Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc
Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc. (OSILT) is a public charity based in New York, New York, formed in 1980. It supports the Open Space Institute’s mission to protect land for clean drinking water, public recreation, healthy communities, and wildlife habitat, and to conserve forests and floodplains that store carbon and help protect against dangerous weather.
Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc at a glance
In short: Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc gave $9.5M across 40 grants in 2024 (avg $238K), top state South Carolina. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $9,523,828
- -82.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 40
- -18.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $238,096
- -78.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $37,738
- Total assets
- $448,306,863
- +6.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (20 of 40, 2024)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (40% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc
- How to Apply
-
OSI’s website says the Delaware River Watershed Revolving Fund accepts applications on a rolling basis and encourages applicants to contact staff before preparing a proposal. Transaction grants support early-stage forest land protection costs such as appraisals and environmental assessments, are capped at $25,000 unless otherwise agreed with fund staff, and are described as providing funding within two weeks of approval. OSI’s website says the Appalachian Landscapes Project was no longer accepting proposals to its Fall 2025 round; it anticipated the next round in Fall 2026. The website also says applications are no longer being accepted for the Land and Climate Catalyst Grant program.
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Contact
Mailing address: 1370 Broadway 5Th Floor, New York, NY 10018-7799
Phone: (212) 290-8200
Website: https://openspaceinstitute.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
9 open opportunities from Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc
Appalachian Landscapes Project Capital Grant
Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc
Amount
Up to US $4,600,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Appalachian Landscapes Project Catalyst Grant
Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc
Amount
Up to US $20,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Barnabas McHenry Hudson River Valley Awards Grant
Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc
Amount
Up to US $6,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was South Carolina Department of Natural Resources ($1.7M). Together the top 10 received $8.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
188 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 98 grants of 188 (52%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
OSI describes its grant and low-cost loan work as serving selected landscapes in the eastern United States and Canada. OSILT’s 2024 filing identifies project concentrations in New York, New Jersey, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. In 2024, grant dollars were reported across recipients in South Carolina (40%), Pennsylvania (26%), New York (17%), New Jersey (5%), and Virginia (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 40 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 20 of 40 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $196K; repeat grants $280K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $50K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.3M (2021) to $54.9M (2023). In 2024 it made 40 grants totaling $9.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Columbia, SC | Land Conservation Support | $1,702,207 |
| New City Parks Inc New York, NY | Support of Public Parks | $1,498,818 |
| Natural Lands Trust Inc Media, PA | Delaware River Watershed Protection | $1,395,526 |
| South Carolina Dept of Parks Recreation & Tourism Columbia, SC | Land Conservation Support | $1,200,000 |
| Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission Charleston, SC | Land Conservation Support | $750,000 |
| Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Pittsburgh, PA | Appalachian Landscape Protection | $495,000 |
| Pennsylvania Game Commission Harrisburg, PA | Appalachian Landscape Protection | $400,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VA | Appalachian Landscape Protection | $381,424 |
| US Fish & Wildlife Service (Usfws) Washington, DC | Land Conservation Support | $278,650 |
| New Jersey Conservation Foundation Far Hills, NJ | Delaware River Watershed Protection | $224,493 |
Ready to take the next step with Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The grant totals are reported for each filing year; the 2024 total covers 40 grants.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $448,306,863 | $73,114,837 | $30,031,620 | $9,523,828 | 40 | $17,915,055 |
| 2023 | $421,472,001 | $74,821,096 | $76,852,095 | $54,906,805 | 49 | $6,522,094 |
| 2022 | $331,677,388 | $53,815,893 | $35,366,206 | $13,658,522 | 43 | $19,319,571 |
| 2021 | $354,809,473 | $44,215,127 | $21,913,425 | $3,344,504 | 33 | $20,385,388 |
| 2020 | $322,433,963 | $38,059,895 | $27,420,661 | $5,041,479 | 23 | $14,076,470 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
OSILT’s stated mission is to support the Open Space Institute’s work protecting land for clean drinking water, public recreation, healthy communities, and wildlife habitat, and conserving intact forests and floodplains that capture and store carbon and protect against increasingly dangerous weather events.
Its programs include land conservation operations, parks and public policy, and capital strategies. The organization says its conservation work focuses on mature, healthy forests, critical watersheds, and wildlife habitat. It provides grants and loans primarily to other land trusts to protect parks, preserves, and forests, and also supports the integration of carbon and watershed science into conservation and land-management plans.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of partners. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy describes its work as protecting and restoring places for clean water, healthy forests, wildlife, and natural areas, as well as creating green spaces and gardens. New Jersey Conservation Foundation says it works to preserve land and protect natural resources across rural, suburban, and urban landscapes. Bull Creek Common Lands describes its work as conserving land and providing public access, with aims that include forest resilience, biodiversity, and community-defined uses.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, OSILT reported 40 grants totaling $9,523,828. Grants ranged from $5,500 to $1,702,207, with a median grant of $37,738. The largest reported grants included $1,702,207 to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for land conservation support; $1,498,818 to New City Parks Inc for support of public parks; and $1,395,526 to Natural Lands Trust Inc for Delaware River watershed protection.
Other notable grants included $1,200,000 to the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism and $750,000 to Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission, both for land conservation support; $495,000 to Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for Appalachian landscape protection; and $224,493 to New Jersey Conservation Foundation for Delaware River watershed protection.
The filing separately reports 23 capital grants totaling $3,660,811 in 2024, supporting protection of 6,878 acres in seven states, and eight conservation-planning grants totaling $109,275.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Amelia Salzman as co-chairperson of the board and Carol Ash as vice-chairperson. It also lists Anson Frelinghuysen, Carolyn Niemczyk, Dale S Bryk, Douglas Bateson, Elizabeth Borden, Gigi Mortimer, Giorgios Vlamis, and Holly Hegener as members.
Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc is led by Christopher J. Elliman, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; none of the 47 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christopher J. Elliman
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lars Kulleseid
President & CEO
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amelia Salzman
Co-Chairperson of the Board
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John H. Adams
Co-Chairperson of the Board
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alice Gleason
Senior Vice President for Finance & CFO
Senior Vice President Finance & CFO → Senior Vice President for Finance & Chief Financial, 2022
Senior Vice President for Finance & Chief Financial → Senior Vice President for Finance & CFO, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anson Frelinghuysen
Member
Board Member → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Ash
Vice Chairperson of the Board
Co-Chairperson of the Board → Vice Chairperson of the Board, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dale S. Bryk
Member
Board Member → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Douglas Bateson
Member
Board Member → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eileen Larabee
Chief External Affairs Officer
Senior Vp-Communications → Senior Vice President for Communications, 2022
Senior Vice President for Communications → Chief External Affairs Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Borden
Member
Board Member → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Giorgios Vlamis
Member
Board Member → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Holly Hegener
Member
Board Member → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hume R. Steyer
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Lejava
Vice President & Associate General Counsel
Vp-Associate General Counsel → Vice President & Associate General Counsel, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Ernst
Member
Board Member → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John P. Cahill
Member
Board Member → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Ginsberg PhD
Member
Treasurer → Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine O. Roberts
Member
Board Member → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Moser
Chief Conservation & Policy
Senior Vice President & Chief Conservation Officer → Chief Conservation & Policy Officer, 2023
Chief Conservation & Policy Officer → Chief Conservation & Policy, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lea Paine Highet
Member
Board Member → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia F. Sullivan
Member
Board Member → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Karis
Vice President, Parks & Stewardship
Vice President - Parks & Stewardship → Vice President for Parks & Stewardship, 2022
Vice President for Parks & Stewardship → Vice President, Parks & Stewardship, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert K. Anderberg
Senior Vice President & General Counsel
Senior Vp-General Counsel → Senior Vice President & General Counsel, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Samayla Deutch
Senior Vice President & General Counsel
Senior Vp-General Counsel → Senior Vice President & Chief General Councel, 2022
Senior Vice President & Chief General Councel → Senior Vice President & General Counsel, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Samuel G. Huber
Member
Board Member → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Babcock
Member
Board Member → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
T. Jefferson Cunningham III
Member
Board Member → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tally Blumberg
Executive Vice President
Chief Program Officer → Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy & External A, 2022
Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy & External A → Executive Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yuki Moore Laurenti
Member
Board Member → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
May May Cheng
Vice President & Controller
Controller & Assistant Treasurer → Vice President & Controller, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Niemczyk
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Irene Lee
Vice President of Land & Northeast
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria Whitehead
Vice President of Land & Southeast
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nathan Berry
Chief Land & Protection Officer
Senior Vice President & Chief Land Protection Officer → Chief Land Protection Officer, 2023
Chief Land Protection Officer → Chief Land & Protection Officer, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas McHenry
Treasurer
Member → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennie Greer
Senior Vice President of Philanthropy
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jude Wu Abel
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marjorie Van Dercook
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nick Richardson
Senior Vice President & Capital Strategies
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Hylton-Patterson
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abigail Weinberg
Vice President of Science & Conservation Policy
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Kieran-Kaufman
Vice President & Assistant General Counsel
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gigi Mortimer
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Watson
Vice President of Conservation Communities
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leisle Lin
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Remmer
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Gilman S. Burke (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Lorijeane Moody (2020–2023) — Senior Vice President of Development
- Former: Peter Howell (2020–2023) — Exe. Vice President Cons. Cap.
- Former: Garraud Etienne (2022–2023) — Chief Operation Officer
- Former: Leslie G. Koch (2022–2023) — Member
- Former: Jennifer Melville (2020–2022) — Vice President Conservation Grants
- Former: Peter A. Bienstock (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Samuel W. Lambert III (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Jennene Tierney (2022) — Member
- Former: Calvin Mitchell (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Caroline Niemczyk (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jennifer Cunningham (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Joseph Holland (2020–2021) — Controller & Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Kate Sindling Daly (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Nate Berry (2020–2021) — Senior Vice President
- Former: W. Barnabus McHenry (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Paul J. Elston (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Steven Horowitz (2020) — Chief Legal & Risk Officer
- Former: Terrence Nolan (2020) — Senior Vp-Conv. Transactions
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc
How much does Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc give each year?
Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc gave $9.5M across 40 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $54.9M across 49 grants.
What is Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc's typical grant size?
Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc's median grant in 2024 was $37,738, and its average grant was $238,096, across 40 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc that year got $196K on average.
Where does Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc give grants?
Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc's top state is South Carolina, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (26%) and New York (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Columbia, SC (2 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 10% of Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 40) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Appalachian Landscape Protection" (13 grants), "Delaware River Watershed Protection" (10 grants) and "Land Conservation Support" (5 grants).
Who are Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc's largest grantees?
Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc's largest 2024 grantees include South Carolina Department of Natural Resources ($1,702,207), New City Parks Inc ($1,498,818) and Natural Lands Trust Inc ($1,395,526), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc?
Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc reported $448.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $73.1M.
What does Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc fund?
OSILT’s stated mission is to support the Open Space Institute’s work protecting land for clean drinking water, public recreation, healthy communities, and wildlife habitat, and conserving intact forests and floodplains that capture and store carbon and protect against increasingly dangerous weather events. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc?
OSI’s website says the Delaware River Watershed Revolving Fund accepts applications on a rolling basis and encourages applicants to contact staff before preparing a proposal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc's EIN?
Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3028060. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 7, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/open-space-institute-land-trust-inc-morg_bb272338e07d4ae1b477a3548bc0788d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133028060_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/open-space-institute-land-trust-inc-morg_bb272338e07d4ae1b477a3548bc0788d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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