Beaufort County Open Land Trust

What it reported doing in 2024

During the 2024 Fiscal year, The Open Land Trust (OLT) continued its mission to protect significant ecological and cultural places that define the natural landscape while contributing to the health and spirit of the extraordinary Lowcountry region.OLT closed two new conservation easements protecting approximately 4,500 acres of critical landscapes: Gregorie Neck Conservation EsementGregorie Neck, a 4,409-acre property in Jasper County, South Carolina, lies between the Coosawhatchie and Tuliffiny Rivers in the heart of the Port Royal Sound watershed. The Open Land Trust worked with The Nature Conservancy and multiple partners to permanently protect the property through a conservation easement. The project secured more than 1,070 acres of salt marsh and 13.5 miles of river frontage, creating a critical link in the wildlife corridor between the ACE Basin and Savannah River focus areas. The protection enhanced climate resilience by preserving inland marsh migration routes and storm surge zones, reducing future flooding risk and safeguarding water quality downstream. The easement also eliminated incompatible development within special-use airspace between MCAS Beaufort and the Townsend Bombing Range, helping sustain vital military operations in the regions. Partners included: The Beaufort County Greenspace Program, the Department of Defense REPI Program, and the South Carolina Conservation Bank. This collaborative effort demonstrated an effective public-private partnership.Jasmine Hall Conservation EasementJasmine Hall is a 74.59-acre property located off Oaks Plantation Road on St. Helena Island in Beaufort County. The property contributes to a network of protected wildlife corridors and supports water-quality protection for Cowen Creek and the Port Royal Sound watershed. Its permanent protection maintains the scenic, natural, and rural character of the surrounding landscape and safeguards critical habitat adjacent to other conserved properties, including Orange Grove, Oaks Point, and additional protected lands on St. Helena Island. The easement protects the property's ecological integrity, ensuring the perpetual protection of its natural habitat, farmland, and forestland for wildlife and public scenic enjoyment. This project advances OLT's mission to maintain and enhance the natural, cultural, and aesthetic values of the Lowcountry while strengthening the regional conservation corridor connecting the ACE Basin and Port Royal Sound watersheds. The organization also successfully transferred the Coosaw Cotton Field property to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), ensuring its permanent protection and stewardship.OLT supported the Jasper County sales tax referendum, resulting in the county's first dedicated funding source for land protection. Additionally, through the Greenspace Program, Beaufort County allocated funding for the first time to a project in a neighboring county, strengthening regional collaboration.OLT initiated work on creating our first trail on a fee property called the Old Sheldon Woods Trail and secured seed funding to support educational signage.The organization conducted 10 field trips, 2 public panels, 15 presentations, and 2 tabling events, engaging more than 1,300 community members.OLT expanded staff capacity by hiring a Development Director and a part-time Office Administrator and by welcoming a Sentinel Landscape Coordinator through an interagency partnership. These additions strengthened operations, outreach, and program implementation.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 45%; rating input score 45
• Program expense ratio: 62.1%; rating input score 62
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.04 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 39.9%; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 19.38; rating input score 96; 96th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 13.9%; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 12.4% per year; rating input score 100; 69th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.3% per year; rating input score 100; 51st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.1% per year; rating input score 100; 25th percentile among comparable filings