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Conservation Foundation of Lancaster County

EIN 65-1308216 · Lancaster, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE, SUPPORT, AND SUSTAIN THE STEWARDSHIP, EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE LANCASTER COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
0
Volunteers
11

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 72% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (5)
  1. $191,959 spent. ADVANCING AGRICULTURE AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BUILD OUT BRIDGES TO ADDITIONAL DATA SOURCES FOR AG PLANS AND BMPS FROM PARTNERS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, AS WELL AS WORKING THROUGH PROCESSES TO INCORPORATE THE DATA INTO THE DATA DASHBOARD BEING DEVELOPED BY THE CAP COORDINATOR TEAM. FUNDING FOR AG PLAN UPDATES/ WRITING AND POTENTIALLY FOR INITIAL DESIGN TO PREP PROJECTS FOR FUNDING APPLICATIONS - TO BE AVAILABLE WHEN A FARMER SAYS "YES.
  2. $174,611 spent. NRCS - RCPP: TA-I TECHNICAL SERVICE PROVIDER RCPP IS A VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES NRCS AUTHORITY TO COLLABORATE WITH AN ELIGIBLE LEAD PARTNER TO DEVELOP A PROGRAMMATIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT TO ADDRESS ONE OR MORE RESOURCE CONCERN CATEGORIES IN A PROJECT AREA. PPAS DOCUMENT BOTH ANTICIPATED RCPP-FUNDED FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS PARTNER-FUNDED ACTIVITIES. NRCS ADMINISTERS RCPP-FUNDED ACTIVITIES THROUGH A COMBINATION OF RCPP PROGRAM CONTRACTS WITH PRODUCERS, AGREEMENTS WITH ELIGIBLE PARTNERS, AND NRCS- PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. RCPP FUNDING IS PROVIDED TO HELP FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND OTHER LANDOWNERS TO ADDRESS NATURAL RESOURCE CONCERNS ON THE NATION'S PRIVATE AND NONFEDERAL LAND.
  3. $108,482 spent. NFWF CRESCENDO OF COLLABORATION THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS THE PARTNERS TO BUILD ON THEIR ONGOING SUCCESS IN HELPING TO RESTORE OUR LOCAL WATERWAYS, CONSISTENT WITH THE VISION TO MAKE LANCASTER COUNTY'S STREAMS CLEAN BY 2040. THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT IS SUPPORTIVE OF EXTENDING THEIR CAPACITY BY ADDING A NEW TECHNICAL DIRECTOR POSTION TO HELP PROMOTE IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR KEY PRIORITIES AND STRATEGIES. THE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR WILL COLLABORATIVELY WORK WITH THE MANY PARTNERS IN LANCASTER COUNTY TO HELP FACILITATE DELISTING STREAMS BY SUPPORTING DATA COLLECTION, DESIGN, AND INSTALLATION OF 10 TO 15 BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMP'S) IN PRIORITY CATCHMENTS.
  4. $818,564 spent. COUNTYWIDE ACTION PLAN - PEQUEA CREEK THE PEQEUA CREEK HEADWATERS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT INVOLVES WORKING WITH TWO PLAIN SECT FARMS IN THE UPPER PEQUEA CR. WATERSHED FOR STREAM AND PASTURELAND IMPROVEMENTS. THESE PROJECTS BUILD UPON PREVIOUS WORK COMPLETED BY THE LANCASTER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, SALISBURY TOWNSHIP, TEAM AG, CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION, AND LANCASTER FARMLAND TRUST IN THIS AREA. PROJECT DETAILS INVOLVE 3500' LINEAR FT. OF STREAM RESTORATION, 4190' OF STREAMBANK FENCING, AND AVERAGE RIPARIAN BUFFER INSIDE THE FENCE OF 30-50 FT. OR 5.5 ACRES OR BUFFER, AND 3 LIVESTOCK/EQUIPMENT CROSSINGS ALONG INDIAN SPRING RUN AND THE HEADWATERS OF PEQUEA CREEK. CHESAPEAKE BAY TRUST - CAPACITY BUILDING AWARD PROGRAM INITIATE PROJECTS TO DIVERSIFY NETWORK MEMBERSHIP; NETWORK COORDINATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS, NETWORK COMMUNICATION AND PLANNING EFFORTS, AND TARGETED CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES WITHIN INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS. ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING IN AND BENEFITING FROM FUNDING RESOURCES MUST BE WILLING TO WORK TOWARDS AN ENDURING AND SUSTAINABLE NETWORK.
  5. COUNTYWIDE ACTION PLAN - PEQUEA CREEK THE PEQEUA CREEK HEADWATERS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT INVOLVES WORKING WITH TWO PLAIN SECT FARMS IN THE UPPER PEQUEA CR. WATERSHED FOR STREAM AND PASTURELAND IMPROVEMENTS. THESE PROJECTS BUILD UPON PREVIOUS WORK COMPLETED BY THE LANCASTER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, SALISBURY TOWNSHIP, TEAM AG, CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION, AND LANCASTER FARMLAND TRUST IN THIS AREA. PROJECT DETAILS INVOLVE 3500' LINEAR FT. OF STREAM RESTORATION, 4190' OF STREAMBANK FENCING, AND AVERAGE RIPARIAN BUFFER INSIDE THE FENCE OF 30-50 FT. OR 5.5 ACRES OR BUFFER, AND 3 LIVESTOCK/EQUIPMENT CROSSINGS ALONG INDIAN SPRING RUN AND THE HEADWATERS OF PEQUEA CREEK. CHESAPEAKE BAY TRUST - CAPACITY BUILDING AWARD PROGRAM INITIATE PROJECTS TO DIVERSIFY NETWORK MEMBERSHIP; NETWORK COORDINATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS, NETWORK COMMUNICATION AND PLANNING EFFORTS, AND TARGETED CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES WITHIN INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS. ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING IN AND BENEFITING FROM FUNDING RESOURCES MUST BE WILLING TO WORK TOWARDS AN ENDURING AND SUSTAINABLE NETWORK.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.