Little Traverse Conservancy Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Little Traverse Conservancy protects land in northern Michigan by owning it as Nature Preserves and Working Forest Reserves, and through Conservation Easements (perpetual, voluntary agreements that guard the conservation values of the property).
- Income
- $11.2 million
- Spending
- $4.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 24.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $138,920, executive dir.
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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 62% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% 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 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2526 of 26 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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 (3)
- $2.8 million spent. The Conservancy's Stewardship Program cares for the nearly 30,000 acres owned as nature preserves and working forest reserves. Primary stewardship activities on these properties include monitoring, trail creation and maintenance, and ecological restoration work. In 2024, our Stewardship work included planting 7,627 trees, building nearly 9 miles of new trail, and improving 15 parking areas. Our ECAR (Ecological Conditions and Response) program inventoried over 17,000 acres and documented 1,334 species on our preserves.
- $424,520 spent. The Conservancy's Land Protection Program works with landowners on a voluntary basis to acquire properties that further our mission of preserving scenic and significant lands. This is accomplished through acquisitions, conservation easements, and transfer and assist projects with local governments or the State of Michigan. Through this work, the Conservancy has protected over 70,254 acres since 1972. In 2024, we protected 1,186 acres. This included six projects in Emmet County, five projects in Charlevoix County, four projects in Cheboygan County, and five projects in the Upper Peninsula.
- $412,989 spent. The Conservancy's Environmental Education Program offers free field trips, lessons, and activities to foster a greater understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the natural environment. Students can learn all year long through school field trips, weekend programs, and summer programs on Conservancy lands. In 2024, we led environmental education programs with 21 schools across our service area, impacting over 2,500 students. Additionally, we held bi-monthly programs with seniors.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1974.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.