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Wildlands Conservancy Inc

EIN 23-7401326 · Emmaus, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY IS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE CRITICAL NATURAL AREAS AND WATERWAYS, AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY TO CREATE A LEGACY OF A HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
12.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
66
Volunteers
328
Highest pay
$167,522, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 29 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, 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 (2)
  1. $1.9 million spent. CONSERVATION: WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY'S CONSERVATION STRATEGIES INCLUDE LAND PLANNING AND ACQUISITION, STREAM RESTORATION AND HABITAT STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES. WILDLANDS PROTECTED 2,594 ACRES ACRES THROUGH FOUR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, ONE IN PENN AND FOREST KIDDER TOWNSHIPS, CARBON COUNTY TOTALING 2,511 ACRES, AND THREE IN MOORE TOWNSHIP, NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, INDIVIDUALLY TOTALING 9.63 ACRES, 40.51 ACRES, AND 33.78 ACRES. IN THE STEWARDSHIP REALM, WILDLANDS FORWARDED EFFORTS FOCUSED ON STREAM RESTORATION, HABITAT RESTORATION AND WATERSHED PLANNING: COMPLETED 15 RIPARIAN BUFFER PLANTING PROJECTS IN FOUR COUNTIES WITHIN THE LEHIGH RIVER WATERSHED, PLANTING 8,000 NATIVE PLANTS. ADVANCED STREAM RESTORATION ALONG INDIAN RUN CREEK IN CARBON COUNTY THROUGH THE COMPLETION OF DAM REMOVAL AND HABIAT RESTORATION EFFORTS. COMPLETED STREAM RESTORATION ALONG FOREST HILLS RUN IN MONROE COUNTY. STEWARDSHIP ADVANCEMENTS AT WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY'S NATURE PRESREVES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: COMPLETED PRESCRIBED BURN AND RESTORATION AT MAPLE TRACT PRESERVE IN THE MESIC TILL BARRENS LANDSCAPE. ESTABLISHED THE 1.6 MILE BLOODROOT TRAIL AT OUR SOUTH MOUNTAIN PRESERVE.CONTINUED HABITAT RESTORATION, PUBLIC ACCESS ENHANCEMENTS, AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AT BLACK RIVER SANCTUARY.
  2. $623,881 spent. EDUCATION: 7,500 STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 12 BENEFITED FROM WILDLANDS' ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE TIED TO PENNSYLVANIA'S STANDARDS FOR ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY, WITH 57 SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN 184 SCHOOL PORGRAMS. 200 PUBLIC COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS CONNECTED MORE THAN 6,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH LOCAL, NATURAL AREAS, INCLUDING DOROTHY RIDER POOL WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, SOUTH MOUNTAIN PRESERVE, TREXLER NATURE PRESERVE, THE LEHIGH RIVER AND DESTINATIONS IN CARBON AND MONROE COUNTIES.120 PRIVATE, COMMUNITY-GROUP SPECIFIC PROGRAMS FOR 4,693 PARTICIPANTS. HELD 10 WEEKS OF SUMMER CAMP FOR 630+ REGISTRATIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 October 1974.

    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.