Alachua Conservation Trust Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF ALACHUA CONSERVATION TRUST (ACT) IS TO PROTECT THE NATURAL, HISTORIC, SCENIC AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES IN AND AROUND ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA. ACT PROTECTS LAND THROUGH PURCHASE, DONATION, AND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.
- Income
- $9.4 million
- Spending
- $4.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- -63.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 53%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 330
- Highest pay
- $93,771, 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 30% 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 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 178% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $2.7 million spent. LAND PROTECTION: IN 2024, ACT CONTINUED ITS ROBUST LAND PROTECTION EFFORTS. IN JANUARY 2024, ACT CLOSED ON A FIRST OF ITS KIND PROJECT WITH WATSON FARM, WHERE THE LANDOWNER AGREED TO PLACE A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE PROPERTY AS WELL AS REDUCE AGRICULTURAL IMPACTS TO THE LAND THROUGH A DE-INTENSIFICATION SCHEDULE OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. ACT ALSO TRANSFERRED 289 ACRES ADJACENT TO MANATEE SPRINGS TO THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF STATE LANDS EXPANDING THE STATE PARK BOUNDARY AND PROTECTING LAND ABOVE THE MANATEE SPRINGS CAVE SYSTEM. ACT'S ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WITH ALACHUA COUNTY FOREVER THROUGH THE WILD SPACES & PUBLIC PLACES (WSPP) PROGRAM LED TO THE PROTECTION OF 614 ACRES THROUGH A CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN JANUARY AS WELL AS AN ADDITIONAL 478 ACRES IN LAND PROTECTION FROM JANUARY THROUGH MARCH. IN JUNE, ACT ACCEPTED THE DONATION OF 420 ACRES IN MADISON COUNTY, WHICH ACT WILL CONTINUE TO MANAGE LONG-TERM THROUGH PRESCRIBED FIRE AND OTHER TECHNIQUES. ACT ALSO CLOSED ON A 261-ACRE TRACT IN JULY ALONG THE NORTHERN PORTION OF ORANGE LAKE IN ALACHUA COUNTY FURTHER EXPANDING EFFORTS TO PROTECT LAND IN THE ORANGE LAKE CORRIDOR, WHICH INCLUDES OTHER ACT-HELD NATURE PRESERVES. THIS NEW ADDITION WILL SUPPORT WATER-BASED RECREATION ALONG THE LAKE. THROUGHOUT 2024, ACT FACILITATED SEVERAL CONSERVATION PROJECTS FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA THROUGH ITS FLORIDA FOREVER PROGRAM, INCLUDING 290 ACRES IN LEVY COUNTY IN THE WATERMELON POND CONSERVATION AREA, A 200-ACRE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN UNION COUNTY, A 1,500-ACRE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN COLUMBIA COUNTY, AND A 538-ACRE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN GILCHRIST COUNTY. IN AUGUST, ACT RECEIVED A DONATED CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON 55 ACRES NEARBY TO ITS EXISTING FOX PEN PRESERVE. THROUGH ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH ALACHUA COUNTY FOREVER, ACT STAFF ASSISTED WITH A 120-ACRE ACQUISITION IN AN AREA OF HIGH CONSERVATION PRIORITY KNOWN AS LOCHLOOSA SLOUGH AS WELL AS A 40-ACRE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN THE WATERMELON POND CONSERVATION AREA IN SEPTEMBER. AT THE END OF 2024, ACT RECEIVED SEVERAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT DONATIONS INCLUDING 26-ACRES WITHIN THE OCALA NATIONAL FOREST IN MARION COUNTY, 22 ACRES IN ALACHUA COUNTY, AND 94-ACRES IN LEVY COUNTY WHICH WILL PROVIDE FOR THE PERPETUAL PROTECTION OF PINEY PRAIRIE. ACT ALSO CONTINUED TO WORK WITH AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS TO PROTECT THEIR LAND THROUGH NUMEROUS STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE USDA-NRCS REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, USDA-NRCS ACEP-ALE PROGRAM, AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES RURAL AND FAMILY LANDS PROTECTION PROGRAM (RFLPP). LAND PROTECTION: IN 2024, ACT CONTINUED ITS ROBUST LAND PROTECTION EFFORTS. IN JANUARY 2024, ACT CLOSED ON A FIRST OF ITS KIND PROJECT WITH WATSON FARM, WHERE THE LANDOWNER AGREED TO PLACE A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE PROPERTY AS WELL AS REDUCE AGRICULTURAL IMPACTS TO THE LAND THROUGH A DE-INTENSIFICATION SCHEDULE OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. ACT ALSO TRANSFERRED 289 ACRES ADJACENT TO MANATEE SPRINGS TO THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF STATE LANDS EXPANDING THE STATE PARK BOUNDARY AND PROTECTING LAND ABOVE THE MANATEE SPRINGS CAVE SYSTEM. ACT'S ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WITH ALACHUA COUNTY FOREVER THROUGH THE WILD SPACES & PUBLIC PLACES (WSPP) PROGRAM LED TO THE PROTECTION OF 614 ACRES THROUGH A CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN JANUARY AS WELL AS AN ADDITIONAL 478 ACRES IN LAND PROTECTION FROM JANUARY THROUGH MARCH. IN JUNE, ACT ACCEPTED THE DONATION OF 420 ACRES IN MADISON COUNTY, WHICH ACT WILL CONTINUE TO MANAGE LONG-TERM THROUGH PRESCRIBED FIRE AND OTHER TECHNIQUES. ACT ALSO CLOSED ON A 261-ACRE TRACT IN JULY ALONG THE NORTHERN PORTION OF ORANGE LAKE IN ALACHUA COUNTY FURTHER EXPANDING EFFORTS TO PROTECT LAND IN THE ORANGE LAKE CORRIDOR, WHICH INCLUDES OTHER ACT-HELD NATURE PRESERVES. THIS NEW ADDITION WILL SUPPORT WATER-BASED RECREATION ALONG THE LAKE. THROUGHOUT 2024, ACT FACILITATED SEVERAL CONSERVATION PROJECTS FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA THROUGH ITS FLORIDA FOREVER PROGRAM, INCLUDING 290 ACRES IN LEVY COUNTY IN THE WATERMELON POND CONSERVATION AREA, A 200-ACRE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN UNION COUNTY, A 1,500-ACRE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN COLUMBIA COUNTY, AND A 538-ACRE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN GILCHRIST COUNTY. IN AUGUST, ACT RECEIVED A DONATED CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON 55 ACRES NEARBY TO ITS EXISTING FOX PEN PRESERVE. THROUGH ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH ALACHUA COUNTY FOREVER, ACT STAFF ASSISTED WITH A 120-ACRE ACQUISITION IN AN AREA OF HIGH CONSERVATION PRIORITY KNOWN AS LOCHLOOSA SLOUGH AS WELL AS A 40-ACRE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN THE WATERMELON POND CONSERVATION AREA IN SEPTEMBER. AT THE END OF 2024, ACT RECEIVED SEVERAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT DONATIONS INCLUDING 26-ACRES WITHIN THE OCALA NATIONAL FOREST IN MARION COUNTY, 22 ACRES IN ALACHUA COUNTY, AND 94-ACRES IN LEVY COUNTY WHICH WILL PROVIDE FOR THE PERPETUAL PROTECTION OF PINEY PRAIRIE. ACT ALSO CONTINUED TO WORK WITH AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS TO PROTECT THEIR LAND THROUGH NUMEROUS STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE USDA-NRCS REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, USDA-NRCS ACEP-ALE PROGRAM, AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES RURAL AND FAMILY LANDS PROTECTION PROGRAM (RFLPP).
- $1.4 million spent. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT: ACT ACTIVELY MANAGES EIGHTEEN MAJOR PRESERVES ALONG WITH SEVERAL SMALLER CONSERVATION PROPERTIES ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA. ACT'S LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FOREST, GROUNDCOVER, AND WETLANDS RESTORATION, CREATING AND MAINTAINING PUBLIC TRAILS AND INFORMATIONAL KIOSKS, THE APPLICATION OF PRESCRIBED FIRE, AND EXOTIC PLANT SPECIES CONTROL. ACT BENEFITS FROM THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, SANTA FE COLLEGE, ALACHUA AUDUBON, EMORY UNIVERSITY ALUMNI, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO HELP COMPLETE THESE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ALONGSIDE STAFF. ACT'S WOMEN IN THE WOODS RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY TAILORED FOR YOUNG WOMEN (BUT ALSO INCLUDES YOUNG MEN) IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THEIR HIRING PROSPECTS IN THIS TRADITIONALLY MALE-ORIENTED CONSERVATION CAREER PATH, SERVED 23 YOUNG WOMEN AND YOUNG MEN OVER THE SPRING, SUMMER, AND FALL SEMESTERS IN 2024. IN TOTAL, THE PROGRAM HAS SERVED MORE THAN 138 YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN SINCE IT BEGAN IN 2017. IN TOTAL, 330 INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 10,360 HOURS OF SERVICE TO THE ORGANIZATION IN 2024. THE ANNUAL TREE FEST EVENT ORGANIZED BY SWAMP HEAD BREWERY & SOLAR IMPACT, INC. RAISED ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN 2024 TO PLANT 127,536 TREES AT ACT'S LITTLE ORANGE CREEK PRESERVE. ACT UTILIZED PRESCRIBED FIRES TO BURN HUNDREDS OF ACRES IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS LONG-TERM HABITAT RESTORATION GOALS, AND INSTALLED ADDITIONAL ADA ACCESSIBLE TRAILS & BOARDWALKS AT SEVERAL ACT PRESERVES AS WELL AS OTHER AMENITIES TO ENHANCE RECREATIONAL ENJOYMENT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC FROM ALL ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT: ACT ACTIVELY MANAGES EIGHTEEN MAJOR PRESERVES ALONG WITH SEVERAL SMALLER CONSERVATION PROPERTIES ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA. ACT'S LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FOREST, GROUNDCOVER, AND WETLANDS RESTORATION, CREATING AND MAINTAINING PUBLIC TRAILS AND INFORMATIONAL KIOSKS, THE APPLICATION OF PRESCRIBED FIRE, AND EXOTIC PLANT SPECIES CONTROL. ACT BENEFITS FROM THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, SANTA FE COLLEGE, ALACHUA AUDUBON, EMORY UNIVERSITY ALUMNI, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO HELP COMPLETE THESE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ALONGSIDE STAFF. ACT'S WOMEN IN THE WOODS RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY TAILORED FOR YOUNG WOMEN (BUT ALSO INCLUDES YOUNG MEN) IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THEIR HIRING PROSPECTS IN THIS TRADITIONALLY MALE-ORIENTED CONSERVATION CAREER PATH, SERVED 23 YOUNG WOMEN AND YOUNG MEN OVER THE SPRING, SUMMER, AND FALL SEMESTERS IN 2024. IN TOTAL, THE PROGRAM HAS SERVED MORE THAN 138 YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN SINCE IT BEGAN IN 2017. IN TOTAL, 330 INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 10,360 HOURS OF SERVICE TO THE ORGANIZATION IN 2024. THE ANNUAL TREE FEST EVENT ORGANIZED BY SWAMP HEAD BREWERY & SOLAR IMPACT, INC. RAISED ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN 2024 TO PLANT 127,536 TREES AT ACT'S LITTLE ORANGE CREEK PRESERVE. ACT UTILIZED PRESCRIBED FIRES TO BURN HUNDREDS OF ACRES IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS LONG-TERM HABITAT RESTORATION GOALS, AND INSTALLED ADDITIONAL ADA ACCESSIBLE TRAILS & BOARDWALKS AT SEVERAL ACT PRESERVES AS WELL AS OTHER AMENITIES TO ENHANCE RECREATIONAL ENJOYMENT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC FROM ALL ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA.
- $508,039 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: ACT WAS ABLE TO HOST NUMEROUS EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH WORKSHOPS AT ITS PRESERVES. THOSE EVENTS FOCUSED ON VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, PRESERVE CLEAN-UPS, FAMILY-FUN ENVIRONMENTAL DAYS, AND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION AND GOALS. FOR MANY OF THESE, ACT PARTNERED WITH STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES, INDIVIDUALS, AND OTHER LOCAL NONPROFITS. ACT ALSO LAUNCHED ITS PRESERVE ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM IN LATE 2024 DEBUTING A NEW ECOROVER, DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH MOBILITY LIMITATIONS A FUN AND SAFE WAY TO EXPERIENCE NATURE WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. ACT'S CREEK PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES NO-COST EXPERIENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TO STUDENTS FROM UNDER-SERVED SCHOOLS IN ALACHUA AND PUTNAM COUNTIES, SERVED 1,730 STUDENTS IN 2024 RESULTING IN 6,920 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING ACROSS 19 SCHOOLS AND CAMP PARTNERS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, ACT CONTINUED ITS TRADITIONAL OUTREACH VIA ITS PRINT NEWSLETTER, THE GAZETTEER, AND MAINTAINED A COMPREHENSIVE WEBSITE, WHICH WAS UPDATED SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2024. ACT ALSO RELIED HEAVILY ON ITS SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND REGULAR MONTHLY EMAILS, FIELD NOTES, TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT TO THE PUBLIC AND PROMOTE ACTS MISSION AND WORK. THESE CHANNELS REACHED OVER 21,000 SUBSCRIBERS IN 2024 ON SUCH TOPICS AS ECOLOGY, WILDLIFE, CLIMATE RESILIENCY, ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES, STAFF NOTES FROM THE FIELD, NATURAL HISTORY, AND OPPORTUNTIITES AND TOOLS FOR LANDOWNERS TO CONSERVE THEIR LAND. ACT HOSTED THE ANNUAL CONSERVATION STEWARDS AWARDS EVENT, WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 550 PEOPLE AT ACT'S PRAIRIE CREEK LODGE. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: ACT WAS ABLE TO HOST NUMEROUS EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH WORKSHOPS AT ITS PRESERVES. THOSE EVENTS FOCUSED ON VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, PRESERVE CLEAN-UPS, FAMILY-FUN ENVIRONMENTAL DAYS, AND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION AND GOALS. FOR MANY OF THESE, ACT PARTNERED WITH STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES, INDIVIDUALS, AND OTHER LOCAL NONPROFITS. ACT ALSO LAUNCHED ITS PRESERVE ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM IN LATE 2024 DEBUTING A NEW ECOROVER, DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH MOBILITY LIMITATIONS A FUN AND SAFE WAY TO EXPERIENCE NATURE WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. ACT'S CREEK PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES NO-COST EXPERIENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TO STUDENTS FROM UNDER-SERVED SCHOOLS IN ALACHUA AND PUTNAM COUNTIES, SERVED 1,730 STUDENTS IN 2024 RESULTING IN 6,920 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING ACROSS 19 SCHOOLS AND CAMP PARTNERS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, ACT CONTINUED ITS TRADITIONAL OUTREACH VIA ITS PRINT NEWSLETTER, THE GAZETTEER, AND MAINTAINED A COMPREHENSIVE WEBSITE, WHICH WAS UPDATED SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2024. ACT ALSO RELIED HEAVILY ON ITS SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND REGULAR MONTHLY EMAILS, FIELD NOTES, TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT TO THE PUBLIC AND PROMOTE ACTS MISSION AND WORK. THESE CHANNELS REACHED OVER 21,000 SUBSCRIBERS IN 2024 ON SUCH TOPICS AS ECOLOGY, WILDLIFE, CLIMATE RESILIENCY, ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES, STAFF NOTES FROM THE FIELD, NATURAL HISTORY, AND OPPORTUNTIITES AND TOOLS FOR LANDOWNERS TO CONSERVE THEIR LAND. ACT HOSTED THE ANNUAL CONSERVATION STEWARDS AWARDS EVENT, WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 550 PEOPLE AT ACT'S PRAIRIE CREEK LODGE.
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 May 1989.
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.