Natural Lands Trust
Also known as Natural Lands
Natural Lands Trust reported $26.6 million in revenue and $23.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $85.68 went to program services, $7.50 to management and general costs and $6.82 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 88.0% of the total. Government grants made up 11.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $266,305 (President). 11 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 65% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $24MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $27MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 85.7% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.5% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.8% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 88.0% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 11.0% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 6.5% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $266,305 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.12% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 11 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 170.5 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 of 16 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseSaving Open SpaceNatural Lands is unique among the region's conservation organizations because of our large network of nature preserves. We know these lands will be protected and cared for forever.Our network currently includes 40+ nature preserves and Stoneleigh:a natural garden, across two states and 13 counties, totaling more than 23,600 acres. Many times,the land we save remains in private ownership but we place it under a conservation easement, which is a legally binding agreement that permanently limits a property's use and binds all present and future owners of the land. We currently…
Caring for NatureWe love saving land, but we think it's just the first step. In fact, our commitment to caring for nature is one of the reasons why Natural Lands owns so much land (and is always acquiring more): so we can actively enrich and restore our preserves, balancing the needs of nature and her visitors. Our land stewardship programs include: returning former farm fields to forests by planting thousands of trees; exploring and employing an array of techniques to control the spread of invasive plants on our preserves; improving water quality of the creeks that meander through our…
Connecting People to the Outdoors...and to Each OtherThe future of conservation requires that there be passionate nature-lovers to carry on our work. That's why we're committed to creating opportunities for joy and discovery in the outdoors for everyone. Our nature preserves and public garden are open for everyone to visit, and are always free. In addition to places for exploration, our preserves allow us to host myriad events every year catering to different people with different interests. We also encourage people to develop a deeper connection to Natural Lands and, by extension, our…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $242,303 | $0 | $24,002 | $266,305 |
| Vice President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $182,699 | $0 | $20,962 | $203,661 |
| Vice President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $180,027 | $0 | $16,522 | $196,549 |
| Vice President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $143,662 | $0 | $27,472 | $171,134 |
| Vice President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $143,282 | $0 | $20,978 | $164,260 |
| Vice President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $136,653 | $0 | $25,897 | $162,550 |
| Vice President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $137,263 | $0 | $20,681 | $157,944 |
| Assistant Vice President and Controller Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $132,003 | $0 | $24,298 | $156,301 |
11 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Natural Lands Trust (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.4M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b16 · 16 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5124
- Volunteers Part I, line 6820
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| AE HARTH INC Construction services | $300,481 |
| WPL INTERIOR DESIGN Design services | $281,700 |
| Antonio RochaCrafTech Computer Solution Information Technology Services | $173,760 |
| TIFF Investment services | $135,510 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 9 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
40 private foundations reported grants to Natural Lands Trust totaling $1.8M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Natural Lands Trust's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Natural Lands Trust, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Natural Lands Trust spent in FY2025, $85.68 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Greenpeace FundWashington, DC · revenue $26M · programs 76.9% · 2024
- ClearpathWashington, DC · revenue $27M · programs 82.8% · 2025
- The Montana Land RelianceHelena, MT · revenue $26M · programs 94.1% · 2024
- Sonoma Land TrustSanta Rosa, CA · revenue $27M · programs 62.7% · FY2025
- Triangle Land ConservancyDurham, NC · revenue $26M · programs 67.6% · FY2025
All environment charities · Largest charities in Pennsylvania
Questions people ask
How much of Natural Lands Trust's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Natural Lands Trust reported that 85.7% of its $23.8 million in expenses went to program services, 7.5% to management and general and 6.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Natural Lands Trust pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Natural Lands Trust reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $266,305, for the role of President (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Natural Lands Trust get its money?
Of $26.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 88.0% came from contributions and grants (including 11.0% from government grants) and 6.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Natural Lands Trust a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-6272818 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202621179349301427 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501219349300510 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202421309349304052 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311189349300526 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201229349301150 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202131049349301423 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-6272818: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.