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Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc

EIN 13-3028060 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

OSILT SUPPORTS OSI'S MISSION TO PROTECT LAND FOR CLEAN DRINKING WATER, PUBLIC RECREATION, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT; AND TO CONSERVE INTACT FORESTS AND FLOODPLAINS THAT CAPTURE AND STORE CARBON AND PROTECT AGAINST INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS WEATHER EVENTS.

Income
$73.1 million
Spending
$30.0 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-35.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 37%
Employees
0
Volunteers
27
Highest pay
$403,844, executive vice president

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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 59% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 27 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (5)
  1. $10.2 million spent. LAND CONSERVATION OPERATIONS: SMART, STRATEGIC LAND CONSERVATION STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES, ENSURES ACCESS TO DRINKING WATER RESOURCES, PROVIDES RECREATIONAL RESOURCES, PROTECTS HABITATS, MAINTAIN HEALTHY FORESTS, AND MITIGATES THE EFFECTS OF EXTREME WEATHER. OSILT WORKS THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN UNITED STATES, WITH PROJECT CONCENTRATIONS IN NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, SOUTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA, AND GEORGIA. THROUGH FACILITATED PROJECTS, DIRECT ACQUISITIONS, AND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, OSILT PROTECTS LAND WITH THE GOAL OF CONVEYING IT TO PUBLIC AGENCIES AND CONSERVATION PARTNERS AS PERMANENT ADDITIONS TO PUBLIC LANDS. IN 2024, OSILT PROTECTED 12,084 ACRES OF LAND HAVING A FAIR MARKET VALUE OF $80.59 MILLION.
  2. $6.9 million spent. PARKS AND PUBLIC POLICY: OSILT IS MAKING NATURE AND THE OUTDOORS MORE INVITING AND ENJOYABLE TO ALL. THROUGH PARK IMPROVEMENTS, THE CREATION OF NEW TRAILS AND GREENWAYS, PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH, AND ADVOCACY FOR GREATER FEDERAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC LANDS, OSILT WORKS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO OPEN SPACE, PROMOTE COMMUNITY WELLBEING, AND CREATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATIONISTS.
  3. $5.4 million spent. CAPITAL STRATEGIES: GUIDED BY SCIENCE, WITH A FOCUS ON PROTECTING MATURE HEALTHY FORESTS, CRITICAL WATERSHEDS, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT, OSILT WORKS WITH FOUNDATIONS TO DESIGN AND ADMINISTER RE-GRANT PROGRAMS, DIRECTING CAPITAL, AND LOW-COST LOANS TO ACCELERATE THE RATE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CONSERVATION. OSILT ALSO OFFERS CATALYST GRANTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PARTNERS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES TO INCORPORATE CONSERVATION SCIENCE INTO LOCAL PLANNING AND WORKS DIRECTLY WITH COMMUNITIES TO INCORPORATE NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS. IN 2024, OSILT MADE 23 CAPITAL GRANTS TOTALING $3,660,811, PROTECTING 6,878 ACRES IN SEVEN STATES WITH A FAIR MARKET VALUE OF $37,864,685. FURTHER, OSILT DIRECTLY APPROVED EIGHT GRANTS FOR CONSERVATION PLANNING TOTALING $109,275.
  4. $1.5 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS
  5. STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM

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

  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 2024.

    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 October 1980.

    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.