Beaufort County Open Land Trust Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE BEAUFORT COUNTY OPEN LAND TRUST PROTECTS SIGNIFICANT ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL PLACES THAT DEFINE THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THE HEALTH AND SPIRIT OF THE EXTRAORDINARY LOWCOUNTRY REGION.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $754,327
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 25.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $104,893, 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 25.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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 (2)
- $298,661 spent. During the 2024 Fiscal year, The Open Land Trust (OLT) continued its mission to protect significant ecological and cultural places that define the natural landscape while contributing to the health and spirit of the extraordinary Lowcountry region.OLT closed two new conservation easements protecting approximately 4,500 acres of critical landscapes:Gregorie Neck Conservation EsementGregorie Neck, a 4,409-acre property in Jasper County, South Carolina, lies between the Coosawhatchie and Tuliffiny Rivers in the heart of the Port Royal Sound watershed. The Open Land Trust worked with The Nature Conservancy and multiple partners to permanently protect the property through a conservation easement. The project secured more than 1,070 acres of salt marsh and 13.5 miles of river frontage, creating a critical link in the wildlife corridor between the ACE Basin and Savannah River focus areas. The protection enhanced climate resilience by preserving inland marsh migration routes and storm surge zones, reducing future flooding risk and safeguarding water quality downstream. The easement also eliminated incompatible development within special-use airspace between MCAS Beaufort and the Townsend Bombing Range, helping sustain vital military operations in the regions. Partners included: The Beaufort County Greenspace Program, the Department of Defense REPI Program, and the South Carolina Conservation Bank. This collaborative effort demonstrated an effective public-private partnership.Jasmine Hall Conservation EasementJasmine Hall is a 74.59-acre property located off Oaks Plantation Road on St. Helena Island in Beaufort County. The property contributes to a network of protected wildlife corridors and supports water-quality protection for Cowen Creek and the Port Royal Sound watershed. Its permanent protection maintains the scenic, natural, and rural character of the surrounding landscape and safeguards critical habitat adjacent to other conserved properties, including Orange Grove, Oaks Point, and additional protected lands on St. Helena Island. The easement protects the property's ecological integrity, ensuring the perpetual protection of its natural habitat, farmland, and forestland for wildlife and public scenic enjoyment. This project advances OLT's mission to maintain and enhance the natural, cultural, and aesthetic values of the Lowcountry while strengthening the regional conservation corridor connecting the ACE Basin and Port Royal Sound watersheds. The organization also successfully transferred the Coosaw Cotton Field property to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), ensuring its permanent protection and stewardship.OLT supported the Jasper County sales tax referendum, resulting in the county's first dedicated funding source for land protection. Additionally, through the Greenspace Program, Beaufort County allocated funding for the first time to a project in a neighboring county, strengthening regional collaboration.OLT initiated work on creating our first trail on a fee property called the Old Sheldon Woods Trail and secured seed funding to support educational signage.The organization conducted 10 field trips, 2 public panels, 15 presentations, and 2 tabling events, engaging more than 1,300 community members.OLT expanded staff capacity by hiring a Development Director and a part-time Office Administrator and by welcoming a Sentinel Landscape Coordinator through an interagency partnership. These additions strengthened operations, outreach, and program implementation.
- $170,000 spent. BEAUFORT COUNTY'S RURAL & CRITICAL LANDS PRESERVATION PROGRAM OLT CONTINUED PROVIDING LAND ACQUISITION CONSULTING SERVICES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY'S RURAL AND CRITICAL LAND PRESERVATION PROGRAM FOR THE 14TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. PROTECTED ACREAGE FOR THE PROGRAM NOW TOTALS 28,706.95 ACRES. THE RURAL AND CRITICAL PRESERVATION PROGRAM IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS A MODEL FOR LOCALLY FUNDED BALLOT MEASURE PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT LAND CONSERVATION AND IS USED TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING SOURCES.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1971.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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