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Northwoods Land Trust Inc

EIN 31-1776860 · Eagle River, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NORTHWOODS LAND TRUST PERMANENTLY CONSERVES NATURAL SHORELANDS, WOODLANDS AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES TO BENEFIT PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS IN VILAS, ONEIDA, FOREST, FLORENCE, IRON, PRICE AND LANGLADE COUNTIES.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$506,652
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
104.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
6
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$101,833, executive di

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

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 104.1 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 92% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 423% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

    15 of 15 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 (3)
  1. $50,119 spent. CONSERVATION EDUCATION - THE LAND TRUST EDUCATES LAKE, RIVER AND WOODLAND OWNERS ON VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION OPTIONS. THREE LANDOWNER NEWSLETTERS, PRESS RELEASES, RADIO AND TELEVISION INTERVIEWS AND PRESENTATIONS TO CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS WERE PREPARED AND CONDUCTED AS PART OF THE EDUCATION PROGRAM. A NEW, PART-TIME STAFF PERSON FOCUSED ON OUTREACH WAS ADDED.
  2. $71,598 spent. LANDOWNER CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - THE LAND TRUST PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE SERVICE TERRITORY. THE LAND TRUST CONDUCTS ON SITE MEETINGS, CONSERVATION PLANNING, AND ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES. THE LAND TRUST PREPARES GIS MAPS OF QUALIFYING LAKE AND FLOWAGE PARCELS AND OTHER PROPERTIES WITHIN THE SERVICE TERRITORY.
  3. $236,273 spent. CONSERVATION LAND AND EASEMENTS - THE LAND TRUST PREPARES BASELINE DOCUMENTATION AND EASEMENT LANGUAGE FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND CONSERVATION LAND TRANSACTIONS. FIVE NEW CONSERVATION EASEMENT DONATIONS AND THREE NEW FEE LAND DONATIONS WERE RECEIVED.

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 November 6, 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 July 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 November 4, 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.