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Bull Creek Common Lands

EIN 87-1446590 · Athens, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CONSERVE LAND AND PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS. BENEFIT THE INNATE ECOLOGICAL VALUE OF THE LAND, SPECIFICALLY FOREST RESILIENCY AND BIODIVERSITY. ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY'S VITALITY BY ENCOURAGING ACCESS TO LAND FOR COMMUNITY-DEFINED PURPOSES INCLUDING FARMING, FORAGING, RECREATION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EDUCATION. ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY'S CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND HELP TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE VIA HEALTHY FORESTS, WETLANDS AND SHARED ENVIRONMENT. CONSERVE NATURAL, CULTURAL, HISTORIC, AND AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES.

Income
$324,702
Spending
$48,697
Spent on programs
42%
Reserves
17 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $75 spent. OUTDOOR RECREATION AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: THE GRAFTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL USED THE COMMUNITY FOREST FOR TEACHER LED STUDENT WALKS. THERE WERE SEVEN COMMUNITY LED EDUCATIONAL EVENTS ON THE COMMUNITY FOREST LAND. COLLABORATED WITH THE GRAFTON NATURE MUSEUM TO CO-SPONSOR TWO EDUCATIONAL EVENTS. AN INFORMATION KIOSK WAS INSTALLED AT THE TRAIL HEAD. OVER 150 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER WORK MAINTAINED THE HIKING TRAIL, BRIDGE CROSSING AND PARKING AREA. ALL MATERIALS FOR THE INFORMATION KIOSK WERE DONATED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
  2. $10,896 spent. LAND MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE: MAINTENANCE OF WOODS ROADS TO ENHANCE CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND PREVENT EROSION. REMOVAL OF INVASIVE PLANTS TO ENCOURAGE NATIVE PLANTS. MARKING OF BOUNDARY LINES AROUND THE PROPERTY AND PLACEMENT OF BOUNDARY SIGNS. REMOVAL OF TRASH. INVENTORY OF VERNAL POOL SALAMANDER AND FROG POPULATIONS. OVER 200 VOLUNTEER HOURS.
  3. $9,335 spent. NEW LAND CONSERVATION: PURCHASED 110 ACRES OF ECOLOGICALLY CRITICAL LAND IN THE HEADWATERS OF THE BULL CREEK. THE LAND HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A 6-ACRE POND, STATE-SIGNIFICANT VERNAL POOL, FEN WETLAND, POPULATIONS OF THE FEDERALLY ENDANGERED NORTHEASTERN BULLRUSH, AND A HILLSIDE OF LEGACY RED OAK TREES. ADDITIONALLY, TWO HISTORIC HOMESTEADS WITH CELLAR HOLES AND MASSIVE STONE WALLS WILL BE PROTECTED. LAND ACQUISTION COSTS TOTALED $ 236,042 IN 2024.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2021.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.