New River Land Trust
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CONSERVE THE RURAL, NATURAL, AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE NEW RIVER REGION, PROTECTING FARMS, FORESTS, OPEN SPACES, AND HISTORIC PLACES.
- Income
- $453,108
- Spending
- $421,878
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 67.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 48%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 16
- Highest pay
- $84,038, executive di
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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 67.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 94% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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 (3)
- $269,965 spent. EACH YEAR THE NEW RIVER LAND TRUST, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VIRGINIA OUTDOORS FOUNDATION, OTHER STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND OTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION, WORKS WITH LANDOWNERS FROM ELLISTON IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY WEST TO COX'S CHAPEL IN GRAYSON COUNTY TO SAVE LARGE TRACTS OF LAND AND FAMILY FARMS IN THE NEW RIVER REGION. A CONSERVATION EASEMENT IS A VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT BY A LANDOWNER THAT PROTECTS HIS OR HER LAND FROM INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT IN PERPETUITY. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PROTECT WORKING FOREST LANDS AND VITAL REGIONAL WATER RESOURCES FOR HUMAN, WILDLIFE, AND AQUATIC SPECIES. THE LANDOWNER CONTINUES TO OWN THE FARMLAND OR FOREST AND CAN PURSUE ALL TRADITIONAL USES OF THE LAND, SUCH AS AGRICULTURAL AND TIMBERING. IN EXCHANGE FOR PROTECTING THE LAND'S CONSERVATION VALUES, THE OWNER RECEIVES GENEROUS STATE AND FEDERAL TAX INCENTIVES. IN 2020, THE NEW RIVER LAND TRUST HELPED THREE LANDOWNERS WITH 716 ACRES UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND 229 ACRES IN FEE SIMPLE CONSERVATION PROJECTS. THE EASEMENTS INCLUDED A STATE FUNDED PROJECT ON EXTREMELY HIGH VALUE FOREST WITH NOTABLE WATER, NATURAL HERITAGE, AND SCENIC RESOURCES IN GILES COUNTY. THE LAND TRUST DID TWO FEE SIMPLE PURCHASE PROJECTS IN ORDER TO PROTECT HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE LAND IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. THE MONTGOMERY PROJECT WAS FUNDED WITH GRANT MONEY FROM THE VIRGINIA OUTDOORS FOUNDATION'S FOREST CORE FUND. THE LAND WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE TOWN OF BLACKSBURG TO BECOME A FORESTED NATURE PARK IN 2021. THE FEE SIMPLE PROPERTIES WILL BE PERMANENTLY PROTECTED THROUGH THEIR TRANSFER TO THE PUBLIC ENTITIES. ALSO IN 2019, THE NEW RIVER LAND TRUST CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN STRATEGIC PLANNING TO IDENTIFY CRITICAL LANDS AND RESOURCES FOR TARGETED CONSERVATION OUTREACH AND EDUCATION. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDED DEVELOPMENT OF AN UPGRADED GIS SYSTEM THAT CAN BE USED BY STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS TO QUICKLY IDENTIFY PROPERTIES WITH IMPORTANT CONSERVATION VALUES IN OUR SERVICE AREA. THIS PROJECT CONTINUES THE LAND TRUST'S EFFORTS TO STRATEGICALLY PURSUE ITS MISSION. THE NEW RIVER LAND TRUST'S WORK HELPS BALANCE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT WITH CONSERVATION OF REGIONALLY AND LOCALLY IMPORTANT RURAL LANDS AND ASSOCIATED RESOURCES. SINCE 2002, THE NEW RIVER LAND TRUST HAS WORKED WITH 274 LANDOWNERS TO VOLUNTARILY PLACE MORE THAN 57,973 ACRES OF FARMS, FORESTS, OPEN SPACES, AND HISTORIC PLACES IN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. THIS PROTECTED AREA INCLUDES OVER 27 MILES ALONG THE NEW RIVER, ONE OF THE FOURTEEN AMERICAN HERITAGE RIVERS IN THE COUNTRY AND THE ONLY ONE IN VIRGINIA. THE NEW RIVER AND ITS SURROUNDING APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE ARE DEFINING FEATURES OF THE AREA. EACH YEAR THE NEW RIVER LAND TRUST, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VIRGINIA OUTDOORS FOUNDATION, OTHER STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND OTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION, WORKS WITH LANDOWNERS FROM ELLISTON IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY WEST TO COX'S CHAPEL IN GRAYSON COUNTY TO SAVE LARGE TRACTS OF LAND AND FAMILY FARMS IN THE NEW RIVER REGION. A CONSERVATION EASEMENT IS A VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT BY A LANDOWNER THAT PROTECTS HIS OR HER LAND FROM INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT IN PERPETUITY. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PROTECT WORKING FOREST LANDS AND VITAL REGIONAL WATER RESOURCES FOR HUMAN, WILDLIFE, AND AQUATIC SPECIES. THE LANDOWNER CONTINUES TO OWN THE FARMLAND OR FOREST AND CAN PURSUE ALL TRADITIONAL USES OF THE LAND, SUCH AS AGRICULTURAL AND TIMBERING. IN EXCHANGE FOR PROTECTING THE LAND'S CONSERVATION VALUES, THE OWNER RECEIVES GENEROUS STATE AND FEDERAL TAX INCENTIVES. IN 2020, THE NEW RIVER LAND TRUST HELPED THREE LANDOWNERS WITH 716 ACRES UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND 229 ACRES IN FEE SIMPLE CONSERVATION PROJECTS. THE EASEMENTS INCLUDED A STATE FUNDED PROJECT ON EXTREMELY HIGH VALUE FOREST WITH NOTABLE WATER, NATURAL HERITAGE, AND SCENIC RESOURCES IN GILES COUNTY. THE LAND TRUST DID TWO FEE SIMPLE PURCHASE PROJECTS IN ORDER TO PROTECT HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE LAND IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. THE MONTGOMERY PROJECT WAS FUNDED WITH GRANT MONEY FROM THE VIRGINIA OUTDOORS FOUNDATION'S FOREST CORE FUND. THE LAND WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE TOWN OF BLACKSBURG TO BECOME A FORESTED NATURE PARK IN 2021. THE FEE SIMPLE PROPERTIES WILL BE PERMANENTLY PROTECTED THROUGH THEIR TRANSFER TO THE PUBLIC ENTITIES. ALSO IN 2019, THE NEW RIVER LAND TRUST CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN STRATEGIC PLANNING TO IDENTIFY CRITICAL LANDS AND RESOURCES FOR TARGETED CONSERVATION OUTREACH AND EDUCATION. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDED DEVELOPMENT OF AN UPGRADED GIS SYSTEM THAT CAN BE USED BY STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS TO QUICKLY IDENTIFY PROPERTIES WITH IMPORTANT CONSERVATION VALUES IN OUR SERVICE AREA. THIS PROJECT CONTINUES THE LAND TRUST'S EFFORTS TO STRATEGICALLY PURSUE ITS MISSION. THE NEW RIVER LAND TRUST'S WORK HELPS BALANCE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT WITH CONSERVATION OF REGIONALLY AND LOCALLY IMPORTANT RURAL LANDS AND ASSOCIATED RESOURCES. SINCE 2002, THE NEW RIVER LAND TRUST HAS WORKED WITH 274 LANDOWNERS TO VOLUNTARILY PLACE MORE THAN 57,973 ACRES OF FARMS, FORESTS, OPEN SPACES, AND HISTORIC PLACES IN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. THIS PROTECTED AREA INCLUDES OVER 27 MILES ALONG THE NEW RIVER, ONE OF THE FOURTEEN AMERICAN HERITAGE RIVERS IN THE COUNTRY AND THE ONLY ONE IN VIRGINIA. THE NEW RIVER AND ITS SURROUNDING APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE ARE DEFINING FEATURES OF THE AREA.
- $16,072 spent. PUBLIC OUTREACH: THE NEW RIVER LAND TRUST PROVIDES OUTREACH, EDUCATION, FACILITATION, AND IMPLEMENTATION SERVICES TO LANDOWNERS WITH AN INTEREST IN CONSERVING RURAL LAND AND ITS ASSOCIATED NATURAL AND/OR CULTURAL RESOURCES. WE HAVE A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE NEW RIVER REGION, ALTHOUGH OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE WORKED WITH PEOPLE OUT OF STATE AND IN MANY VIRGINIA COUNTIES.
- $15,136 spent. YOUTH OUTREACH: NEW RIVER LAND TRUST PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN CONNECTING LOCAL YOUTH WITH THE BEAUTIFUL LAND AROUND THEM. OUR EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH FOCUSES ON FOUR IMPORTANT AREAS: CONSERVATION CONNECTIONS IN CULTURAL HERITAGE, LOCAL FOOD AND FARM TO TABLE INITIATIVES, WATER QUALITY AND HABITAT DIVERSITY, AND NATURE PLAY AND ENVIRONMENTAL APPRECIATION. OUR YOUTH EDUCATION OUTREACH IS DESIGNED TO INSPIRE STUDENTS TO VALUE THEIR NATURAL SURROUNDINGS AND TO FOSTER RESPONSIBILITY AND STEWARDSHIP OF FARMLAND, FORESTS, AND WATERSHEDS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.