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Essex Community Land Trust Inc

EIN 45-3725586 · East Orange, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES IN ESSEX COUNTY AND ACROSS NEW JERSEY BY CREATING PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PROMOTING LAND RIGHTS, PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT, AND OFFERING FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$189,690
Spending
$141,139
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
69.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 98%
Employees
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (housing, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 69.1 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 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (housing, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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, 2024, 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. THE ESSEX COMMUNITY LAND TRUST (ECLT) EXISTS TO CREATE AND PRESERVE PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHILE PROTECTING VITAL COMMUNITY ASSETS ACROSS NEW JERSEY. OUR PURPOSE IS ROOTED IN PROMOTING LAND RIGHTS, PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT, AND EMPOWERING RESIDENTS THROUGH FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND STEWARDSHIP. WHILE HOMEOWNERSHIP IS A CORE FOCUS, OUR WORK EXTENDS TO SAFEGUARDING CIVIC SPACES, CULTURAL LANDMARKS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY-OWNED RESOURCES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO LONG-TERM NEIGHBORHOOD STABILITY AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE. BY APPLYING THE TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY LAND TRUST MODEL, ECLT ENSURES THAT LAND AND ASSETS REMAIN ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, AND UNDER COMMUNITY CONTROL.
  2. $141,139 spent. THE GOALS OF THE ECLT ARE TO PROVIDE PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW-TO MODERATE-INCOME INDIVIDUALS; WARN AGAINST PREDATORY MORTGAGES; FACILITATE HOMEOWNER AND FINANCIAL SUCCESS EDUCATION; DIVERSIFY NEIGHBORHOODS IN TERMS OF ETHNICITY AND INCOME; INCREASE THE LENGTH OF DEED RESTRICTIONS; AND PROVIDE ON-GOING STEWARDSHIP OVER TRANSFORMED ABANDONED HOMES LOCATED ON CLT LAND.
  3. THE GOALS OF THE ECLT ARE TO PROVIDE PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW-TO MODERATE-INCOME INDIVIDUALS; WARN AGAINST PREDATORY MORTGAGES; FACILITATE HOMEOWNER AND FINANCIAL SUCCESS EDUCATION; DIVERSIFY NEIGHBORHOODS IN TERMS OF ETHNICITY AND INCOME; INCREASE THE LENGTH OF DEED RESTRICTIONS; AND PROVIDE ON-GOING STEWARDSHIP OVER TRANSFORMED ABANDONED HOMES LOCATED ON CLT LAND.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 September 2013.

    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.