Western New York Land Conservancy Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PERMANENTLY PROTECT LAND WITH SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION VALUE IN WESTERN NEW YORK, FOR THE BENEFIT OF FUTURE GENERATIONS.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $2.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- -26.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 43%
- Employees
- 22
- Volunteers
- 70
- Highest pay
- $147,724, executive director
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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 35% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 2515 of 15 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)
- $1.6 million spent. PERSERVE LAND WITH SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION CONSERVATION VALUES THROUGH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, FEE TITLE ACQUISITIONS AND ASSISTED TRANSACTIONS. CONTINUE TO STEWARD OUR HOLDINGS OF OVER 5,937 ACRES OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND 1,947 ACRES OF FEE OWNED PRESERVES. THE LAND CONSERVANCY HAS 23 PROJECTS UNDERWAY, TOTALING 2,686 ADDITIONAL ACRES'
- $153,298 spent. WESTERN NEW YORK WILDWAY - THE LAND CONSERVANCY'S LANDSCAPE-SCALE CONSERVATION PROJECT WORKING TO CONNECT AND PROTECT THE LARGEST REMAINING FORESTS AND HABITATS IN THE WESTERN NEW YORK REGION. THE WNY WILDWAY FOCUSES ON CONSERVING AND CONNECTING CORE HABITATS AND LINKAGES TO ALLOW PLANTS AND ANIMALS TO ROAM ACROSS THE LAND AS THEY ONCE DID, TO MOVE AS CLIMATE CHANGES, AND TO EXPAND THEIR RANGES AND ENSURE THEIR SURVIVAL.
- $339,329 spent. THE LAND CONSERVANCY WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH THE COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL DESIGN CONSULTANTS TO CREATE A CONCEPT PLAN FOR THE RIVERLINE. THE CONCEPT PLAN CALLS FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE FORMER DL&W RAIL CORRIDOR INTO A 1.5 MILE MULTI-USE NATURE TRAIL AND GREENWAY. THE RIVERLINE WILL BE AN INSPIRING GATHERING PLACE THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE TO WATER, NATURE, AND ONE ANOTHER, AND IT WILL HELP BUILD A HEALTHY, INCLUSIVE AND OPPORTUNITY-RICH CITY . THE CONCEPT PLANS; THE EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK, COMPLETED IN 2020 WITH INPUT FROM HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS; AND CONTINUED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS, WILL GUIDE FUTURE DECISIONS FOR TAKING THE RIVERLINE FROM IDEA TO REALITY. THE LAND CONSERVANCY OFFICIALLY FORMED THE RIVERLINE LLC, A SOLE MEMBER MANAGED ENTITY ON 5/11/21. THE OPERATING AGREEMENT FOR THE RIVERLINE LLC WAS AMENDED TO CHANGE THE RIVERLINE LLC FROM SOLE MEMBER TO MANAGER MANAGED IN JUNE 2022.
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 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 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 April 1992.
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.
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