Westchester Land Trust Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The primary mission of the Westchester Land Trust is to conserve, maintain and enhance the natural environment and resources of Westchester County and eastern Putnam County. The Trust acquires interests in land exhibiting important natural features or values.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 117.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 130
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 117.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 43% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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 (1)
- $1.4 million spent. Westchester Land Trust (WLT) is a regional conservation organization that conserves and cares for land in urban, suburban, and rural communities located in Westchester and eastern Putnam counties of New York. Its land preservation efforts serve the public by protecting drinking water supplies, climate-resilient lands, trails for passive recreation and scenic enjoyment, wildlife habitats, farmland, and urban green spaces, such as community gardens and pocket parks. - continued on Schedule O -Since 1988 WLT has preserved more than 9,300 acres of open space, and 20 miles of hiking trails in 29 communities. WLT has protected parcels of land ranging from a quarter of an acre to over 600 acres. In 2024, WLT preserved an additional 85 acres across two projects. Community members enjoyed thousands of visits to WLT's preserves in 2024. Fourteen WLT nature preserves are open to the public year-round and free of charge. The remaining preserves serve as wildlife sanctuaries that are not open to the public. WLT partners with the State of New York, Westchester and Putnam counties, private landowners, and municipalities to acquire and care for land.WLT is committed to community education about the protection of natural resources, wildlife habitats, and sustainable agriculture. WLT collaborates with dozens of national, regional, and local organizations on programming and projects to help advance its mission. WLT's mobile education program, the Pollinator Pop-Up, appeared at 21 events in 2024, allowing WLT to connect with more than 1,600 community members about environmental topics. WLT's headquarters, Sugar Hill Farm, is the site of a half-acre organic garden, where vegetables are grown and distributed to local food pantries. Since its founding, more than 84,500 servings of fresh produce have been donated to families in need of food. Volunteers are the backbone of WLT's work. In 2024 volunteers donated more than 940 hours of their time to support WLT's land protection and community engagement programs. WLT's protected lands are home to more than 1,300 species of native plants and animals. In addition to proactive land protection, land stewardship is an important component of WLT's mission. WLT regularly conducts land management and habitat restoration projects on publically accessible lands that it owns or holds conservation easements on. In 2024, WLT contracted with youth conservationists to help launch a landscape-scale forest health project spanning all its preserves. WLT also employs summer conservation apprentices as part of its conservation career development 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
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 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 June 1994.
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.