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Delaware Highlands Conservancy

EIN 23-2804664 · Beach Lake, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CONSERVE AND SUPPORT THE RESILIENCY OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE UPPER DELAWARE RIVER REGION BY WORKING WITH WILLING LANDOWNERS AND BY PROVIDING CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT OUR VAN SCOTT NATURE RESERVE.

Income
$816,785
Spending
$944,167
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
14.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
9
Volunteers
68
Highest pay
$107,351, executive di

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 94% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 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 (2)
  1. $425,451 spent. CONSERVING WATER AND LAND: AS AN ACCREDITED LAND TRUST, DELAWARE HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY CONSERVES OUR NATURAL HERITAGE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LANDOWNERS AND THE COMMUNITIES OF THE UPPER DELAWARE RIVER REGION. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY PLACING AND HOLDING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO PROTECT THE FORESTS, FARMLAND, CLEAN WATERS, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT OF OUR REGION. THE CONSERVANCY HOLDS AND HAS ASSISTED STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS WITH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA ON OVER 90 PROPERTIES, TOTALING OVER 19,000 ACRES.
  2. $253,694 spent. EDUCATION: DELAWARE HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY CONNECTS PEOPLE TO NATURE AND PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ABOUT LAND, WATER, AND WILDLIFE TO FOSTER SOUND STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES THAT SUPPORT THE RESILIENCY OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND PROMOTE A SUSTAINABLE LOCAL ECONOMY. THROUGH THE CONSERVANCY'S GREEN LODGING AND DRINKS FOR THE DELAWARE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ARE INTRODUCED TO THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVING LAND AND PROTECTING CLEAN WATER FOR DRINKING, RECREATION, AND HABITAT PROTECTION AT REGIONAL HOSPITALITY AND BEVERAGE ESTABLISHMENTS. NATURE-BASED EVENTS FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES OFFERED BY THE CONSERVANCY AT ITS VAN SCOTT NATURE RESERVE AND PARTNER LOCATIONS PROVIDE IN-DEPTH LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE NECESSITY OF CONSERVING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND EMPOWER THEM TO TAKE ACTION. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, WOMEN AND THEIR WOODS, EAGLE WATCH, HABITAT AND WILDLIFE WORKSHOPS, GUIDED HIKES, AND FOREST MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS. THE VAN SCOTT NATURE RESERVE ALSO FEATURES A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE THREE-MILE TRAIL SYSTEM THROUGH A VARIETY OF MEADOW, FOREST, AND WETLAND HABITATS WITH INFORMATIVE, INTERPRETIVE STOPS ALONG THE WAY. EDUCATION: DELAWARE HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY CONNECTS PEOPLE TO NATURE AND PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ABOUT LAND, WATER, AND WILDLIFE TO FOSTER SOUND STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES THAT SUPPORT THE RESILIENCY OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND PROMOTE A SUSTAINABLE LOCAL ECONOMY. THROUGH THE CONSERVANCY'S GREEN LODGING AND DRINKS FOR THE DELAWARE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ARE INTRODUCED TO THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVING LAND AND PROTECTING CLEAN WATER FOR DRINKING, RECREATION, AND HABITAT PROTECTION AT REGIONAL HOSPITALITY AND BEVERAGE ESTABLISHMENTS. NATURE-BASED EVENTS FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES OFFERED BY THE CONSERVANCY AT ITS VAN SCOTT NATURE RESERVE AND PARTNER LOCATIONS PROVIDE IN-DEPTH LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE NECESSITY OF CONSERVING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND EMPOWER THEM TO TAKE ACTION. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, WOMEN AND THEIR WOODS, EAGLE WATCH, HABITAT AND WILDLIFE WORKSHOPS, GUIDED HIKES, AND FOREST MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS. THE VAN SCOTT NATURE RESERVE ALSO FEATURES A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE THREE-MILE TRAIL SYSTEM THROUGH A VARIETY OF MEADOW, FOREST, AND WETLAND HABITATS WITH INFORMATIVE, INTERPRETIVE STOPS ALONG THE WAY.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 June 1995.

    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.

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.