named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Brookwood Point Venue Rentals
Offers historic garden space for weddings and private events, generating revenue to support conservation work
Land Conservation and Easements
Works with landowners to protect farmland, forests, and waterways through permanent conservation easements
Public Preserves Management
Manages six public conservation areas totaling over 11,000 acres, offering free public access for recreation and nature connection
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 2 activities
- Community engagement and outreach eventsOrganizes and promotes public events, including an annual series of free nature-based programs and a planned spring 2026 event series, to connect the community with nature and advance conservation awareness.
- Public access and outdoor recreation programmingFacilitates public access to nature through passive recreation on conserved lands, including trails and preserves. Organizes free public events, guided nature walks, and educational programs—such as the annual Hike for Habitat at Glimmerglass State Park—engaging over 300 participants annually and promoting stewardship education for kids, families, and the broader community.
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Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 1 activity
- Historic garden preservation and sustainable managementManages and restores the historic Brookwood gardens using sustainable practices and a master plan focused on preserving its historic character and enclosed feel. The garden is also operated as a rental venue for private events—including weddings and business gatherings—with proceeds supporting conservation work.
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Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements 1 activity
- Land conservation through easements and acquisitionsProtects natural landscapes, working farms, forests, wetlands, and waterways in Otsego County and surrounding areas (Schoharie, Delaware, Herkimer, and the Upper Susquehanna region) by acquiring land and establishing conservation easements. The organization has permanently protected over 11,000 acres, including specific properties such as the Smith Family Farm, Compton Bridge, Fetterley Forest, Parslow Preserve, and Lordsland Conservancy.
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Management and stewardship of conserved lands and trailsManages and maintains over 11,000 acres of conserved land, including 8 conservation areas and six public preserves open daily from dawn to dusk. Activities include seasonal trail maintenance (12 projects completed in Otsego County), habitat restoration (e.g., 1.2 miles of streambank restoration with Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation District), and long-term stewardship of diverse habitats such as hardwood forests, wetlands, and riverfronts.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Stakeholder communication through newslettersProduces a semi-annual newsletter to communicate with stakeholders about conservation efforts, events, and organizational updates.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$887K
Contributions & grants$696K78%
Program service revenue$5K1%
Investment income$186K21%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$689K
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$435K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$5.96M
Cash$507K
Investments$3.23M
Liabilities$113K
Net assets$5.85M
Liquid reserves65.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +52.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GREGORY FARMER | Executive Dir. | 40 | $130K |
board members · 9
- ALISON LORD — Director
- ALLEN RUFFLES — Director
- CARLA HALL — BOARD CHAIR
- CHARLES COTTON — Director
- DIETRICH SNELL — Treasurer
- JOAN FOX — Director
- MARJORIE KELLOGG — Director
- RICHARD O'KEEFE — VICE CHAIR
- SARA ALBRIGHT — Secretary
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- Brookwood Point Partner — Conservation area owned and managed by Otsego Land Trust
- Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship Partner — Phoebe Schreiner previously led this organization, indicating a professional connection and potential alignment in mission.
- Congressman Delgado’s Agricultural Advisory Committee Government — Phoebe Schreiner is an invited member, indicating engagement with federal agricultural policy at the district level.
- Cooperstown Central School District Partner — Partnered with OLT to provide educational nature walks for students.
- Farm-to-School Task Force of Delaware County Partner — Phoebe Schreiner is a member, indicating cross-jurisdictional engagement in local food systems.
- Land Trust Accreditation Commission Government — Submitting comments to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission as part of reaccreditation process.
- Otsego County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Committee Government — Phoebe Schreiner is a member, indicating collaboration with county-level agricultural and land use policy.
- Otsego County Energy Task Force Sub-Committee on Economic Development Government — Phoebe Schreiner is a member, indicating involvement in local energy and economic development policy.
- Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation District Partner — Collaborated on streambank restoration and native vegetation planting project.
- Schoharie County Land Trust Partner — Phoebe Schreiner is a member of its technical committee, indicating an ongoing collaborative relationship.
- Technical Committee of the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Network — Phoebe Schreiner is a member, indicating affiliation with a regional sustainable agriculture research network.
- The Nature Conservancy’s New York Chapter Partner — Transferred ownership of Lordsland Conservancy to Otsego Land Trust after holding it since 1971.
- Vecc Videography Partner — Collaborates on visual content production, as credited in footer image attribution.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Engaged Conservationmethodology: community-engaged_conservationBy integrating public access, education, and recreational opportunities with land conservation, the organization strengthens community attachment to natural spaces, because this connection fosters long-term stewardship and broad-based support for conservation efforts.
- Integrated Conservation and Active Stewardshipmethodology: integrated-conservation-stewardshipBy combining permanent land protection with ongoing stewardship and public access, the organization ensures lasting ecological and community benefits, because legal protections alone are insufficient without active management and public engagement to uphold conservation values over time.
- Seventh-Generation Stewardshipmethodology: seventh-generation_stewardshipBy applying the seventh-generation philosophy to conservation decisions, the organization ensures long-term ecological and community resilience, because considering impacts seven generations forward embeds intergenerational responsibility into land management.
- Working Lands Conservation for Rural Resiliencemethodology: working-lands_conservationBy partnering with multi-generational farm families to conserve productive farmland, the organization sustains rural economies and food systems, because maintaining working landscapes prevents fragmentation and supports both ecological function and local livelihoods.