Natural Land Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CREATE AN ENDURING LEGACY OF NATURAL LAND IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOR PEOPLE, PLANTS AND ANIMALS
- Income
- $4.2 million
- Spending
- $926,157
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 70%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 265
- Highest pay
- $117,965, 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 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 78% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 44% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% 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 2519 of 19 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, 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)
- $115,402 spent. LAND PRESERVATION - PROTECT NATURAL AREAS THROUGH ACQUISITION OR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS (SEE SCHEDULE O)
- $199,251 spent. NYGREN WETLAND PRESERVE - RESTORATION OF 721-ACRE PRESERVE AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE ROCK AND PECATONICA RIVERS (SEE SCHEDULE O)
- $292,810 spent. RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PRESERVES (SEE SCHEDULE O)
- $223,934 spent. SEE PREVIOUS DESCRIPTION FOR 4D
- 4A: LAND PRESERVATION - PROTECT NATURAL AREAS THROUGH ACQUISITION OR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS: BLAIR ROAD WOODLANDS PROTECTED: A VERY UNIQUE PATCH OF OLD GROWTH WOODLANDS WAS ACQUIRED BY THE NATURAL LAND INSTITUTE ON SEPTEMBER 2ND. THE PROPERTY, COMPRISED OF FOUR PARCELS, WAS PURCHASED FROM THE ARNETA REINING TRUST AFTER HAVING BEEN OCCUPIED BY THE FAMILY SINCE 1947. THE PROPERTY IS ACROSS BLAIR AND BEST ROADS FROM THE PECATONICA WETLANDS FOREST PRESERVE AND ADDS TO FOREST COVER PROTECTED BY THE TWO PRESERVES. THE SECTION OF BLAIR ROAD ADJACENT TO THE NEW PRESERVE IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT FORMS A TUNNEL THROUGH THE TREES. MANY BIRDERS AND NATURE LOVERS STOP AT THE PULL OFF TO LOOK OVER THE BIG SPRING AND WETLAND OF THE FOREST PRESERVE AND NOW THAT NLI OWNS THE WOODLANDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, THAT WILL ENSURE THE WILD CHARACTER OF THIS STRETCH OF ROAD. THE CORE OF THE WOODLANDS CONTAINS SOME MAGNIFICENT NORTHERN RED OAKS, A FEW LARGE SHAGBARK AND BITTERNUT HICKORY, AND A VERY FEW BLACK OAK. UNDERSTORY SHRUBS ARE DENSER AROUND THE WOODLANDS EDGES ALONG THE ROADS AND ALONG THE POWERLINES ON THE NORTH BOUNDARY. THE BULK OF THE WOODLANDS WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS DRY-MESIC AND CONTAIN A GROUND LAYER THAT IS WELL-KNOWN FOR ITS SPRING WILDFLOWERS. - LAND GIFT DONATION OF 80-ACRES: NLI RECEIVED A GIFT OF 80 ACRES OF FARMLAND IN BUREA COUNTY. THE DONORS WISH TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND NLI ALWAYS HONORS THAT. THIS LAND WAS PRIME FARMLAND WITHOUT ANY NATURAL LAND OR LINKAGE TO NATURAL LANDS SO DID NOT SCORE VERY WELL ON NLIS LAND RATING SYSTEM WHICH KEEPS THE ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON ITS MISSION, EVEN WHEN CONSIDERING WORKING FARMLAND. THE DONORS AGREED TO GIVE THE LAND FOR NLI TO SELL, AS LONG AS THE PROCEEDS WERE USED TO PROTECT LANDS THAT NLI WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNABLE TO PROTECT. IN KEEPING WITH THE WORKING LANDS THEME OF THE GIFT, NLI THOUGHT THESE FUNDS WOULD BE GREAT IN ACQUIRING THE FARMLAND SURROUNDING BEACH CEMETERY NATURE PRESERVE WHICH NEEDED MORE BUFFER FOR ITS LONG-TERM CONSERVATION 85% OF THE ADJACENT FARM IS IN AGRICULTURE. THE BUFFER LAND ALSO CONTAINS A RELIC PRAIRIE, ABANDONED RAILROAD RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND OTHER GRAVELLY GRASSLANDS THAT MAKE SENSE TO RESTORE WHILE MUCH OF THE FARM COULD BE MAINTAINED AS WORKING LANDS. - ANDERSON CONSERVATION EASEMENT: NLI CLOSED ON THE 40-ACRE JAMES AND MARILYN ANDERSON CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN CARROLL COUNTY ON JULY 29, 2025. THIS PRIVATELY PROTECTED PROPERTY LIES IN NLIS MISSISSIPPI RIVER BLUFFLANDS PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREA AND JUST 1.5 MILES DOWN EAST JOHNSON CREEK FROM NLIS BANES CONSERVATION EASEMENT. THE PROPERTY IS COMPRISED OF OLD GROWTH TIMBER: ABOUT ONE-FIFTH OAK SAVANNA, AND THE REMAINDER OAK-HICKORY WOODLAND WITH A WETLAND SEEP IN THE NORTHWESTERN QUADRANT. THE EASEMENT LEGALLY PROTECTS IN PERPETUITY THE SITES WOODLAND, SAVANNA AND WETLANDS, PRESERVING THE OPEN AND NATURAL CHARACTER OF THE SITE INCLUDING ITS SCENIC VALUE TO PASSERS-BY. THE NATURAL LAND PROTECTS THE WATER QUALITY OF EAST JOHNSON CREEK AND HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE AND PLANTS. 4B: NYGREN WETLAND PRESERVE - RESTORATION OF 721-ACRE PRESERVE AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE ROCK AND PECATONICA RIVERS: NYGREN IS A BIRDING HOTSPOT SUPPORTED BY CORNELL LABORATORY OF ORNITHOLOGYS E-BIRD DATA. IF YOU ARE ON FACEBOOK, JOIN OUR BIRDERS OF NYGREN WETLAND PRESERVE TO SEE DAILY IMAGES FROM VISITORS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS TO THE SITE WHO GENEROUSLY SHARE A WEALTH OF IMAGES OF WHAT THEY ENCOUNTER. - WANDER AT THE WETLAND: FULL MOON SNOWSHOE & HIKE WAS HELD ON JAN. 13 AT NYGREN WETLAND PRESERVE TO SHOWCASE THE WINTER LANDSCAPE. - WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER AFTERNOON TO HOST WINE & BREW AT THE WETLAND ON JULY 12H AT NYGREN WETLAND PRESERVE IN ROCKTON. GUESTS WERE TREATED TO A STUNNING VIEW OF THE MIDSUMMER WILDFLOWERS, GREAT MUSIC BY THREE GOOD MEN AND TASTY TIDBITS BY GREENFIRE. - FALL PRAIRIE HARVEST DAY, A SEED COLLECTION EVENT, WAS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 25 AT NYGREN WETLAND. - FAMILY NATURE ADVENTURES WAS HELD AT NYGREN WETLAND PRESERVE IN ROCKTON ON JUNE 28. INVITING FAMILIES TO PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF TOPICS GAVE THEM A CHANCE TO DISCOVER NATURE IN A PERSONAL WAY AS THEY EXAMINED THINGS LIKE ACORNS AND LEAVES AT THE WOODLANDS STATION, BIRCH BASKETS (AND LEARNED HOW NATIVE AMERICANS USED THEM), CRAYFISH AND WATER BUGS AT THE WETLANDS STATION, OR PETTED A COYOTE PELT AT THE MAMMALS STATION, LEARNED HOW TO DRAW BIRDS AND HOW TO WRITE ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL WHILE EXPLORING OUTSIDE. OTHER EXPERIENCES BROUGHT JOY TO THE FACES OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED FAMILY NATURE EVENT. FAMILY NATURE ADVENTURES INSPIRES THE NEXT GENERATION TO PROTECT THE NATURAL WORLD. LEARNING TO UNDERSTAND NATURE AND FALLING IN LOVE WITH IT WILL LEAD TO WANTING TO PROTECT IT. - HONONEGAH HIGH SCHOOL BROUGHT NEARLY 300 FRESHMEN BIOLOGY STUDENTS TO NYGREN WETLAND PRESERVE ON SEPT. 24 AND 25 TO DO AN ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD STUDY. 4C: RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PRESERVES: LAND STEWARDSHIP STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS MANAGED PRESERVES BY REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES IN PRAIRIES, WETLANDS AND WOODLANDS, CONDUCTED PRESCRIBED BURNS, PLANTED TREES AND NATIVE WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES, AND MONITORED WILDLIFE SUCH AS DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES, TURTLES, MUSSELS, AND BIRDS. VOLUNTEER LAND STEWARDSHIP WORKDAYS WERE HELD AT LOST FLORA FEN ON RACCOON CREEK, LIND-MCGEACHIE PRESERVE, SILVER CREEK WOODS PRESERVE, WILLIAM & GAYLE KEEFER NATURE RESERVE, AND NYGREN WETLAND PRESERVE. 4D: OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: NLI HELD ITS ANNUAL DINNER AND PRESENTATION OF THE GEORGE AND BARBARA FELL AWARD ON MARCH 20 AT THE RADISSON IN ROCKFORD. THE GUEST SPEAKER WAS DR. BRITA LORENTZEN, A PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND DIRECTOR OF THE TREE-RINGS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL WOOD ANALYSIS LAB AT UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA (ATHENS). THE 2025 GEORGE AND BARBARA FELL AWARD WAS PRESENTED TO ED COLLINS. ED HAS DEDICATED HIS CAREER TO DEVELOPING A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF THE WOODLANDS, PRAIRIES AND WETLANDS OF MCHENRY COUNTY. HE RETIRED AS DIRECTOR OF LAND PRESERVATION
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
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 2025.
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 November 1960.
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.