALUED BY THE PUBLIC WHO VISIT THE CONSERVATION AREA YEAR- ROUND. CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES ALSO INCLUDE THE MAINTENANCE OF OTHER PARCELS CURRENTLY OWNED BY THE CONSERVANCY WHICH ARE OUTSIDE OF THE NAPATREE POINT CONSERVATION AREA. IN 2024 WE INCREASED THE NUMBER AND VARIETY OF OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY OF OUR STEWARDSHIP AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON NAPATREE. CONSERVATION EFFORTS - 2024 WAS THE 19TH YEAR OF THE CONSERVANCY'S INVOLVEMENT IN NAPATREE POINT CONSERVATION AREA PROGRAMMING, AND THE 12TH YEAR THAT THE CONSERVANCY HAS BEEN LEAD STEWARD OF NAPATREE, ASSUMING THIS ROLE FROM THE WATCH HILL FIRE DISTRICT IN 2013. THE CONSERVANCY CONDUCTS A VARIETY OF STEWARDSHIP AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE CONSERVATION AREA. IT ALSO CONDUCTS ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ECOLOGICAL PRESERVATION ON NAPATREE. OUR POPULAR CHILDREN'S PROGRAM, THE NAPATREE INVESTIGATORS HAD 75 YOUNGSTERS PARTICIPATE IN 2024. OUR NAPATREE CONSERVATION EFFORTS INCLUDE THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE PROPERTIES CURRENTLY IDENTIFIED IN THE NAPATREE POINT CONSERVATION AREA CONSERVATION EASEMENT WITH THE WHFD, PROPERTY THE CONSERVANCY OWNS UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENT WITH RIDEM, AND OTHER PARCELS THE CONSERVANCY OWNS ON NAPATREE POINT. NAPATREE POINT IS THE MOST PRISTINE BARRIER BEACH ECOSYSTEM IN THE REGION AND IS HIGHLY VALUED BY THE PUBLIC WHO VISIT THE CONSERVATION AREA YEAR- ROUND. CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES ALSO INCLUDE THE MAINTENANCE OF OTHER PARCELS CURRENTLY OWNED BY THE CONSERVANCY WHICH ARE OUTSIDE OF THE NAPATREE POINT CONSERVATION AREA. IN 2024 WE INCREASED THE NUMBER AND VARIETY OF OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY OF OUR STEWARDSHIP AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON NAPATREE.
- $49,510 spent. PRESERVING COMMUNITY CHARACTER - AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CONSERVANCY'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY. MOST OF WATCH HILL IS RECOGNIZED AS AN HISTORIC DISTRICT ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AS DESIGNATED BY THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. THE WATCH HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT'S DESIGNATION REPORT LISTS MORE THAN 180 STRUCTURES AS SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE HISTORIC VALUE OF THE DISTRICT. THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF WATCH HILL IS UNDER CONSTANT PRESSURE FROM DEVELOPMENT, CHANGES TO STATE AND TOWN BUILDING AND ZONING CODES, SEVERE WEATHER, AND INCREASED FLOODING FROM RISING SEAS. THE WATCH HILL CONSERVANCY HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY BUSY WORKING JOINTLY WITH THE WATCH HILL FIRE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TO RESPOND TO THESE PRESSURES. IN 2024, THE CONSERVANCY WAS HIGHLY INVOLVED IN MONITORING PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL DECISIONS THAT COULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO COMMUNITY CHARACTER OR HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION. PRESERVING COMMUNITY CHARACTER - AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CONSERVANCY'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY. MOST OF WATCH HILL IS RECOGNIZED AS AN HISTORIC DISTRICT ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AS DESIGNATED BY THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. THE WATCH HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT'S DESIGNATION REPORT LISTS MORE THAN 180 STRUCTURES AS SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE HISTORIC VALUE OF THE DISTRICT. THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF WATCH HILL IS UNDER CONSTANT PRESSURE FROM DEVELOPMENT, CHANGES TO STATE AND TOWN BUILDING AND ZONING CODES, SEVERE WEATHER, AND INCREASED FLOODING FROM RISING SEAS. THE WATCH HILL CONSERVANCY HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY BUSY WORKING JOINTLY WITH THE WATCH HILL FIRE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TO RESPOND TO THESE PRESSURES. IN 2024, THE CONSERVANCY WAS HIGHLY INVOLVED IN MONITORING PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL DECISIONS THAT COULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO COMMUNITY CHARACTER OR HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION.
- $76,789 spent. INFORMING THE COMMUNITY - 2024 WAS THE CONSERVANCY'S SEVENTH YEAR HOSTING THE LANPHEAR LIVE SPEAKER SERIES. THE CONSERVANCY DESIGNED THE SERIES TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY ON TOPICS THAT ARE INTERESTING AND TIMELY, TYPICALLY COVERING AREAS SUCH AS SCIENCE, HISTORY, NATURE AND TECHNOLOGY. LANPHEAR LIVE IS HELD IN THE CHAPLIN B. BARNES READING ROOM AT THE LANPHEAR LIVERY AND IS PROVIDED AT NO COST TO THOSE WHO ATTEND. THE VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS WE HOSTED IN 2020 IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC WERE SO POPULAR THAT THE CONSERVANCY CONTINUES TO RECORD AND SHARE ITS LANPHEAR LIVE PROGRAMS WITH THE PUBLIC ON ITS WEBSITE AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL. OWNING AND MANAGING THE READING ROOM AS A COMMUNITY SPACE IS A RELATIVELY NEW INITIATIVE FOR THE CONSERVANCY. THE CONSERVANCY ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY IN LATE 2020. CARRYING AND MAINTAINING THE SPACE RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT COSTS TO THE ORGANIZATION. THE CONSERVANCY IS WORKING TO OFFSET THESE COSTS BY SEEKING OUTSIDE FUNDING (COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING SPONSORS AND GRANT FUNDING) TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING AND BY RENTING THE SPACE TO THIRD-PARTIES. INFORMING THE COMMUNITY - 2024 WAS THE CONSERVANCY'S SEVENTH YEAR HOSTING THE LANPHEAR LIVE SPEAKER SERIES. THE CONSERVANCY DESIGNED THE SERIES TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY ON TOPICS THAT ARE INTERESTING AND TIMELY, TYPICALLY COVERING AREAS SUCH AS SCIENCE, HISTORY, NATURE AND TECHNOLOGY. LANPHEAR LIVE IS HELD IN THE CHAPLIN B. BARNES READING ROOM AT THE LANPHEAR LIVERY AND IS PROVIDED AT NO COST TO THOSE WHO ATTEND. THE VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS WE HOSTED IN 2020 IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC WERE SO POPULAR THAT THE CONSERVANCY CONTINUES TO RECORD AND SHARE ITS LANPHEAR LIVE PROGRAMS WITH THE PUBLIC ON ITS WEBSITE AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL. OWNING AND MANAGING THE READING ROOM AS A COMMUNITY SPACE IS A RELATIVELY NEW INITIATIVE FOR THE CONSERVANCY. THE CONSERVANCY ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY IN LATE 2020. CARRYING AND MAINTAINING THE SPACE RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT COSTS TO THE ORGANIZATION. THE CONSERVANCY IS WORKING TO OFFSET THESE COSTS BY SEEKING OUTSIDE FUNDING (COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING SPONSORS AND GRANT FUNDING) TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING AND BY RENTING THE SPACE TO THIRD-PARTIES.
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
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 October 13, 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 2024.
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 October 1999.
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 October 21, 2026.
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