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Equity Trust Inc

EIN 06-1337421 · Amherst, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO LAND, HOUSING, CAPITAL, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISADVANTAGED AND LOW-INCOME PEOPLE; TO PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES; AND RELATED CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

Income
$708,530
Spending
$519,083
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
20.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
5
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$74,324, 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 68% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (5)
  1. $129,670 spent. EQUITY TRUST FUND: ENABLING SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS LENDERS AND DONORS TO SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE WORKING FARMS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OTHER SOCIALLY BENEFICIAL AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS. THE FUND ADDED THREE NEW PROJECTS IN 2025. THE CURRENT PORFOLIO AS OF THE END OF THE YEAR INCLUDED THIRTY-THREE PROJECTS REPRESENTING THE FULL RANGE OF THE FUND'S MISSION.
  2. $73,606 spent. EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE THE ESTABLISHMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND FARMS THAT BENEFIT THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. SUPPORT ACCESS TO FARMLAND FOR HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES AND THE PERMANENT PROTECTION OF FARMLAND AND FARM INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEIR AFFORDABILITY FOR WORKING FARMERS. IN 2025, EQUITY TRUST'S WORK FOCUSED ON FARM LAND ACCESS FOR FARM WORKERS AND IMMIGRANT FARMERS; GUIDANCE TO LAND TRUSTS AND LAND OWNERS ON INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES FOR PROTECTING AND STEWARDING WORKING FARMS; AND RESPONDING TO ASSISTANCE REQUESTS FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS, FARMERS, LAND OWNERS, AND LAND TRUSTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.
  3. $83,750 spent. EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO EXISTING AND EMERGING COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS WITH A MISSION TO HOLD AND STEWARD LAND FOR PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FOOD PRODUCTION, LOCAL ENTERPRISES, AND/OR COMMUNITY SPACE; SUPPORT FOR GROUPS ENGAGED IN DEVELOPMENT OF COMPLEMENTARY STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP OF LAND AND PROPERTY.
  4. $62,321 spent. PROPERTY AND VALUES: EDUCATION ABOUT AND PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF LAND OWNERSHIP, DECOMMODIFICATION OF LAND, REPAIRING HISTORIC LAND THEFT, AND ECONOMICS BASED ON PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
  5. $31,180 spent. PROPERTY STEWARDSHIP: EQUITY TRUST OWNS AND STEWARDS PERMANENTLY PRESERVED AND AFFORDABLE FARM PROPERTIES IN NEW YORK AND NEW HAMPSHIRE, HOLDS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PERMANENTLY PROTECTING FARM PROPERTIES IN CALIFORNIA AND MASSACHUSETTS, AND SUPPORTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY STEWARDING LAND AND HOLDING AFFORDABILITY RESTRICTIONS IN MASSACHUSETTS AND CONNECTICUT.

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 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 December 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 July 1997.

    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.