Overview
What is Beaufort County Open Land Trust?
The Beaufort County Open Land Trust is a nonprofit organization based in Beaufort, South Carolina. Its mission is to preserve significant ecological and culturally valuable areas that shape the unique Lowcountry region. In 2022, they successfully completed four land protection projects, including three conservation easements and one fee acquisition. These projects focused on protecting working rural landscapes, safeguarding water quality, conserving prime agricultural land, and preserving sites of cultural and historical significance. Notable projects include the River Swamp Conservation Easement, which protects over 1000 acres along the Combahee River, and the Coosaw Island Historic Cotton Fields, a fee purchase of 95 acres with rich cultural and historical significance. The Trust also protects smaller properties, such as the Village Creekside Conservation Easement and Lobeco Farms Conservation Easement, which safeguard important river buffers and prime agricultural land, respectively. The Trust ensures that all properties under its care adhere to strict conservation values as specified in their respective conservation easements. With a workforce of five dedicated individuals, the Beaufort County Open Land Trust remains committed to protecting the extraordinary Lowcountry region for future generations.
Official website here: www.openlandtrust.org
What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?
Rating from Charity Navigator: 95%
Beaufort County Open Land Trust has achieved an impressive Four-Star out of Four Star rating from Charity Navigator, primarily reflecting its strong accountability and financial practices. With a score of 95%, the organization has demonstrated excellence in key areas such as having a fully independent board, effective financial oversight, and a high program expense ratio. This indicates that a significant portion of its funds is directed toward its mission rather than administrative costs.
User feedback from Great Nonprofits highlights the organization's accreditation status, which signifies its adherence to national quality standards in land conservation. The review emphasizes the trust's commitment to excellence in protecting vital natural areas and working landscapes. Such accreditation reassures donors and stakeholders of the trust's dedication to ethical and technical guidelines in land trust operations.
While the ratings and reviews are overwhelmingly positive, the absence of a whistleblower policy noted by Charity Navigator could be a concern for some stakeholders who prioritize comprehensive governance practices. Nonetheless, the overall assessment points to a well-managed organization with a clear focus on its conservation mission.
This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator and Great Nonprofits.
What do the Facebook reviews say about Beaufort County Open Land Trust?
88% of reviewers on Facebook recommend the Beaufort County Open Land Trust. Here is a summary of their reviews:
Many users appreciate the dedication and efforts of the staff, noting that they went above and beyond to assist families in accessing events like Auldbrass Plantation. The commitment to customer service seems to leave a positive impression on visitors.
Overall, the nonprofit appears to successfully fulfill its mission of engaging the community and providing unique opportunities while showcasing the importance of land conservation. The positive sentiment indicates that patrons feel supported and valued through their interactions with the organization.
This AI summary has been generated from reviews found on Facebook.
Is Beaufort County Open Land Trust legitimate?
Beaufort County Open Land Trust is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. Beaufort County Open Land Trust 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: $96,300
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $252,500
For more financial information, click here
Official website here: www.openlandtrust.org
What is the mission statement of Beaufort County Open Land Trust?
The Beaufort County Open Land Trust works towards protecting significant ecological and cultural sites that contribute to the health and spirit of the Lowcountry region. Their mission is to safeguard these places that define the natural landscape, with a focus on preserving working rural landscapes, safeguarding water quality, conserving prime agricultural land, and protecting sites of historical significance. Throughout the year, they monitor all properties under their care to ensure strict adherence to conservation values, offering guidance to landowners on best management practices. Their recent achievements include protecting over 1000 acres along the Combahee River, 11.8 acres along Village Creek, 115 acres of prime agricultural land, and 95 acres of historical cotton fields on Coosaw Island.
Official website here: www.openlandtrust.org
Who is the CEO of Beaufort County Open Land Trust?
Kristin Williams is the Executive Director of Beaufort County Open Land Trust.
Official website here: www.openlandtrust.org
What is the revenue of Beaufort County Open Land Trust?
Beaufort County Open Land Trust's revenue in 2022 was $2,639,314.
Official website here: www.openlandtrust.org
Who are the executives of Beaufort County Open Land Trust and what are their salaries?
The average compensation at Beaufort County Open Land Trust during 2022 was $69,760. There are 5 employees and 45 volunteers at Beaufort County Open Land Trust.
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Official website here: www.openlandtrust.org
Where can I find the form 990 for Beaufort County Open Land Trust?
Beaufort County Open Land Trust's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2022 and can be accessed here.
Official website here: www.openlandtrust.org
Learn more at the official website: www.openlandtrust.org
Mission Statement of Beaufort County Open Land Trust
The Beaufort County Open Land Trust, a dedicated organization, works tirelessly to safeguard significant ecological and cultural sites that contribute to the preservation of the natural landscape and the health and spirit of the Lowcountry region. The Trust's mission is centered around protecting various landscapes, ensuring the quality of water within the Port Royal and St. Helena Sound watersheds, preserving prime agricultural land, and safeguarding sites of cultural and historical importance.
In 2022, the Trust successfully completed four land protection projects, which included three conservation easements and one fee acquisition. One of these projects, the River Swamp conservation easement, protected a vast 1017.5-acre area along the Combahee River. This property is critical as it links over 15.4 miles of protected Combahee River frontage and 12,000 privately protected acres. The Trust's efforts extend from the confluence of the Little Salkehatchie and Salkehatchie Rivers to the ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge Combahee Unit. The emphasis of the easement is on sustainable forest management practices for the uplands and the property's I-95 frontage.
Another noteworthy project is the Coosaw Island Historic Cotton Fields acquisition, which encompasses multiple parcels under three distinct family ownerships, totaling 95 acres. The Trust's goal is to ultimately transfer ownership to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, ensuring the preservation of historical, cultural, and environmental resources and providing public access for educational and interpretive purposes as a designated Heritage Trust site. The property's low-lying and tidal marsh areas are crucial wildlife habitats for numerous resident and migratory bird species, including the potentially threatened Black Rail bird. The project's rich cultural and historic significance is evident with visible remnants of The Sea Island Cotton Fields cultivated before the Civil War.
In summary, the Beaufort County Open Land Trust's mission is to protect and preserve significant ecological and cultural sites that define the natural landscape of the Lowcountry region, contributing to its health and spirit. The Trust's projects focus on preserving working rural landscapes, safeguarding water quality, conserving prime agricultural land, and protecting sites of cultural and historical significance. Their efforts extend to monitoring all properties to ensure strict adherence to the conservation values specified in their respective conservation easements.
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Impact
June, 2024
The Beaufort County Open Land Trust's impact is significant in preserving and protecting critical ecological and cultural areas within the Lowcountry region. Through their land protection achievements in 2022, they have successfully completed four projects that focus on conservation easements and fee acquisitions. These efforts align with their mission to safeguard working rural landscapes, promote water quality in important watersheds, conserve prime agricultural land, and protect sites of cultural and historical significance.
Specifically, the Trust's projects include the preservation of a River Swamp conservation easement spanning over 1017.5 acres along the Combahee River, a Village Creekside Conservation Easement safeguarding 11.8 acres of river buffer, a Lobeco Farms Conservation Easement protecting 115 acres of prime agricultural land, and the acquisition of Coosaw Island Historic Cotton Fields totaling 95 acres. These properties play crucial roles in maintaining ecological value, historic significance, and wildlife habitats for various species.
Furthermore, the Trust's commitment to monitoring these properties ensures that the conservation values outlined in the easements are upheld, and their Director of Stewardship offers guidance to landowners on best management practices. Overall, the Beaufort County Open Land Trust's efforts have a lasting impact on the conservation and preservation of significant natural and cultural landscapes in the region.
This information is meant to be a general summary of Beaufort County Open Land Trust. 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: -$221,078
- Gross Receipts: $2,914,634
Assets and Liabilities:
- Total Assets: $14,402,923
- Total Liabilities: $656,966
- Net Assets: $13,745,957
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Organization Details
Founding Year
1971
Phone
(843) 521-2175Principal Officer
Kristin Williams
Main Address
PO BOX 75, BEAUFORT, SC, 29901
Website
www.openlandtrust.orgNTEE Category
Code: C340 - Environment
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