Natural Lands Trust Inc
Natural Lands Trust Inc is a nonprofit land conservation organization headquartered in Media, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1953 by Allston Jenkins, the organization is dedicated to saving open space, caring for nature, and connecting people to the outdoors. Natural Lands operates across eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, with a staff of approximately 100 employees.
Key facts about Natural Lands Trust Inc
- EIN
- 23-6272818
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,626,590
- Grants made (2025)
- 32
- Average grant
- $144,581
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $342,474,084
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Natural Lands Trust Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Natural Lands Trust Inc's 32 itemized 2025 grants were Pennsylvania (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (4 grants) and Pottstown, PA (2 grants). None of its 32 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Transfer of Natural Lands" (3 grants).
How Natural Lands Trust Inc gives
- Giving grew 38% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Next steps with Natural Lands Trust Inc
- How to evaluate Natural Lands Trust Inc as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Natural Lands Trust Inc with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$342.5M
+5.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.6M
+318.5% YoY
Grant Count
32
+540.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$145K
-34.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Natural Lands works to preserve and protect native forests, fields, streams, and wetlands in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. The organization's activities include:
- Managing 43 nature preserves and one public garden totaling more than 23,000 acres across 13 counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey
- Establishing and enforcing conservation easements on private land (currently holding easements on more than 22,000 acres)
- Providing consulting services to municipalities on zoning ordinances and open space preservation
- Providing recreational access to natural areas (19 preserves are open to the public)
To date, Natural Lands has protected more than 135,000 acres of land. The organization has been accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance.
Grantmaking
Natural Lands Trust Inc functions as a conservation organization rather than a traditional grantmaker. The organization receives grants from other funders rather than distributing grants. According to available records, Natural Lands has received grants from 136 organizations, with reported grants totaling $36,201,907. The largest funder on record is the Wyncote Foundation, which has contributed $11,857,093. Of the 136 funders, 87 have funded the organization in more than one year.
Ready to take the next step with Natural Lands Trust Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Natural Lands operates in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, serving 152 municipalities across 26 counties in Pennsylvania through consulting services. The organization manages preserves in 13 counties across both states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 32 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year Ending June 2025:
- Total Revenue: $26,592,726
- Total Expenses: $23,806,034
- Net Income: $2,786,692
- Total Assets: $342,474,084
- Net Assets: $338,228,405
Revenue Composition (FY2025):
- Contributions: $23,391,141 (88.0%)
- Program Services: $1,728,264 (6.5%)
- Investment Income: $1,276,782 (4.8%)
- Rental Property Income: $182,190 (0.7%)
- Sales of Assets: $86,977 (0.3%)
Notable Expenses (FY2025):
- Executive Compensation: $1,375,618 (5.8%)
- Other Salaries and Wages: $5,287,082 (22.2%)
The organization maintains approximately 10.7 months of operating reserves, placing it in the top quartile compared to peer environment nonprofits of similar size.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $342,474,084 | $324,446,503 | $305,979,083 |
| Revenue | $26,592,726 | $22,918,449 | $25,509,870 |
| Expenses | $23,806,034 | $19,825,983 | $19,787,667 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,363,759 | $1,045,130 | $7,267,432 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 1, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 27, 2026)
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Pa Game Commission (State Game Lands) ($3,005,522), Westtown Township ($550,000), Chester Heights Borough ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PA GAME COMMISSION (STATE GAME LANDS) Harrisburg, PA | Transfer of Natural Lands | $3,005,522 |
| WESTTOWN TOWNSHIP West Chester, PA | Provides monetary assistance to help support the operations of other conservation efforts. | $550,000 |
| CHESTER HEIGHTS BOROUGH Chester Heights, PA | Provides monetary assistance to help support the operations of other conservation efforts. | $500,000 |
| FRENCH CREEK STATE PARK Elverson, PA | Transfer of Natural Lands | $188,179 |
| Delta Borough Delta, PA | Provides monetary assistance to help support the operations of other conservation efforts. | $50,000 |
| EASTTOWN TOWNSHIP Devon, PA | Transfer of Natural Lands | $49,972 |
| Berks Nature Reading, PA | Provides monetary assistance to help support the operations of other conservation efforts. | $43,334 |
| Colebrook Railroad Preservation Trust Boyertown, PA | Provides monetary assistance to help support the operations of other conservation efforts. | $16,343 |
| Heritage Conservancy Inc Doylestown, PA | Provides monetary assistance to help support the operations of other conservation efforts. | $13,500 |
| Historic Trappe Trappe, PA | Provides monetary assistance to help support the operations of other conservation efforts. | $13,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew I Vandenbrul | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Ann Loftus | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Barbara B Aronson | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Gail M Harrity | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Jane G Pepper | Vice Chairperson | 1 | — |
| Jason Duckworth | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Jeffrey J Idler | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Lloyd H Brown | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Paulina Jerez | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Peter O Hausmann | Chairman Emeritus | 1 | — |
| Rayenne A Chen | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Regina Hairston | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Robert K Stetson | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Stephan K Pahides | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Susan P Mucciarone | Chairperson | 1 | — |
| William Y Webb | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Ann C Hausmann | Vice President | 40 | $182,699 |
| Gary Gimbert | Vice President | 40 | $143,662 |
| Karen Wallace | Vice President | 40 | $180,027 |
| Kelly Herrenkohl | Vice President | 40 | $136,653 |
| Oliver P Bass | President | 40 | $242,303 |
| Tiffany Sowers | Vice President | 40 | $143,282 |
| Todd Sampsell | Vice President | 40 | $137,263 |
| Tamara J Lorah | Assistant Vice President and Controller | 40 | $132,003 |
| Jonathan Stefferud | Senior Advisor | 40 | $106,835 |
| Carol DeWolf | Director | 40 | $102,936 |
| Ethan Kauffman | Director | 40 | $108,726 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Natural Lands Trust Inc fund?
Natural Lands works to preserve and protect native forests, fields, streams, and wetlands in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. The organization's activities include: • Managing 43 nature preserves and one public garden totaling more than 23,000 acres across 13 counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey • Establishing and enforcing conservation easements on private land (currently holding easements on more than 22,000 acres) • Providing consulting services to municipalities on zoning or…
How do I apply for a grant from Natural Lands Trust Inc?
Natural Lands Trust Inc functions as a conservation organization rather than a traditional grantmaker. The organization receives grants from other funders rather than distributing grants. According to available records, Natural Lands has received grants from 136 organizations, with reported grants totaling $36,201,907. The largest funder on record is the Wyncote Foundation, which has contributed $11,857,093. Of the 136 funders, 87 have funded the organization in more than one year.
Where does Natural Lands Trust Inc make grants?
Natural Lands operates in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, serving 152 municipalities across 26 counties in Pennsylvania through consulting services. The organization manages preserves in 13 counties across both states.
What size grants does Natural Lands Trust Inc award?
In 2025, Natural Lands Trust Inc awarded 32 grants totaling $4.6M — an average of about $145K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Natural Lands Trust Inc's EIN?
Natural Lands Trust Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6272818. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Natural Lands Trust Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Cigna Group Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
Assets
$127.2M
Grants
4,075
Total Given
$14.1M
Chubb Charitable Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
Assets
$74.9M
Grants
3,719
Total Given
$6.3M
Lincoln Financial Foundation Inc
Radnor, PA
Assets
—
Grants
3,159
Total Given
$8.8M
The Pittsburgh Foundation
Pittsburgh, PA
Assets
$1.5B
Grants
1,132
Total Given
$64.0M
The William Penn Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
Assets
$3.4B
Grants
1,027
Total Given
$148.8M
Dick's Sporting Goods Foundation
Coraopolis, PA
Assets
$34.5M
Grants
964
Total Given
$18.0M
Hillman Family Foundations
Pittsburgh, PA
Assets
$1.9B
Grants
814
Total Given
$88.8M
Pidc Financing Corporation
Philadelphia, PA
Assets
$6.7M
Grants
774
Total Given
$16.4M
Pennsylvania Cdfi Network
Philadelphia, PA
Assets
$4.5M
Grants
180
Total Given
$15.5M
The Philadelphia Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
Assets
$704.6M
Grants
715
Total Given
$39.1M
Anabaptist Foundation
Lewisburg, PA
Assets
$81.8M
Grants
582
Total Given
$42.2M
The Heinz Endowments
Pittsburgh, PA
Assets
$2.2B
Grants
550
Total Given
$85.4M
More Funders in Pennsylvania
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.