Dutchess Land Conservancy Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DUTCHESS LAND CONSERVANCY (DLC) IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING THE SCENIC, AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK, AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. DLC, AS A PRIVATE NON-PROFIT LAND CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION, CARRIES OUT ITS MISSION PRIMARILY BY OBTAINING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON PRIVATELY HELD LAND AND MONITORING THESE EASEMENTS IN PERPETUITY. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, ACQUIRED THROUGH DONATION OR PURCHASE, ARE LEGAL AGREEMENTS LIMITING FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN ORDER TO PROTECT LAND FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION TO LANDOWNERS, MUNICIPALITIES, AND THE PUBLIC, TO ENCOURAGE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND PLANNING, AND ON MATTERS OF LAND CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP. IN 2009 THE ORGANIZATION WAS AWARDED ACCREDITATION STATUS BY THE LAND TRUST ACCREDITATION COMMISSION, AN INDEPENDENT PROGRAM OF THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE. IN 2014 AND 2020, THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVED ITS FIRST AND SECOND ACCREDITATION RENEWALS, RESPECTIVELY.
- Income
- $7.2 million
- Spending
- $5.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 20.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 225
- Highest pay
- $215,027, 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 75% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2529 of 29 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 (3)
- $4.1 million spent. LAND CONSERVATION: IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION WORKED WITH NUMEROUS LANDOWNERS ON CONSERVATION PROJECTS COVERING MORE THAN 5,000 ACRES, AND SEVERAL CONSERVATION PLANNING PROJECTS, DEVELOPING RESOURCE MAPS, RESPONDING TO INQUIRIES ABOUT CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND LAND CONSERVATION, DOING RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF IMPORTANT RESOURCE LAND, AND VISITING PROPERTIES. IN 2024, SEVEN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS WERE COMPLETED PROTECTING 904 ACRES WHICH BROUGHT THE ORGANIZATION'S TOTAL LAND PROTECTED TO APPROXIMATELY 47,400 ACRES. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED ITS WORK WITH SEVERAL FARMERS ON PURCHASE OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS (PDR) PROJECTS IN MANY DUTCHESS COUNTY TOWNS. THE ORGANIZATION OWNS AND MANAGERS THE JESSE AND GAYLE BONTECOU WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PRESERVE WHICH SERVES AS A WILDLIFE SANTUARY, WORKING FARM, AND HAS (LAND CONSERVATION) TRAILS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION'S MUNICIPAL CONSERVATION AREA ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, A PROGRAM TO HELP TOWNS ACQUIRE IMPORTANT RESOURCE LAND FOR PASSIVE PUBLIC USE. THE DLC CONTINUES ITS WORK WITH THE TOWN OF DOVER ON THE DOVER STONE CHURCH AND SEVEN WELLS PROPERTIES.
- $477,654 spent. STEWARDSHIP: THE ORGANIZATION HAS NOW PROTECTED 47,400 ACRES STEWARDING 450 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. THE ORGANIZATION MONITORS ALL PROPERTIES ANNUALLY, A MAJORITY BY AERIAL OVERFLIGHT, AND GROUND MONITORS ITS EASEMENTS ON A THREE TO FOUR YEAR ROTATIONAL BASIS. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION MONITORED ALL CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, A MAJORITY BY AIR, AND COMPLETED 126 ON A 3-TO-4-YEAR ROTATIONAL GROUND MONITORING SCHEDULE THROUGH STAFF SITE VISITS. THE ORGANIZATION WORKED ON NUMEROUS STEWARDSHIP MATTERS FROM PRIOR APPROVAL REQUESTS AND LAND MANAGEMENT QUESTIONS TO RESOLVING EASEMENT ISSUES. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION AGAIN REGISTERED FOR TERRAFIRMA, THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT DEFENSE INSURANCE PROGRAM TO ENHANCE ITS ABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY ENFORCE ITS EASEMENTS. EACH YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES RESEARCH AND LAND MANAGEMENT (STEWARDSHIP) ASSISTANCE. STAFF STRIVE TO KEEP UP TO DATE ON ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE USE OF SATELLITE IMAGERY AS A MONITORING TOOL. THE ORGANIZATION'S STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES CONTINUE TO INCREASE EACH YEAR AS MORE AND MORE EASEMENTS ARE ACCEPTED. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO IMPROVE THE TRACKING OF EASEMENT PROTECTED PROPERTY SALES, COMMUNICATION WITH LANDOWNERS, AND MAINTAINING A "WATCH LIST" OF EASEMENT PROTECTED LAND ON THE MARKET TO CHECK FOR NEW OWNERSHIP. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE STAFF FILES CRITICAL EASEMENT RELATED DOCUMENTS IN THE ORGANIZATION'S ARCHIVAL STORAGE UNIT IN AN OFF-SITE FACILITY TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM SAFETY OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MOST VALUABLE DOCUMENTS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CONTINUED ITS COLLABORATION WITH THE COLUMBIA LAND CONSERVANCY (CLC) AND THE AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST'S FARMLAND FOR NEW GENERATION PROGRAM ON A FARMER LANDOWNER MATCH PROGRAM, THAT FACILITATES LEASE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN LANDOWNERS SEEKING TO HAVE THEIR LAND FARMED, AND FARMERS SEEKING LAND, AS A WAY TO KEEP LAND OPEN.
- $548,361 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION. THE ORGANIZATION'S STAFF REGULARLY TALK WITH MUNICIPALITIES, SCHOOL GROUPS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LAND PRESERVATION, SOUND PLANNING, WELL-PLANNED GROWTH THAT PROTECTS IMPORTANT RESOURCES, LAND STEWARDSHIP AND MANAGEMENT, AND WAYS TO KEEP FARMERS ON THE LAND. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED AND PARTICIPATED IN 47 EDUCATION EVENTS, REACHING MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE. THE ORGANIZATION COLLABORATED WITH 33 ORGANIZATIONS AND HOSTED 15 PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATIONS' OUTREACH AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS ENGAGED OVER 225 VOLUNTEERS ON 24 VOLUNTEER EVENTS, 6 COMMUNITY SCIENCE EVENTS, AND 9 COMMUNITY (EDUCATION) OUTREACH EVENTS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SPACES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND IN COMMUNITY SERVICE INITIATIVES. STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN AND ATTENDED NUMEROUS VIRTUAL EDUCATION EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. STAFF ATTENDED THE NATIONAL LAND TRUST RALLY (CONFERENCE), ATTENDED THE NEW YORK LAND TRUST CONSERVATION CONFERENCE, NUMEROUS SEMINARS, CLASSES AND WEBINARS TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE, PARTICIPATED ON NUMEROUS COMMITTEES AND BOARDS (NATIONAL, STATE, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL) AND ATTENDED VARIOUS GATHERINGS TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, LAND CONSERVATION, AND THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK. THE ORGANIZATION'S PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO SERVE ON THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE NY ADVISORY COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL LAND TRUST ACCREDITATION COMMISSION.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1986.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.