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Three Lakes Council Inc

EIN 13-2873769 · South Salem, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The mission of the Three Lakes Council is to preserve and protect the waters and watershed of the three lakes through outreach, research, stewardship, and community action

Income
$90,068
Spending
$25,970
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
0
Volunteers
35

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

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

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: 81 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $6,319 spent. Outreach and Communications: Mailings, newsletters, social media, meetings, and website designed to inform residents about actions they can take to preserve and protect the quality of the watershed, wetlands and waters of the three lakes. Encourage shoreline native plantings and permeable surfaces. Inform community about lake ecology. Update residents about regulatory changes that affect lakes, shores and watershed. Share Town actions that affect lake community.
  2. $5,134 spent. Lake Studies and Research -- Assess the current state of the watershed and water bodies to identify trends and critical factors impacting the area. Studies done with NYS DEC CSLAP program, independent lake managers and certified laboratory. Communicate study findings and sampling results. Notify residents of any visible harmful algal blooms. Evaluate trends in plant growth and density over years. Assess lake management actions based on research data. Contribute data to statewide assessments.
  3. $6,507 spent. Invasive Species Program - Lead efforts to detect and eradicate or control new invasive organisms in the watershed. Continue monitoring for aquatic invasives Egeria densa (found in 2008) and Trapas natans (2014). Long Pond preserve invasive control activities for phragmites and mile-a-minute vine.
  4. $3,633 spent. Watershed Stewardship - Preserve undeveloped property in the watershed including ownership, operation, and maintenance of Long Pond Preserve, its wetland meadow, and its trail. Support the NYS DEC Trees for Tribs program at the Waccabuc Creek, maintaining plantings for storm water management, stream protection & habitat. Canada geese population stabilization actions. Boat sticker initiative informs users on clean boat protocols. Manage debris in channels to allow passage between the three lakes.

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 October 13, 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 November 1976.

    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 October 21, 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.