Overview
What is Westchester Land Trust Inc?
The Westchester Land Trust Inc is a nonprofit organization based in Bedford Hills, New York. Their primary mission is to conserve, maintain, and enhance the natural and aesthetic environment in Westchester County and eastern Putnam County. They have preserved over 9,000 acres of open space across 23 communities, protecting vital lands for drinking water, air quality, wildlife habitats, and urban green spaces. In 2022, they added 179 acres to their preserves, providing a total of 20 miles of hiking trails for public enjoyment. Through partnerships with various entities, the Westchester Land Trust acquires and preserves land, and they are committed to community education and collaboration with numerous organizations to advance their mission. They operate programs such as food justice initiatives, conservation projects, and a mobile education exhibit that appeared at 15 events in 2022. Their headquarters, Sugar Hill Farm, hosts a half-acre organic garden, where volunteers produce fresh produce for local food pantries. In addition to land preservation, the Westchester Land Trust prioritizes habitat restoration, land stewardship, and community resiliency. They employ youth conservationists and college apprentices to work on their preserves, and their protected lands are home to over 1,300 species of native plants and animals. The Westchester Land Trust staff also provide technical assistance to farmland owners and farmers, and they use a previously urban conservation feasibility study to guide their work in urban communities.
Official website here: www.westchesterlandtrust.org
What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?
Charity Navigator rating: 98%, Four-Star out of Four Star rating.
Westchester Land Trust Inc has received an impressive Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, indicating a high level of accountability and transparency in its operations. With a score of 90% in Accountability & Finance, the organization exhibits strong financial health, including 100% independent board members and a commendable program expense ratio of 80.88%. These metrics suggest a commitment to efficiently utilizing funds for their mission.
User feedback highlights the trust's status as an accredited land trust, demonstrating adherence to national quality standards for land conservation. This accreditation reflects the organization's dedication to protecting vital natural areas and working lands. Reviewers appreciate the trust's commitment to excellence through ethical guidelines and practices.
While the organization excels in financial and operational metrics, the Culture & Community score of 81 indicates there may be areas for improvement in community engagement or equity strategies. Overall, Westchester Land Trust Inc stands out as a well-managed nonprofit with a proven track record in land conservation efforts.
This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator and Great Nonprofits.
What do the Facebook reviews say about Westchester Land Trust Inc?
100% of reviewers on Facebook recommend Westchester Land Trust Inc. Here is a summary of their reviews:
The nonprofit has received glowing praise from users who appreciate their dedication to sustainable farming initiatives. One reviewer specifically highlighted how Westchester Land Trust successfully connected them with a 1.2-acre farm, emphasizing their commitment to transforming unused land into productive, organic crop spaces.
Overall, the organization seems to have made a positive impact on its community by promoting environmental stewardship and agricultural sustainability. The personal touch of their staff, particularly Kate, was also noted as a strong factor in their successful experiences.
This AI summary has been generated from reviews found on Facebook.
Is Westchester Land Trust Inc legitimate?
Westchester Land Trust Inc is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. Westchester Land Trust Inc submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.
Heare are some key statistics you may want to consider:
Executive Compensation: $146,347
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $625,286
For more financial information, click here
Official website here: www.westchesterlandtrust.org
What is the mission statement of Westchester Land Trust Inc?
The Westchester Land Trust's primary mission is dedicated to the conservation, maintenance, and enhancement of the natural environment and resources in various communities. This organization works towards preserving land that showcases important natural features or values, with a focus on protecting drinking water, air quality, wildlife habitats, trails for passive recreation, agricultural lands, and urban green spaces, contributing to carbon sequestration efforts and combating climate change. The Westchester Land Trust also collaborates with numerous organizations to advance its mission, offers educational programs, and engages in habitat restoration projects and community education about the protection of natural resources and sustainable agriculture. They also run programs like food justice initiatives and have a mobile education exhibit, and their headquarters, Sugar Hill Farm, hosts an organic garden supplying produce to local food pantries. The Land Trust employs youth conservationists and apprentices to work on forest health restoration projects, and land stewardship is an essential component of their mission.
Official website here: www.westchesterlandtrust.org
Who is the CEO of Westchester Land Trust Inc?
Kara H Whelan is the Chair of Westchester Land Trust Inc.
Official website here: www.westchesterlandtrust.org
What is the revenue of Westchester Land Trust Inc?
Westchester Land Trust Inc's revenue in 2022 was $3,275,102.
Official website here: www.westchesterlandtrust.org
Who are the executives of Westchester Land Trust Inc and what are their salaries?
The average compensation at Westchester Land Trust Inc during 2022 was $45,390. There are 17 employees and 130 volunteers at Westchester Land Trust Inc.
Here are 22 key members and their salaries:
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Official website here: www.westchesterlandtrust.org
Where can I find the form 990 for Westchester Land Trust Inc?
Westchester Land Trust Inc's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2022 and can be accessed here.
Official website here: www.westchesterlandtrust.org
Learn more at the official website: www.westchesterlandtrust.org
Mission Statement of Westchester Land Trust Inc
The Westchester Land Trust, a conservation-focused organization, is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the natural environment and resources across Westchester County and eastern Putnam County. The Trust's primary mission is to conserve significant land exhibiting important natural features or values, thereby safeguarding drinking water, air quality, wildlife habitats, trails, agricultural lands, urban green spaces, and contributing to carbon sequestration efforts against climate change.
Throughout its service territory, the Westchester Land Trust has successfully preserved more than 9,000 acres of open space, including 20 miles of hiking trails, spanning 23 communities. The Trust's land preservation efforts cater to a variety of settings, from urban to rural communities, and protect properties ranging from a quarter of an acre to over 600 acres. In 2022 alone, the Trust added an additional 179 acres to its conservation portfolio across three projects.
In addition to land preservation, the Westchester Land Trust focuses on community education about natural resource protection, wildlife habitats, and sustainable agriculture. The Trust collaborates with numerous organizations to advance its mission and even ventures into urban communities through food justice programming and conservation projects. The Trust's mobile education exhibit made appearances at 15 events in 2022.
The Trust's headquarters, Sugar Hill Farm, plays a central role in its mission. The farm features a half-acre organic garden where volunteers grow vegetables for distribution to local food pantries. Since its inception, Sugar Hill Farm has provided over 82,000 servings of fresh produce to families in need. In 2022, volunteers donated nearly 1,200 hours to the farm, nature preserves, and operations, with almost half of all volunteers being under the age of 18.
The Westchester Land Trust's mission extends beyond land acquisition and education. It is committed to land stewardship, conducting habitat restoration projects at its preserves, offering programs about land stewardship and community resiliency, and organizing guided volunteer events at its preserves. The Trust's protected lands are home to over 1,300 species of native plants and animals. In 2022, the Trust hired 30 youth conservationists to work on forest health restoration projects on its preserves. The Westchester Land Trust, in its endeavor to preserve and protect the environment, continues to make significant strides in promoting a healthier, more sustainable future.
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Impact
June, 2024
Westchester Land Trust Inc is dedicated to conserving and enhancing the natural environment of Westchester County and eastern Putnam County. Its efforts have resulted in the permanent preservation of over 9,000 acres of open space and 20 miles of hiking trails across 23 communities. By protecting drinking water, wildlife habitats, agricultural lands, and urban green spaces, the Trust contributes to the public benefit while combating climate change through natural carbon sequestration.
In addition to its land preservation efforts, Westchester Land Trust actively engages in community education on the protection of natural resources, wildlife habitats, and sustainable agriculture. The Trust collaborates with various organizations to advance its mission and works in urban communities through food justice programming and conservation projects.
Furthermore, Westchester Land Trust's initiatives extend to habitat restoration projects, education programs on land stewardship and community resiliency, and guided volunteer events at its preserves. The organization's efforts in land stewardship have resulted in the protection of over 1,300 species of native plants and animals on its preserved lands.
Overall, Westchester Land Trust Inc's impact is substantial, contributing significantly to the conservation and enhancement of the natural environment in its service territory.
This information is meant to be a general summary of Westchester Land Trust Inc. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.
Financials
This financial information is from Propublica.
Other financial information:
This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2022.
- Investment Income: $526,930
- Program Service Revenue: $552
- Gross Receipts: $5,041,677
Assets and Liabilities:
- Total Assets: $26,052,642
- Total Liabilities: $1,451,213
- Net Assets: $24,601,429
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Programs
Programs are reported by nonprofits in their tax forms and are normally their tax-exempt activities.
Service fees
Revenue
$552
Organization Details
Founding Year
1988
Phone
(914) 234-6992Principal Officer
Kara H Whelan
Main Address
403 Harris Road, Bedford Hills, NY, 10507
Website
www.westchesterlandtrust.orgNTEE Category
Code: C340 - Environment
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