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Aquidneck Land Trust

EIN 22-3073770 · Middletown, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE AND STEWARD AQUIDNECK ISLAND'S OPEN SPACES FOR THE LASTING BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY WHILE CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH THE LAND THAT DEFINES THE ISLAND'S NATURAL CHARACTER.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$5.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
13
Volunteers
189
Highest pay
$178,381, development director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 94% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 25

    16 of 16 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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)
  1. $3.8 million spent. FOUR PROPERTIES CONSISTING OF 38.44 ACRES WERE PERMANENTLY PROTECTED ON AQUIDNECK ISLAND IN THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024. PRESERVED PARCELS ARE STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT BASED ON CLEAR CONSERVATION CRITERIA. AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2024, THE LAND TRUST HAS PRESERVED AND PROTECTED 2,841.04 ACRES OF LAND TO DATE.
  2. $250,951 spent. THE LAND TRUST ASSURES RESPONSIBLE, PERPETUAL STEWARDSHIP FOR ALL CONSERVED LANDS, DRIVEN BY A COMMITMENT TO PROTECT EACH PARCEL TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT, A DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE AND CARE IN STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES, AND ARDENT DEFENSE OF THE LAND ENTRUSTED TO THEM BY GRANTORS.
  3. $251,454 spent. PUBLIC ACCESS, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNICATION, PRIMARILY THROUGH MEMBERSHIP SERVICES, BOLSTER THE LAND TRUST'S LAND PROTECTION AND STEWARDSHIP OBJECTIVES THROUGH TARGETED AND SHARPLY FOCUSED EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES AND BALANCED PUBLIC ACCESS STRATEGIES THAT PROMOTE A LAND CONSERVATION ETHIC, CREATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE URGENT NEED TO CONSERVE OPEN SPACES, AND BUILD BROAD-BASED PUBLIC AWARENESS AND SUPPORT OF THE LAND TRUST'S MISSION AND GOALS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE LECTURES, PROPERTY TOURS, NEWSLETTERS, PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS, THE ANNUAL REPORT, AND ANNUAL MEETING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1990.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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