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Natural Lands Trust Incorporated

EIN 23-6272818 · Media, 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 O

Income
$26.6 million
Spending
$23.8 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-21.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
124
Volunteers
820
Highest pay
$266,305, president

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

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • 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 June 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 (4)
  1. $12.0 million spent. Saving Open SpaceNatural Lands is unique among the region's conservation organizations because of our large network of nature preserves. We know these lands will be protected and cared for forever.Our network currently includes 40+ nature preserves and Stoneleigh:a natural garden, across two states and 13 counties, totaling more than 23,600 acres. Many times,the land we save remains in private ownership but we place it under a conservation easement, which is a legally binding agreement that permanently limits a property's use and binds all present and future owners of the land. We currently hold 494 conservation restrictions on more than 28,000 acres. We monitor these properties regularly to ensure the terms of the easements are being upheld. We also help other organizations and government entities acquire open space. We do this most often for state parks and forests, and townships. We also help our partners manage the land they own using smart, sustainable, tried-and-true practices. And we help townships raise money for open space, revise their zoning codes to help them retain open space during development, develop park master plans, and build trail systems.
  2. $5.5 million spent. Caring for NatureWe love saving land, but we think it's just the first step. In fact, our commitment to caring for nature is one of the reasons why Natural Lands owns so much land (and is always acquiring more): so we can actively enrich and restore our preserves, balancing the needs of nature and her visitors. Our land stewardship programs include: returning former farm fields to forests by planting thousands of trees; exploring and employing an array of techniques to control the spread of invasive plants on our preserves; improving water quality of the creeks that meander through our preserves by planting trees and shrubs along them; and re-establishing once plentiful habitats by transforming retired farm fields to grasslands, restoring man-made ponds to wetlands, and supporting growing woodlands by controlling invasive plants and deer.
  3. $2.9 million spent. Connecting People to the Outdoors...and to Each OtherThe future of conservation requires that there be passionate nature-lovers to carry on our work. That's why we're committed to creating opportunities for joy and discovery in the outdoors for everyone. Our nature preserves and public garden are open for everyone to visit, and are always free. In addition to places for exploration, our preserves allow us to host myriad events every year catering to different people with different interests. We also encourage people to develop a deeper connection to Natural Lands and, by extension, our preserves through our Force of Nature volunteer program. Force of Nature volunteers learn valuable land management and conservation strategies, hone outreach and leadership skills, and meet great people. In addition, we are committed to ensuring equitable access to nature to urbanized communities in our region.
  4. Conservation Efforts

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 June 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 March 1964.

    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.