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New Jersey Highlands Coalition

EIN 68-0636424 · Boonton, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROTECT, PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE WATER, FORESTS WILDLIFE, FARMLAND AND OTHER NATURAL, HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES OF THE NEW JERSEY HIGHLANDS AND TO ENHANCE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF NATURAL AND HUMAN COMMUNITIES AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$754,616
Spending
$677,138
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
6
Volunteers
150

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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 94% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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 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 (1)
  1. $481,636 spent. THE NEW JERSEY HIGHLANDS COALITION IS THE ONLY NONPROFIT DEDICATED SOLELY TO PROTECTING THE AQUIFERS, WATERS, FORESTS, HABITATS, FARMLANDS, WILDLIFE, CULTURAL RESOURCES, AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OF THE NEW JERSEY HIGHLANDS. OUR PROGRAMS ARE MULTIFACETED AND STATEWIDE IN SCOPE. THROUGH OUR TRENTON INITIATIVE, WE INFLUENCE STATE POLICIES AND REGULATIONS AFFECTING HIGHLANDS RESOURCES, WHILE COLLABORATING WITH PARTNERS SUCH AS THE PINELANDS PRESERVATION ALLIANCE, ANJEC, NJ LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS, RARITAN HEADWATERS ASSOCIATION, MUSCONETCONG WATERSHED ASSOCIATION, GREAT SWAMP WATERSHED ASSOCIATION, NJ CONSERVATION FOUNDATION, PASSAIC RIVER COALITION, SOURLANDS CONSERVANCY, AND HACKENSACK RIVERKEEPER. TOGETHER, WE EXPAND EDUCATION AND OUTREACH THROUGH FORESTRY AND VERNAL POOL PROJECTS, OUR POLICY AND NATURAL HERITAGE COMMITTEES, AND GRASSROOTS SUPPORT FOR MORE THAN 100 MEMBER AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS.WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR STRONG REGIONAL MASTER PLAN CONFORMANCE, OPPOSE HARMFUL PROJECTS, AND PROVIDE COMMENTS ON RULES AND PROPOSALS IMPACTING THE REGION. INTERNALLY, OUR BOARD AND STAFF ARE STRENGTHENING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE (DEIJ) THROUGH DEDICATED COMMITTEES, TRAINING, AND CULTURAL CHANGE, WHILE EXTERNALLY FOSTERING MORE INCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIPS. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE RAMAPOUGH LENAPE TURTLE CLAN, NYU LANGONE HEALTH, AND OTHER PARTNERS, WE ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE THROUGH INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE TURTLE CLAN HEALTH STUDY, FEDERAL RECOGNITION, AND PERMANENT RELOCATION FROM A SUPERFUND SITE.THE COALITION ALSO FUNDS CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS THROUGH OUR SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM, SUPPORTS HIGHLANDS ADVOCATES, FOSTERS A ROBUST COALITION OF INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS, AND INCREASES AWARENESS OF HIGHLANDS RESOURCES AND CLEAN WATER THROUGH EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS, OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE, CAR TREKS, A GOLF OUTING, ART SHOWS, AND OUR OVER THE EDGE EVENT-ALL OF WHICH ALSO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS.

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

  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 June 2025.

    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 January 2007.

    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.

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