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North Branch Land Trust

EIN 23-7755642 · Dallas, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF NBLT IS TO PARTNER WITH LANDOWNERS, COMMUNITIES, AND STAKEHOLDERS TO CONSERVE AND CARE FOR NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA'S LANDS AND WATERS.

Income
$603,003
Spending
$572,318
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
83.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
8
Volunteers
45
Highest pay
$109,730, executive di

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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 83.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 38 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $347,871 spent. LAND CONSERVATION NBLT HOLDS 61 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON OVER 12,470 ACRES OF NATURAL LAND IN BRADFORD, COLUMBIA, LACKAWANNA, LUZERNE, SULLIVAN, SUSQUEHANNA, WAYNE AND WYOMING COUNTIES OF NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. EACH EASEMENT REQUIRES ANNUAL MONITORING TO DETERMINE IF ANY VIOLATIONS OF RESTRICTIONS PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HAVE OCCURRED ON THE LAND. FEE-OWNED LANDS NBLT OWNS AND MANAGES SEVERAL PROPERTIES IN OUR SERVICE AREA FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND FOR THE PROTECTION OF RARE AND ENDANGERED PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES. MOST OF THESE LANDS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM DAWN TO DUSK FOR PASSIVE RECREATION ACTIVITIES WHILE SOME LANDS ARE CLOSED OR OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY DUE TO THE FRAGILE NATURE OF THE ECOSYSTEM FOUND THERE. THE LAND TRUST WELCOMES AND ACCEPTS GIFTS OF CONSERVATION LAND AND OTHER PROPERTY PROVIDING THAT ALL LAND TRUST POLICIES AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE ACQUISITION OF THE LAND OR OTHER PROPERTY ARE ADHERED TO. LAND CONSERVATION NBLT HOLDS 61 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON OVER 12,470 ACRES OF NATURAL LAND IN BRADFORD, COLUMBIA, LACKAWANNA, LUZERNE, SULLIVAN, SUSQUEHANNA, WAYNE AND WYOMING COUNTIES OF NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. EACH EASEMENT REQUIRES ANNUAL MONITORING TO DETERMINE IF ANY VIOLATIONS OF RESTRICTIONS PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HAVE OCCURRED ON THE LAND. FEE-OWNED LANDS NBLT OWNS AND MANAGES SEVERAL PROPERTIES IN OUR SERVICE AREA FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND FOR THE PROTECTION OF RARE AND ENDANGERED PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES. MOST OF THESE LANDS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM DAWN TO DUSK FOR PASSIVE RECREATION ACTIVITIES WHILE SOME LANDS ARE CLOSED OR OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY DUE TO THE FRAGILE NATURE OF THE ECOSYSTEM FOUND THERE. THE LAND TRUST WELCOMES AND ACCEPTS GIFTS OF CONSERVATION LAND AND OTHER PROPERTY PROVIDING THAT ALL LAND TRUST POLICIES AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE ACQUISITION OF THE LAND OR OTHER PROPERTY ARE ADHERED TO.
  2. TRANSFER LANDS NORTH BRANCH LAND TRUST WILL ACQUIRE LAND FROM TIME TO TIME AND TRANSFER THE LAND TO A LIKE-MINDED CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION. THE TRUST WILL DO THIS BECAUSE SOMETIMES OTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS ARE BETTER SUITED TO MANAGE THE CONSERVATION VALUES FOUND ON THAT LAND. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2023, THE LAND TRUST WAS AWARDED A GRANT FROM DCNR IN THE AMOUNT OF 816,000 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON APPROXIMATELY 220 ACRES IN DALLAS BOROUGH AND LEHMAN TOWNSHIP. THE PROJECT PROTECTS ENDANGERED SPECIES AND HABITAT.
  3. OUTREACH AND EDUCATION NBLT SETS OUT TO ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH IT OPERATES UNDERSTAND AND VALUE THE CONSERVATION OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LAND BY BROADLY EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LAND CONSERVATION AND SMART GROWTH STRATEGIES.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 August 1994.

    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.

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.