Saratoga P L a N Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SARATOGA PLAN STEWARDS AND PROTECTS FARMS, FORESTS, AND WATERS OF THE SARATOGA REGION AND THE SOUTHERN ADIRONDACK FOOTHILLS - NOW AND FOREVER.
- Income
- $3.2 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 21.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 105
- Highest pay
- $128,773, 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
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 21.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 35% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 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, 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 (3)
- $1.4 million spent. CONSERVATION PROGRAM - PLAN PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES AND EXPERTISE TO COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE SARATOGA COUNTY REGION TO PERMANENTLY CONSERVE SIGNIFICANT TRACTS OF FARMLAND, WOODLANDS, WILDLIFE HABITATS, WATER RESOURCES, AND TRAIL LINKAGES. LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS, CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY PLANNING, CONSULTATIONS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, GRANT WRITING, VOLUNTEER COORDINATION, LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND DIRECT AND FACILITATED LAND PROTECTION ARE ELEMENTS OF PLAN'S CONSERVATION SERVICES.FOR SOME PROJECTS, PLAN DIRECTLY ACQUIRES TITLE TO REAL PROPERTY FOR NATURE PRESERVES, TRAILS, AND WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION, OR FACILITATES AND ASSISTS THE CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY TO ANOTHER ENTITY SUCH AS A TOWN OR ANOTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION. ANOTHER STRATEGY USED TO CONSERVE LAND IS THE ACCEPTANCE OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS WHICH RESTRICT USES AND LIMIT DEVELOPMENT ON PROPERTIES WHICH CONTINUE TO BE OWNED AND MANAGED BY OTHERS, THUS ENSURING THEIR PERMANENT PROTECTION AND PUBLIC BENEFITS. IN OTHER SCENARIOS, PLAN HELPS LANDOWNERS AND COMMUNITIES IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP PLANS FOR CONSERVATION OF THEIR NATURAL RESOURCES, FACILITATING OR SERVING AS THE AGENT TO HELP IMPLEMENT AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR MUTUAL CONSERVATION GOALS. PLAN SERVES AS AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND COORDINATE THE EFFORTS OF HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS WORKING TO PLAN, ADVANCE AND MANAGE A MULTI-USER TRAIL SYSTEM THROUGHOUT SARATOGA COUNTY FOR RECREATION AND TRANSPORTATION. OVER 215 MILES OF TRAIL HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO DATE AND PROGRESS CONTINUES TO EXPAND AND LINK THEM INTO A NETWORK.SARATOGA PLAN IS A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED LAND TRUST, MEETING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT AND TRANSACTION PRACTICES FOR LAND CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS.
- $323,583 spent. STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM - PLAN PROVIDES LAND STEWARDSHIP FOR 9,873 ACRES OF CONSERVED LANDS WHICH ARE OWNED IN FEE TITLE, PROTECTED BY CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, OR MANAGED FOR MUNICIPALITIES. LANDS OWNED BY PLAN ARE MANAGED PRIMARILY FOR NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH MANAGEMENT PLANS, ALLOWING FOR COMPATIBLE PUBLIC ACCESS AT SOME SITES FOR RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL USES WHILE MAINTAINING CONSERVATION VALUES AND ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS. 105 VOLUNTEERS RECEIVED TRAINING AND COORDINATION IN ORDER TO ASSIST WITH MANAGEMENT OF THE 12 NATURE PRESERVES WHICH ARE OPEN FOR PUBLIC ACCESS, HIKING, CONTEMPLATION, NATURE OBSERVATION, ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES, EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATIONAL EXPLORATIONS, AND ENJOYMENT BY ALL VISITORS. TO ENSURE THAT CONSERVATION VALUES ARE UPHELD IN PERPETUITY, PLAN'S STAFF MEMBERS MONITOR AND ENFORCE THE TERMS OF 62 CONSERVATION EASEMENT AGREEMENTS ON 5,835 ACRES IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH THE LAND OWNERS.
- $262,068 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH - THROUGH AN ACTIVE, MULTI-FACETED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM, PLAN FOSTERS AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION FOR THE LANDSCAPE OF SARATOGA COUNTY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LANDSCAPE AND NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH, QUALITY OF LIFE, ECONOMIC VITALITY, AND LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS ARE EMPHASIZED THROUGH WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS, WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, FACT SHEETS, NEWSLETTERS, PRESS RELEASES, EXHIBITS, OUTINGS, AND TOURS, NUMEROUS STUDENT INTERNSHIPS, INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE, FIELD ACTIVITIES, AND IN-PERSON PRESENTATIONS TO COMMUNITY GROUPS, FIELD TRIPS, CONFERENCES, SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES, TOURS, AND OTHER FORUMS. PLAN MAINTAINS 30 NATURE PRESERVES FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT AND NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION.
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
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 October 13, 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 2025.
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 October 1988.
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 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.