New Canaan Land Conservation Trust Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
066098244
IRS 990 coverage
2014–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-N 2013
Location
New Canaan, CT, USA
Phone
2039721270
Rating
78
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$844,438
Expenses
$489,332
Assets
$29,874,313
Liabilities
$130,260

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

20 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • ROBIN FRYER (PRESIDENT)
  • CRISTEN COTTRELL (VICE PRESIDENT)
  • JOHN WINTER (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THRU JUNE 2025)
  • ROBIN BATES-MASON (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AS OF JUNE 2025)

Highest reported compensation

  • JOHN WINTER (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THRU JUNE 2025): $90,528 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The mission of the new canaan land trust is to foster a connection between the new canaan community and its natural resources through the conservation and sustainable stewardship of our open space.

What it reported doing in 2024

Open space protection program: works to permanently conserves land and water resources in new canaan to protect wildlife habitat and open space. Made progress towards land protection objectives identified in 2020-2040 strategic conservation plan including engaging new landowners in potential conservation projects.land stewardship program: works to protect and, where appropriate, enhance the conservation values of the fee properties and easements in our portfolio. Accomplishments include construction of new trails, managing invasive species, restoring historic stone walls, and addressing encroachment issues.community engagement program: works to connect people with our mission through outings and events. Accomplishments include working with stewardship interns, hosting volunteer days, and offering a diverse set of educational programming.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 92% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 98% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and most voting board members are independent. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and revenue has declined or grown slowly.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 57
  • Transparency & Controls: 94
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 82
  • Growth: 60

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 46.1%; rating input score 46
  • Program expense ratio: 75%; rating input score 75
  • Fundraising efficiency: $18.29 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
  • 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: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • 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: 42.1%; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 61.05; rating input score 99; 99th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 18.5%; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 13.1% per year; rating input score 100; 71st percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: -4% per year; rating input score 0; 6th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 8% per year; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 46.1% of revenue deployed · 75% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 14 of 14 board members independent · 8 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $367K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $91K · 20 people listed
  • Consistency: 32 of 32 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
  • Filing history: 11 filing years from 2014 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 46/100.
  • High — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 56/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 17/100.