The Lake Hopatcong Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FOCUSING ON ENHANCING THE LAKE HOPATCONG ENVIRONMENT AND EXPERIENCE, WITH EFFORTS THAT INCLUDE WATER QUALITY, PUBLIC SAFETY, LAKE EDUCATION, COMMUNITY COHESIVENESS, HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, PUBLIC INFORMATION, AND ARTS AND CULTURE.
- Income
- $684,553
- Spending
- $797,581
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 7.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 230
- Highest pay
- $93,656, executive director
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
Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 98% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 13 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, 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 (2)
- $522,445 spent. EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH/PUBLIC INFORMATION SERVICES - IMPLEMENT OUTREACH PROGRAMS ON AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PROTECTION AND LAKE ECOLOGY, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FIELD TRIPS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION CRUISES, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND B-SAFE DOCK NUMBER PROGRAMS.COMMUNITY - BUILD A SENSE OF LAKE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT SURROUND IT THROUGH THE ANNUAL LAKE HOPATCONG BLOCK PARTY. IMPROVE AND ENHANCE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES BY OFFERING GUIDED HIKING AND PADDLE TRIPS AND MAINTAIN 11 MILES OF THE LAKE HOPATCONG TRAIL AND WORKING TO EXPAND THE TRAIL TO BE 40 MILES AROUND LAKE HOPATCONG. ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL CENTER - RESTORE AND RE PURPOSE THE HISTORICAL LAKE HOPATCONG TRAIN STATION IN LANDING FOR USE AS THE LAKE HOPATCONG CULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER OFFERING COMMUNITY PROGRAMING AND TO SERVE AS THE OFFICE FOR THE LAKE HOPATCONG FOUNDATION.
- $3,012 spent. WATER QUALITY- THE LAKE HOPATCONG FOUNDATION WORKS TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE LAKE ENVIRONMENT AS THE HEALTH OF THE LAKE AFFECTS ALL FACETS OF THE LAKE HOPATCONG EXPERIENCE. THE FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AROUND THE LAKE TO IMPLEMENT WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND PROJECTS TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS (HABS) THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED. THE FOUNDATION OVERSEES HAB VOLUNTEER MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM, PREVENTS THE INTRODUCTION AND LIMITS THE SPREAD OF NEW AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES, THROUGH PUBLIC OUTREACH AND VOLUNTEER EFFORTS, AND CONDUCTS ROADSIDE AND LAKE-WIDE DEBRIS CLEANUPS.
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
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 2024.
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 February 2013.
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.