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Hunterdon Land Trust

EIN 22-3477465 · Flemington, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HUNTERDON LAND TRUST'S MISSION IS FOSTERING HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS AND COMMUNITIES IN THE HUNTERDON COUNTY REGION THROUGH PERMANENT PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE AND FARMLAND, STEWARDSHIP OF NATURAL RESOURCES, AND CULTIVATION OF THE DVOOR FARM AS A CENTER FOR INSPIRATION, EDUCATION, AND CONNECTION.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
11.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
8
Volunteers
72
Highest pay
$104,618, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

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

    10 of 10 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, 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 (5)
  1. $586,592 spent. LAND PRESERVATION: HLT PRESERVES LAND TO CREATE RESILIENT, CONNECTED LANDSCAPES IN OUR REGION THAT PROTECT CLEAN AIR AND WATER, SUPPORT BIODIVERSITY AND WILDLIFE HABITAT, PROMOTE LOCAL AGRICULTURE, MITIGATE FLOODING, AND COMBAT THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO SUPPORT HEALTHY COMMUNITIES NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. HLT PROTECTS LAND BY ACQUIRING IT DIRECTLY FOR PRESERVATION, ESTABLISHING CONSERVATION AND AGRICULTURAL EASEMENTS ON PROPERTIES, AND FACILITATING PROJECTS WITH PARTNERS INCLUDING MUNICIPALITIES AND OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. TO DATE, HLT HAS PRESERVED 12,307 ACRES. OF THE TOTAL PRESERVED, HLT OWNS 840 ACRES FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENJOY AND MONITORS 574 ACRES PROTECTED BY EASEMENTS TO ENSURE PERMANENT PRESERVATION.
  2. $147,214 spent. DVOOR FARM REHABILITATION AND PROGRAMS: HLT PRESERVES THE HISTORIC RESOURCES AND CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF THE HISTORIC DVOOR FARM AS A CENTER FOR INSPIRATION, EDUCATION, AND CONNECTION. IT IS A PLACE FOR EDUCATION, RECREATION AND AGRITOURISM CONNECTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO EACH OTHER AND THE REGION'S FARMING HERITAGE THROUGH COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING SUCH AS A FARMERS MARKET AND THE PUBLIC'S USE OF THE PROPERTY.
  3. $193,143 spent. STEWARDSHIP: HLT STEWARDS NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES TO PROMOTE ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND VISITOR EXPERIENCE, WITH EMPHASIS ON ENSURING MEANINGFUL PUBLIC ACCESS AND ENRICHMENT, IMPROVING ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY AND HABITAT, AND ENSURING THE HEALTH AND INTEGRITY OF WATERWAYS. HLT OWNS 840 ACRES OF PRESERVED LAND THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT. ALL OF OUR PRESERVES HAVE MANAGEMENT PLANS THAT PRIORITIZE STEWARDSHIP STRATEGIES, INCLUDING INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL, SOIL CONSERVATION, NATIVE TREE PLANTINGS, AND WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECTS. HLT'S STEWARDSHIP EFFORTS ARE SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTEERS.
  4. $106,050 spent. OUTREACH: INCLUDES COMMUNITY OUTREACH, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE CONSERVATION COMMUNITY, PREPARING LITERATURE FOR HLT PROPERTIES AND TRAILS, ISSUING NEWSLETTERS, AND HOLDING COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS.
  5. OUTREACH: INCLUDES COMMUNITY OUTREACH, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE CONSERVATION COMMUNITY, PREPARING LITERATURE FOR HLT PROPERTIES AND TRAILS, ISSUING NEWSLETTERS, AND HOLDING COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1997.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.