Conservation Trust for North Carolina
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
See Schedule O
- Income
- $3.1 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- -9.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 67%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $150,536, 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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 2512 of 12 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)
- $155,966 spent. Building Resilience through Direct Land Conservation: The Organization builds climate resilience through high-impact direct land conservation, primarily focused along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Organization has conserved nearly 38,000 acres of land, resulting in cleaner water, natural stormwater maintenance, carbon storage, wildlife habitat preservation, and protected views that ensure the local economies thrive. Land protection priorities are informed by computer analysis of conservation values and climate science, including: water quality, wildlife habitat, parkway visibility, development threat, and resilience to climate change impacts. The Organization undertakes landowner outreach to acquire land and conservation easements on high-priority land, stewards protected lands, and monitors easements. It also partners with other regional land conservation organizations and provides loans and grants to increase their capacity and impacts.
- $656,585 spent. Building Resilience through Community-Led Partnerships: The Organization uses climate science data to partner with local communities who request help in responding to the impacts of climate change. The Organization's equity-based approach began with building flood resilience in Princeville, NC, which experienced devastating flooding because of increasingly severe and frequent storms, including Hurricanes Floyd and Matthew. Through their partnership, Princeville became a model for how community-led conservation solutions can mitigate future risk. Installation of stormwater management solutions -- like rain gardens, community gardens, and additional tree coverage in flood prone areas -- resulted in 30,000 gallons of stormwater being redirected to ecologically beneficial uses. The Organization is sharing this model to increase climate resiliency statewide.
- $823,368 spent. Building Resilience through Activating Local Capacity: With a dual focus on increasing local community capacity and enhancing the diversity of people connected to conservation, the Organization created a statewide Resilience Service Network. Using data-driven GIS maps to identify communities in greatest need, the Organization coordinates the placement of AmeriCorps service members to help implement community-led plans that address climate-related challenges. The Organization hires and trains AmeriCorps members and assists local supervisors so as to best leverage the skills of members in building local community resilience.
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 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 May 1984.
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 November 4, 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.