Piedmont Land Conservancy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF PIEDMONT LAND CONSERVANCY IS TO PROTECT NATURAL AND SCENIC LANDS, FARMS, AND GREEN SPACE IN PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA TO ENRICH THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
- Income
- $4.5 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 64.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 65%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 120
- Highest pay
- $149,680, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 64.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 30, 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 (3)
- $2.3 million spent. LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS - DURING 2025, PIEDMONT LAND CONSERVANCY PLACED 333 ACRES OF PROPERTY UNDER PERMANENT CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AT A COST OF $758,888 AND ACQUIRED 342 ACRES OF PROPERTY AT A COST OF $1,521,180. TWO TRACTS TOTALLING 116 ACRES WERE SOLD WITH A RETAINED CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO PERPETUALLY PROTECT THE PROPERTIES, AND 25 ACRES WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY OF WINSTON-SALEM TO BE USED AS A PARK. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO BEGAN WORK ON SEVERAL OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO RESULT IN PROPERTY BEING PROTECTED IN FISCAL 2026.
- $211,855 spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION - PIEDMONT LAND CONSERVANCY CONDUCTED SEVERAL COMMUNITY EVENTS DESIGNED TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE CRITICAL NEED TO PRESERVE OPEN SPACES AND FARMLAND IN THE RAPIDLY-DEVELOPING PIEDMONT AREA OF NORTH CAROLINA. THESE EVENTS INCLUDED OPEN HOUSES AND CLEAN-UP SESSIONS OF PROTECTED PROPERTIES, VISITS TO SCHOOLS, PRESENTATIONS TO CIVIC CLUBS AND CHURCH GROUPS, AND OTHER MEANS OF INCREASING AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR LAND PRESERVATION.
- $182,821 spent. LAND STEWARDSHIP - MOST OF THE LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS OF THE ORGANIZATION CARRY A PERPETUAL STEWARDSHIP OBLIGATION. PIEDMONT LAND CONSERVANCY IS CHARGED WITH MONITORING THE USE OF PROPERTY UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. IN FULFILLING THIS RESPONSIBILITY, AGENCY PERSONNEL VISIT ALL PROTECTED PROPERTIES AT LEAST ONCE ANNUALLY TO OBSERVE THE PROPERTY FOR APPROPRIATE USES UNDER THE EASEMENT OR PURCHASE AGREEMENTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.
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 August 1990.
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.