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Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Inc

EIN 23-2977618 · Easton, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE OPER THE BYLAWS OF THE DELAWARE & LEHIGH NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR(WHICH WERE UPDATED BY THE MERGED BOARD OF THE NATIONAL CANAL MUSUEM AND THE D&L), OUR MISSION IS TO WORK WITH GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS (AGENCIES), COMMERICAL ENTITIES, THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE CORRIDOR TO:1. CONSERVE THE HISTORIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM OF CANALS AND OVERLAND RAILROADS AND AMPLIFY THE RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES BASED ON THEM2. BROADLY TELL THE STORY OF THE REGION BY STRENGTHENING THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION3. ESTABLISH A FRAMEWORK FOR STEWARDSHIP WHICH WILL PRESERVE SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC SITES, COLLECTIONS AND ARCHIVES, ENHANCE RECREATION, AND CONSERVE THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT4. PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAPITALIZING ON THE CORRIDOR'S RICH HERITAGE AS A MEANS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 56%
Employees
47
Volunteers
166
Highest pay
$123,574, 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 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 41% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 (5)
  1. $163,324 spent. D&L TRAIL DEVELOPMENTTHE D&L TRAIL IS THE SPINE RUNNING 165 MILES THROUGH THE HERITAGE CORRIDOR. THE IMPACT OF THE D&L TRAIL ON RECREATION, HEALTH, AND TOURISM INCREASES WITH EACH TRAIL GAP THAT IS CLOSED AND EACH CONNECTION TO ADJACENT TRAILS AND COMMUNITIES. MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING EXISTING SECTIONS OF TRAILS BENEFITS CURRENT TRAIL USERS AND IMPROVES SAFETY. THESE RESULTS LEAD TO INCREASED TRAIL USAGE, IMPROVED HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS, AND INCREASED QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. PEOPLE CONTINUE TO WANT TO BE ON TRAILS FOR RECREATION AND PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. IN TURN, THERE ARE BENEFICIAL RIPPLE EFFECTS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
  2. $447,719 spent. THE NATIONAL CANAL MUSEUMTHE NATIONAL CANAL MUSEUM IS DEDICATED TO TELLING THE STORY OF AMERICA'S HISTORIC TOWPATH CANALS WITH A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON PENNSYLVANIA'S LEHIGH AND DELAWARE CANALS THAT CARRIED ANTHRACITE COAL FROM THE MINES IN NORTHEASTERN PA TO MARKETS IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY, PHILADELPHIA, AND BEYOND. THE MUSEUM INTERPRETS THE HISTORIC IMPACT AND CULTURE OF CANALS, AS WELL AS THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THEIR BUILDING, THROUGH A VARIETY OF EXHIBITS, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, AND AN INTERPRETIVE CANAL BOAT RIDE PULLED BY MULES.
  3. $282,473 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACHMORE THAN 100,000 STUDENTS AND ADULTS IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN OUR HERITAGE ANNUALLY IN OUTDOOR AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING OUR AWARD-WINNING TALES OF THE TOWPATH CURRICULUM AND FIELD TRIPS, IMMERSION DAYS FIELD TRIPS, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, CONFERENCES, AND WORKSHOPS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE TALES OF THE TOWPATH TRAVELING CURRICULUM OFFERS 4TH- AND 5TH-GRADE STUDENTS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE MID-19TH CENTURY LIFE ALONG THE LEHIGH AND DELAWARE CANALS AND UNDERSTAND THE CANALS' IMPORTANCE IN AMERICA'S GROWTH DURING OUR 19TH CENTURY INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.
  4. $210,299 spent. LEHIGH VALLEY GREENWAYS CONSERVATION LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIPSINCE 2004, LEHIGH VALLEY GREENWAYS (LVG) CONSERVATION LANDSCAPE IS A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PROACTIVE, PARTNERSHIP APPROACH TO LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION IN LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES. WITH THE PA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES, DLNHC STAFF CO-LEAD THE CONSERVATION LANDSCAPE WITH A DIVERSE GROUP OF PARTNERS TO ENRICH THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY. BY PROVIDING RIBBONS OF GREEN THROUGHOUT THE DENSELY POPULATED AREA, LVG HELPS KEEP COMMUNITIES CONNECTED WITH TRAILS AND GREENWAYS AND PROTECTS NATURAL RESOURCES.THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH TRAIL TOWNSLAUNCHED IN 2017, BUILDING ON THE PAST SUCCESS OF THE MARKET AND LANDMARK TOWN PROGRAMS, DLNHC GUIDES THE PUBLIC, BUSINESSES, AND MUNICIPALITIES THROUGH A PROCESS THAT IDENTIFIES WAYS FOR THEIR TOWN TO CREATE A TRAIL FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE. THE PROCESS RESULTS IN IMPROVED TRAILS, COMMUNITIES, AND ECONOMIES FOR TRAIL USERS AND RESIDENTS TO ENJOY.
  5. $93,068 spent. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH TRAIL TOWNSLAUNCHED IN 2017, BUILDING ON THE PAST SUCCESS OF THE MARKET AND LANDMARK TOWN PROGRAMS, DLNHC GUIDES THE PUBLIC, BUSINESSES, AND MUNICIPALITIES THROUGH A PROCESS THAT IDENTIFIES WAYS FOR THEIR TOWN TO CREATE A TRAIL FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE. THE PROCESS RESULTS IN IMPROVED TRAILS, COMMUNITIES, AND ECONOMIES FOR TRAIL USERS AND RESIDENTS TO ENJOY. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES D&L TRAIL FRIENDLY BUSINESS CERTIFICATION WHICH HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE GREAT CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND CATER TO THE NEEDS OF RUNNERS, HIKERS, AND BIKERS WHO USE THE D&L TRAIL. THESE BUSINESSES CREATE A TRAIL FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE THAT WELCOMES OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS. THESE BUSINESSES KNOW WHAT TRAIL USERS NEED AND TAKE EXTRA STEPS TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

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 January 2003.

    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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