Amherst Land Trust
Amherst Land Trust shows significant asset growth and minimal expenses, with highly variable annual revenue.
EIN: 20326055 · Amherst, NH · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $46K |
| Total Expenses | $12K |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| Net Assets | $1.4M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Amherst Land Trust Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Amherst Land Trust directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Amherst Land Trust
Amherst Land Trust (EIN: 20326055) is a nonprofit organization based in Amherst, NH. The organization reported total revenue of $46K and total assets of $1.4M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Amherst Land Trust's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Amherst Land Trust is a micro nonprofit that has been operating for 50 years, with 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2015–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 16.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $1.0M |
| Total Expenses | $12K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$1.0M |
| Total Assets | $1.4M |
| Net Assets | $1.4M |
| Operating Margin | 98.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 1389.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Amherst Land Trust reported a surplus of $1.0M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 1389.2 months of operating reserves (strong position).
Financial Trends
Over 9 years of filings (2015–2023), Amherst Land Trust's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +2982.3% | +170.0% | +267.1% |
| 2022 | +0.5% | -63.8% | +8.2% |
| 2021 | +187.9% | +184.0% | +6.3% |
| 2020 | -85.4% | -40.1% | +2.2% |
| 2019 | +35.6% | -26.0% | +28.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1976 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Amherst Land Trust with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Amherst Land Trust allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 0%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $1.0M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization reports 0% officer compensation across all nine filings, indicating that its leadership is entirely volunteer-based, which is commendable for a nonprofit of its size and asset base.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Amherst Land Trust's IRS 990 filings:
- Highly volatile annual revenue, indicating potential reliance on infrequent large donations or grants.
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown in available data makes it difficult to fully assess program spending efficiency.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Amherst Land Trust:
- Significant and consistent asset growth, reaching $1,395,427 in 2023.
- Zero liabilities reported across all filing periods, indicating excellent financial management.
- 0% officer compensation, demonstrating a volunteer-driven leadership.
- Extremely low expense ratios in most years, suggesting high operational efficiency.
- Consistent IRS 990 filing history, indicating good transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions about Amherst Land Trust
Is Amherst Land Trust a legitimate charity?
Amherst Land Trust (EIN: 20326055) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New Hampshire. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $46K. 2 red flags identified. 5 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Amherst Land Trust spend its money?
Amherst Land Trust directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Amherst Land Trust tax-deductible?
Amherst Land Trust is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 20326055). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Where is Amherst Land Trust located?
Amherst Land Trust is headquartered in Amherst, New Hampshire and files with the IRS under EIN 20326055.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Amherst Land Trust have?
Amherst Land Trust has 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $46K in total revenue.
Is Amherst Land Trust a good charity?
Based on its financial data, Amherst Land Trust appears to be a well-managed organization with strong asset growth and extremely low expenses, suggesting efficient use of resources. The lack of officer compensation is a significant positive. However, understanding the specific program activities and their impact would provide a more complete picture of its charitable effectiveness.
How does Amherst Land Trust fund its operations?
The highly variable revenue, such as $1,027,362 in 2023 compared to $33,331 in 2022, suggests a reliance on large, potentially infrequent donations or grants, possibly related to specific land acquisition projects or major fundraising campaigns.
What is the organization's long-term financial stability?
With assets growing to $1,395,427 in 2023 and zero liabilities, the organization demonstrates strong financial stability in terms of its balance sheet. However, the fluctuating annual revenue could indicate a need for more consistent funding streams to ensure predictable operational capacity.
Why are expenses so low compared to revenue in most years?
The consistently low expenses relative to revenue (e.g., $12,054 expenses on $1,027,362 revenue in 2023) suggest a very lean operational model, potentially relying heavily on volunteers and minimizing overhead. It could also indicate that a significant portion of revenue is directly invested in assets (like land) rather than being spent on immediate operational costs.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Amherst Land Trust showing financial trends over 9 years of public records:
Over 9 years of IRS 990 filings (2015–2023), Amherst Land Trust's revenue has grown by 248.8%, moving from $295K to $1.0M. Total assets increased by 205.1% over the same period, from $457K to $1.4M. Total functional expenses rose by 29.8%, from $9K to $12K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Amherst Land Trust reported a surplus of $1.0M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.0M | $12K | $1.4M | $0 | — | — |
| 2022 | $33K | $4K | $380K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $33K | $12K | $351K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $12K | $4K | $330K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $79K | $7K | $323K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $58K | $10K | $252K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $30K | $27K | $204K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $148K | $405K | $200K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $295K | $9K | $457K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $12K, and assets of $1.4M (revenue +2982.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $33K, expenses of $4K, and assets of $380K (revenue +0.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $33K, expenses of $12K, and assets of $351K (revenue +187.9% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $12K, expenses of $4K, and assets of $330K (revenue -85.4% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $79K, expenses of $7K, and assets of $323K (revenue +35.6% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $58K, expenses of $10K, and assets of $252K (revenue +92.5% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $30K, expenses of $27K, and assets of $204K (revenue -79.7% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $148K, expenses of $405K, and assets of $200K (revenue -49.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $295K, expenses of $9K, and assets of $457K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Amherst Land Trust:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Amherst Land Trust is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.