Nova Scotia Nature Trust
Nova Scotia Nature Trust reported $13.2 million in revenue and $10.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $95.30 went to program services, $3.08 to management and general costs and $1.62 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 93.3% of the total. Government grants made up 8.6%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $121,715 (Executive Director). 1 person received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 121% between FY2021 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $10MFor 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 March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $13M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$79.48 $11M
- Government grants$8.03 $1.1M
- Investment income$12.49 $1.8M
Other revenue was negative: −$868K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 95.3% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 3.1% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.6% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 93.3% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 8.6% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $121,715 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.21% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 60.6 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 10 of 10 | 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 expenseLand Stewardship and Conservation: - Purchased 14 properties for $4,770,052 plus a donated value of $1,432,712 - Reeceived 4 donations with a value of $751,460 - Land securement expenses totalled $781,081 - The Nature Trust managed a foundation grant including funds for conservation partners. The amount transferred to partners was $1,045,752.An additional $53,932 was expended on a national urban park project. Please refer to Note 15 of the audited financial statements
Land Stewardship: We have a program of ongoing stewardship and management to ensure that the natural values of these lands are protected in perpetuity. We have a scientific advisory engaged in monitoring, restoration, and hands-on habitat and species stewardship
Environment Education, Outreach and Special Projects The Nature Trust has an ongoing program of education aimed specifically at owners of ecologically significant lands, encouraging them to protect natural areas on their lands.We also provide education aimed at recreational users of priority habitats aimed at reducing threats and impacts on these natural areas, and broader public education aimed at increasing awareness and support
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Director Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $104,593 | $0 | $17,122 | $121,715 |
1 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Nova Scotia Nature Trust (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $122K (Part IX, line 5).
5 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–1b10 · 10 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13No
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 524
- Volunteers Part I, line 6391
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Design Point Engineering Surveying | $189,652 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 1 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Nova Scotia Nature 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 Nova Scotia Nature Trust, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Nova Scotia Nature Trust spent in FY2025, $95.30 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Japanese Garden Society of OregonPortland, OR · revenue $13M · programs 77.0% · 2024
- The Ocean FoundationWashington, DC · revenue $13M · programs 89.5% · FY2025
- Santa Barbara Botanic GardenSanta Barbara, CA · revenue $13M · programs 73.1% · 2024
- Empire Discovery InstituteRochester, NY · revenue $13M · programs 73.9% · 2024
- The Land Trust for Santa Barbara CountySanta Barbara, CA · revenue $13M · programs 80.2% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Nova Scotia Nature Trust's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, Nova Scotia Nature Trust reported that 95.3% of its $10.1 million in expenses went to program services, 3.1% to management and general and 1.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Nova Scotia Nature Trust pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Nova Scotia Nature Trust reported for one person in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 was $121,715, for the role of Executive Director (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Nova Scotia Nature Trust get its money?
Of $13.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, 93.3% came from contributions and grants (including 8.6% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Nova Scotia Nature Trust a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 98-0450094 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))). Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 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 March 31, 2025, object 202610449349300036 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, object 202510419349300631 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, object 202400389349302070 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, object 202340469349300934 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, object 202240469349300719 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 98-0450094: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.