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Land Preservation Trust Inc

EIN 52-1465309 · Cockeysville, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE LAND PRESERVATION TRUST, INC. ASSISTS BALTIMORE COUNTY LANDOWNERS IN PROTECTING THEIR LAND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS BY FACILITATING VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION AND AGRICULTURAL EASEMENTS. THE TRUST DEMONSTRATES ITS COMMITMENT TO THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE LAND AT SHAWAN DOWNS A FIRST-CLASS EQUESTRIAN CENTER AND STEEPLECHASE COURSE OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE TRUST.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$5.2 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
6
Volunteers
35

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 163% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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.

  • 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, 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)
  1. $5.0 million spent. LAND PRESERVATION TRUST, INC. THE TRUST WAS FORMED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING HUMAN NEEDS, THE PRESERVATION, PROTECTION, AND BALANCED USE OF SCENIC, NATURAL, RECREATIONAL, PRODUCTIVE, AND OPEN SPACE LANDS, INCLUDING THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF FEE SIMPLE TITLE, EASEMENTS, AND OTHER REAL PROPERTY INTERESTS. THE TRUST ACQUIRES PROPERTY EASEMENTS EITHER THROUGH DONATIONS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST OR PURCHASES THROUGH THE MARYLAND RURAL LEGACY PROGRAM. THE TRUST ALSO OWNS AND OPERATES AN EQUESTRIAN CENTER AND STEEPLECHASE COURSE KNOWN AS SHAWAN DOWNS. SHAWAN DOWNS WAS ESTABLISHED ON 300 ACRES OF FARMLAND IN COCKEYSVILLE, MARYLAND TO PRESERVE THE LANDSCAPE'S AGRICULTURAL LEGACY WHILE BUILDING A NEW TRADITION OF EQUESTRIAN EVENTS TO BENEFIT LOCAL CHARITIES.
  2. $76,916 spent. Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP): The MPRP is a 67-mile high-voltage transmission line that will cut a new path through Baltimore, Carroll and Frederick Counties and destroy 1,200+ acres. Our mission is to protect and preserve the easements affected by this proposal by actively opposing the installation of high-voltage power lines.

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 August 1986.

    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.