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Tar River Land Conservancy

EIN 31-1742900 · Louisburg, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TAR RIVER LAND CONSERVANCY PRESERVES THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES OF THE TAR RIVER BASIN AND SURROUNDING AREAS BY WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, PUBLIC AGENCIES AND OTHERS TO PROTECT RURAL LAND, RIPARIAN CORRIDORS AND ENSURE CLEAN WATER.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
34.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
9
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$150,449, executive di

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 93% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 September 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 (5)
  1. PURCHASED FEE SIMPLE TITLE TO 85.1 ACRES IN PERSON COUNTY, WHICH LAND PROVIDES BUFFERS TO ROCK FORK BRANCH.
  2. RECEIVED A DONATION OF 595 ACRES IN EDGECOMBE COUNTY, WHICH LAND PROVIDES BUFFERS TO SWIFT CREEK.
  3. RECEIVED A DONATION OF A .35-ACRE PARCEL, WHICH PROVIDES ROAD ACCESS TO THE PICTURE CREEK NATURE PRESERVE LOCATED IN GRANVILLE COUNTY
  4. $1.3 million spent. TAR RIVER LAND CONSERVANCY ACHIEVED ITS LAND PROTECTION MISSION THROUGH THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS: 4)RECEIVED A DONATION OF 35.86 ACRES IN NASH COUNTY, WHICH LAND PROVIDES BUFFERS TO MEADOW BRANCH. 5)OPENED PICTURE CREEK NATURE PRESERVE LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF STEM, IN GRANVILLE COUNTY, WHICH PROVIDES 2.6 MILES OF HIKING TRAILS. 6)BUILT AND MAINTAINED HIKING TRAILS ON NATURE PRESERVES IN GRANVILLE COUNTY THROUGH THE WORK OF A CREW OF DEDICATED LOCAL VOLUNTEERS AND OTHER GROUPS. TRLC OFFERS FOR PUBLIC USE 14.8 MILES OF HIKING TRAILS AT FIVE NATURE PRESERVES IN GRANVILLE COUNTY. 7)TRLC STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HOSTED THREE GUIDED HIKES, WHICH WERE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, ON TRLC PROTECTED PROPERTIES IN GRANVILLE AND PERSON COUNTIES. 8)MONITORED CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND FEE PROPERTIES HELD BY TRLC. 9)MONITORED 64 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. 10)WORKED TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY FOR FISHING CREEK IN HALIFAX COUNTY BY COMPLETING THE CLOSE OUT OF TWO ANIMAL WASTE LAGOONS, WHICH ARE BEING CONVERTED THEM TO FRESH WATER PONDS. THE DEQ PERMIT FOR THE LAGOONS WAS RESCINDED. ALSO, A NUMBER OF REMAINING BUILDINGS WERE DEMOLISHED WITH THE WASTE REMOVED AND THE CONCRETE CRUSHED FOR REUSE; FARM ROADS WERE REGRADED AND THE CRUSHED CONCRETE WAS ADDED TO LIMIT EROSION; AND A SEVEN-ACRE MEADOW AREA WAS PLANTED WITH POLLINATOR SPECIES. 11)ENGAGEMENT WITH MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS REGARDING OPEN SPACE PLANNING. 12)SPENT SIGNIFICANT TIME AND RESOURCES ON LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS LOCATED IN GRANVILLE COUNTY, WHICH LANDS WILL PROVIDE A BUFFER FOR CAMP BUTNER AND LOCAL RESOURCES. 13)SPENT SIGNIFICANT TIME AND RESOURCES ON LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS LOCATED IN PERSON COUNTY, WHICH LANDS WILL PROVIDE A BUFFER FOR FLAT RIVER AND LOCAL RESOURCES. 14)SPENT SIGNIFICANT TIME AND RESOURCES ON LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS AND OUTREACH TO LANDOWNERS IN HALIFAX AND NASH COUNTIES, WHICH LANDS PROVIDE BUFFERS TO FISHING CREEK AND LITTLE FISHING CREEK.
  5. TAR RIVER LAND CONSERVANCY ACHIEVED ITS LAND PROTECTION MISSION THROUGH THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS: 4)RECEIVED A DONATION OF 35.86 ACRES IN NASH COUNTY, WHICH LAND PROVIDES BUFFERS TO MEADOW BRANCH. 5)OPENED PICTURE CREEK NATURE PRESERVE LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF STEM, IN GRANVILLE COUNTY, WHICH PROVIDES 2.6 MILES OF HIKING TRAILS. 6)BUILT AND MAINTAINED HIKING TRAILS ON NATURE PRESERVES IN GRANVILLE COUNTY THROUGH THE WORK OF A CREW OF DEDICATED LOCAL VOLUNTEERS AND OTHER GROUPS. TRLC OFFERS FOR PUBLIC USE 14.8 MILES OF HIKING TRAILS AT FIVE NATURE PRESERVES IN GRANVILLE COUNTY. 7)TRLC STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HOSTED THREE GUIDED HIKES, WHICH WERE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, ON TRLC PROTECTED PROPERTIES IN GRANVILLE AND PERSON COUNTIES. 8)MONITORED CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND FEE PROPERTIES HELD BY TRLC. 9)MONITORED 64 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. 10)WORKED TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY FOR FISHING CREEK IN HALIFAX COUNTY BY COMPLETING THE CLOSE OUT OF TWO ANIMAL WASTE LAGOONS, WHICH ARE BEING CONVERTED THEM TO FRESH WATER PONDS. THE DEQ PERMIT FOR THE LAGOONS WAS RESCINDED. ALSO, A NUMBER OF REMAINING BUILDINGS WERE DEMOLISHED WITH THE WASTE REMOVED AND THE CONCRETE CRUSHED FOR REUSE; FARM ROADS WERE REGRADED AND THE CRUSHED CONCRETE WAS ADDED TO LIMIT EROSION; AND A SEVEN-ACRE MEADOW AREA WAS PLANTED WITH POLLINATOR SPECIES. 11)ENGAGEMENT WITH MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS REGARDING OPEN SPACE PLANNING. 12)SPENT SIGNIFICANT TIME AND RESOURCES ON LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS LOCATED IN GRANVILLE COUNTY, WHICH LANDS WILL PROVIDE A BUFFER FOR CAMP BUTNER AND LOCAL RESOURCES. 13)SPENT SIGNIFICANT TIME AND RESOURCES ON LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS LOCATED IN PERSON COUNTY, WHICH LANDS WILL PROVIDE A BUFFER FOR FLAT RIVER AND LOCAL RESOURCES. 14)SPENT SIGNIFICANT TIME AND RESOURCES ON LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS AND OUTREACH TO LANDOWNERS IN HALIFAX AND NASH COUNTIES, WHICH LANDS PROVIDE BUFFERS TO FISHING CREEK AND LITTLE FISHING CREEK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 2001.

    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.