The Walden Woods Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE PART 1, LINE 1
- Income
- $8.0 million
- Spending
- $2.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 62 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 56
- Highest pay
- $145,098, secretary/exec. 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 62.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 66% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 8 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 (3)
- $1.3 million spent. CONSERVATION & LAND MANAGEMENTTHE WALDEN WOODS PROJECT PRESERVES AND PROTECTS WALDEN WOODS AND THOREAU COUNTRY IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR WORLDWIDE LITERARY, HISTORICAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE AND THEIR CAPACITY TO MOTIVATE OTHERS TO PROTECT THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECOLOGICALLY/HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT AREAS THAT EXIST IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.THE WALDEN WOODS PROJECT OWNS AND STEWARDS NEARLY 200 ACRES OF LAND THAT PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC AS A HIGHLY SOUGHT-AFTER RESOURCE FOR PASSIVE RECREATION AND EDUCATION. THE MAJORITY OF OUR LAND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC YEAR-ROUND, AND OUR INTERPRETIVE TRAILS ARE USED EXTENSIVELY BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND A WIDE VARIETY OF ORGANIZED GROUPS, INCLUDING SCHOOL GROUPS, ELDER SERVICES GROUPS, AND TOURISTS. MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING TRAILS, TRAIL DESIGN, INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE OF TRAIL HEAD PARKING FACILITIES, AND ECOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS INTENDED TO BENEFIT WILDLIFE AND THE NATURAL VALUE OF OUR LAND.THE PROJECT'S LAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS SUPPORT COLLABORATION BETWEEN A WIDE VARIETY OF CIVIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS.THE WALDEN WOODS PROJECT MANAGES CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS ON 53.9 ACRES OF LAND, WHICH PREVENTS DEVELOPMENT OF SITES NOT OWNED IN FEE (TOTAL ACRES OWNED IN FEE: 130.3). ANNUAL CONSERVATION RESTRICTION MONITORING ENSURES THAT THE PROTECTIONS PRESCRIBED IN THE CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT.THE LAND WE OWN AND MANAGE INCLUDES A CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARM THAT OFFERS HEALTHY, LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION AND THAT HOSTS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROJECTS.IN ITS CAPACITY AS THE STATE-DESIGNATED "FRIENDS OF WALDEN POND," THE WALDEN WOODS PROJECT PARTNERS WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION ON FUNDRAISING FOR PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND CONSERVATION INITIATIVES AT THE WALDEN POND STATE RESERVATION.
- $404,631 spent. EDUCATION:THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS OF THE WALDEN WOODS PROJECT SERVE AN AUDIENCE OF STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND LIFE-LONG LEARNERS AROUND THE GLOBE. OUR SIGNATURE PROGRAMS INCLUDE GUIDED TOURS FOR GROUPS VISITING WALDEN WOODS; THE GLOBAL LIVE DELIBERATELY ESSAY CONTEST FOR YOUTH AGES 14-19; APPROACHING WALDEN, A WEEK-LONG SUMMER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS; OTHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR; VIRTUAL GROUP VISITS, AND THE STEWARDSHIP LECTURE SERIES. ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE INSPIRED BY THE WRITINGS AND PHILOSOPHIES OF HENRY DAVID THOREAU AND ASK PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THEIR OWN SENSE OF PLACE--THEIR CONNECTION TO THEIR OWN COMMUNITY AND OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD--AND TO DEVELOP AN ENVIRONMENTAL ETHIC. AS THOREAU HIMSELF IS A HIGHLY INTERDISCIPLINARY SUBJECT, WE ADDRESS THE TOPICS OF TRANSCENDENTALISM, SOCIAL REFORM, WRITING, NATURAL HISTORY AND 19-CENTURY HISTORY IN OUR PROGRAMS. AS THOREAU HIMSELF IS A HIGHLY INTERDISCIPLINARY SUBJECT, WE ADDRESS THE TOPICS OF TRANSCENDENTALISM, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (E.G., CLIMATE CHANGE, BIODIVERSITY, CONSERVATION),SOCIAL REFORM, WRITING, NATURAL HISTORY AND 19-CENTURY HISTORY IN OUR PROGRAMS.
- $453,072 spent. RESEARCH AND LIBRARY:THE WALDEN WOODS PROJECT LIBRARY IS OWNED AND MANAGED BY THE WALDEN WOODS PROJECT AND IS LOCATED AT THE WWP'S CAMPUS IN LINCOLN, MASSACHUSETTS. THE LIBRARY HOUSES THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH COLLECTION BY AND ABOUT HENRY DAVID THOREAU, AS WELL AS OTHER TRANSCENDENTALISTS, INCLUDING RALPH WALDO EMERSON AND MARGARET FULLER, AND IS THE REPOSITORY FOR THE COLLECTIONS OF THE THOREAU SOCIETY, THE RALPH WALDO EMERSON SOCIETY, AND THE MARGARET FULLER SOCIETY. IN 2023 THE WALDEN WOODS PROJECT REVISED ITS LOAN AGREEMENT WITH THE THOREAU SOCIETY TO BECOME THE PERMANENT REPOSITORY FOR ITS COLLECTIONS. STAFFED BY A FULL-TIME CURATOR, THE LIBRARY IS THE PREMIERE RESOURCE ON A GLOBAL BASIS FOR RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP ON THOREAU AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES. THE LIBRARY WORKED WITH SIX VOLUNTEERS THIS YEAR WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE HISTORY AND LITERATURE OF THOREAU'S TIME.EVERY YEAR BRINGS NEW PEOPLE WITH VARYING INTERESTS TO THE WALDEN WOODS PROJECT LIBRARY, WHETHER IN-PERSON OR VIRTUALLY. TRANSLATORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE WORKED WITH THE CURATOR TO PROVIDE ACCURATE AND REPRESENTATIVE TRANSLATIONS. OUR VIRTUAL CLASSROOM SESSIONS BRING OUR CURATOR INTO SCHOOLS AROUND THE WORLD, REACHING HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS IN 2024. WE CONTINUE TO PUBLISH MANY WORKS ELECTRONICALLY TO ENSURE THAT OUR RESOURCES REACH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF SCHOLARS AND STUDENTS. STAFFED BY A FULL-TIME CURATOR, THE LIBRARY IS THE PREMIERE RESOURCE ON A GLOBAL BASIS FOR RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP ON THOREAU AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES.
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 1995.
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.