Hudson Taconic Lands Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To promote and facilitate the conservation of forests and other ecologically important areas in Rensselaer County and beyond.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- -6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 153
- Highest pay
- $113,893, executive director
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 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 54% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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 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 (4)
- The organization conserved 1,274 acres of forests and wetlands on the Rensselaer Plateau of which 1,081 acres are considered 'critical habitat' according to the Nature Conservancy's Resilient Land Mapping Tool. Highlights include the purchase of the 385-acre Berlin Community Forest and 784 acres of forest that will connect and expand DEC State Forests. The organization also conserved a 10-acre property with natural shoreline on the Hudson River, extending the Papscanee Island Nature Preserve.
- In 2024, 60 local teens participated in the Forest Conservation Corps work and career training program at six different natural area sites in Rensselaer County.
- Volunteers logged 7,098 hours building trails and teaching workshops. A highlight of this work was the construction of the 56-foot-long pedestrian bridge that spans the Quacken Kill at the Boehme Legacy Forest and allows access to the rocky summit of Bunker Hill that boasts more than 50 mile views of surrounding lands, including the Catskill Mountains.
- $839,129 spent. Other program services include education and outreach, trail vision, conservation plan, and land stewardship.
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 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 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 November 2009.
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.