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OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE LAND TRUST INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133028060 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE C340 · Environment · Very Large (>$50M) · openspaceinstitute.org
revenue
$73.1M
expenses
$30.0M
net assets
$304.8M
employees
0
volunteers
27
program ratio
80%
mission · from form 990

A SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION OF THE OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE, INC. (OSI) THAT PROTECTS AND CONSERVES LAND.

profile · synthesized from sources

Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc. (OSILT) protects and conserves land through strategic acquisitions, re-grant programs, and policy advocacy. The organization focuses on climate resilience, water protection, forests, and wildlife habitat, primarily in the eastern United States. It works with land trusts, government agencies, and foundations to permanently protect ecologically significant landscapes and expand public access to open space.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $6.91M
    PARKS AND PUBLIC POLICY: OSILT IS MAKING NATURE AND THE OUTDOORS MORE INVITING AND ENJOYABLE TO ALL. THROUGH PARK IMPROVEMENTS, THE CREATION OF NEW TRAILS AND GREENWAYS, PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH, AND ADVOCACY FOR GREATER FEDERAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC LANDS, OSILT WORKS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO OPEN SPACE, PROMOTE COMMUNITY WELLBEING, AND CREATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATIONISTS.
  2. #2 $5.38M
    CAPITAL STRATEGIES: GUIDED BY SCIENCE, WITH A FOCUS ON PROTECTING MATURE HEALTHY FORESTS, CRITICAL WATERSHEDS, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT, OSILT WORKS WITH FOUNDATIONS TO DESIGN AND ADMINISTER RE-GRANT PROGRAMS, DIRECTING CAPITAL, AND LOW-COST LOANS TO ACCELERATE THE RATE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CONSERVATION. OSILT ALSO OFFERS CATALYST GRANTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PARTNERS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES TO INCORPORATE CONSERVATION SCIENCE INTO LOCAL PLANNING AND WORKS DIRECTLY WITH COMMUNITIES TO INCORPORATE NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS. IN 2024, OSILT MADE 23 CAPITAL GRANTS TOTALING $3,660,811, PROTECTING 6,878 ACRES IN SEVEN STATES WITH A FAIR MARKET VALUE OF $37,864,685. FURTHER, OSILT DIRECTLY APPROVED EIGHT GRANTS FOR CONSERVATION PLANNING TOTALING $109,275.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Appalachian Landscapes Program
Regional initiative focused on conserving ecologically significant lands in the Appalachian region, including connectivity for public lands and protection of biodiversity.
Capital Strategies
Directs capital and low-cost loans to conservation projects with a focus on mature forests, watersheds, and wildlife habitat; supports nature-based climate resilience solutions.
Conservation Capital
Designs and administers re-grant programs and low-cost loans with foundations to accelerate land conservation; provides catalyst grants for local planning and technical assistance.
Parks and Public Policy
Improves access to open space through park improvements, trail and greenway creation, public policy research, and advocacy for increased federal, state, and national investment in public lands.
Parks and Stewardship
Enhances public enjoyment of parks and trails through design and development of visitor centers, trailheads, and other amenities; promotes environmental stewardship.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Recreational Trail Development and Maintenance 2 activities
    • Advancing trail revitalization through community engagement
      Engages communities in planning and advocacy for trail revitalization, including the O&W Rail Trail Corridor Study, which surveyed over 1,200 residents in 2024 to assess public support for reactivating a 57-mile trail corridor.
    • Developing public access and recreational infrastructure
      Designs and constructs visitor centers, trails, trailheads, carriage roads, parking areas, and other public amenities to enhance public enjoyment and access to nature, particularly through the parks program and in partnership with local groups.
  • Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements 2 activities
    • Direct land acquisition and conservation easements
      Acquires land and establishes conservation easements to protect habitats, expand public lands, preserve farmland, and safeguard historic landscapes and viewsheds across the eastern United States, from Maine to Georgia. Includes large-scale acquisitions such as a 685-acre parcel at Denny Cove, TN, and the 7,300-acre Buckfield Plantation in South Carolina.
    • Transferring conserved lands to public agencies
      Transfers conserved properties to state and federal agencies for long-term stewardship and public access, including the transfer of 1,643 acres to establish Old Beech Hill State Forest in South Carolina and planned transfers of acquired lands to the State of North Carolina and U.S. Forest Service between 2026 and 2029.
  • Environmental Conservation Grantmaking 2 activities
    • Funding land conservation through capital and planning grants
      Funds conservation organizations through capital grants and conservation planning grants to protect ecologically significant lands. In 2024, awarded 23 capital grants totaling $3.66 million for 6,878 acres across seven states and eight planning grants totaling $109,275; similar multi-year grantmaking activity documented annually since 2020.
    • Supporting community-based conservation and environmental education
      Provides grants and funding to local organizations for environmental education, community engagement, and conservation projects, including $65,000 in 2024 through the Malcolm Gordon Charitable Fund to nine Hudson Valley groups and awarding the Barnabas McHenry Award to support community resilience and cultural preservation.
  • Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
    • Strengthening grassroots environmental organizations
      Provides capacity-building support to local and regional grassroots environmental groups to enhance community engagement in land conservation and build organizational strength.
  • Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Training conservation professionals through fellowships
      Offers professional development opportunities in land conservation and community engagement, such as the Conservation Diversity Fellowship launched in July 2024 with inaugural fellow Isabel Sumardi.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$73.11M
Contributions & grants$49.21M67%
Program service revenue$5.89M8%
Investment income$17.92M25%
Other revenue$99K
expenses
Total expenses$30.03M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$11.31M
Grants paid out$9.93M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$448.31M
Cash$63.09M
Investments$199.94M
Liabilities$143.54M
Net assets$304.77M
Liquid reserves105.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -2.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 19
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
TALLY BLUMBERG EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT 2 $404K
LARS KULLESEID PRESIDENT & CEO (INCOMING 04/24) 2 $391K
NATHAN BERRY CHIEF LAND, PROTECTION OFFICER 2 $383K
EILEEN LARABEE CHIEF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICER 2 $364K
CHRISTOPHER J ELLIMAN PRESIDENT & CEO (OUTGOING 05/24) 2 $347K
SAMAYLA DEUTCH SVP, GENERAL COUNSEL 2 $307K
ALICE GLEASON SVP FOR FINANCE & CFO 2 $292K
KATHLEEN MOSER CHIEF CONSERVATION/POLICY 2 $288K
ROBERT K ANDERBERG SVP, GENERAL COUNSEL 2 $286K
JEFFREY LEJAVA VP & ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL 2 $277K
JENNIE GREER SVP OF PHILANTHROPY 2 $266K
MARIA WHITEHEAD VP OF LAND, SOUTHEAST 2 $262K
NICK RICHARDSON SVP, CAPITAL STRATEGIES 2 $255K
PETER KARIS VP, PARKS AND STEWARDSHIP 2 $233K
IRENE LEE VP OF LAND, NORTHEAST 2 $223K
ABIGAIL WEINBERG VP OF SCIENCE & CONSERVATION POLICY 2 $219K
DAVID KIERAN-KAUFMAN VICE PRESIDENT AND ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL 2 $215K
MAY MAY CHENG VICE PRESIDENT, CONTROLLER 2 $203K
JESSICA WATSON VP OF CONSERVATION COMMUNITIES 2 $192K
board members · 6
  • AMELIA SALZMAN — CO-CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD
  • ANSON FRELINGHUYSEN — MEMBER
  • CAROL ASH — VICE-CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD
  • CAROLYN NIEMCZYK — MEMBER
  • DALE S BRYK — MEMBER
  • DOUGLAS BATESON — MEMBER
relationships · 20

Who they work with

  • Appalachian Trail Conservancy Partner — Supported the Snowbird conservation project, which enhances protections for the Appalachian Trail.
  • Conservation Bank Partner — Partnered with OSI and others to ensure permanent protection of a landscape in South Carolina.
  • Dorchester County Partner — Collaborated with OSI and other partners to protect and manage a landscape in South Carolina’s Lowcountry.
  • Dorchester County Partner — Provided $4,125,000 in Greenbelt funds toward the acquisition of the Old Beech Hill property and partnered in its conservation.
  • Google Partner — Supported OSI's conservation efforts on Waties Island through a collaborative alliance.
  • Mainspring Conservation Trust Partner — Collaborated with OSI to conserve over 4,400 acres in the Snowbird, Unicoi, and Cheoah mountain ranges.
  • Malcolm Gordon Charitable Fund Partner — Fund managed by OSI that awards grants to Hudson Valley organizations for environmental education and community engagement projects.
  • New City Parks Partner — Provides support services for New City Parks, a group bringing urban parks to neighborhoods
  • North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Government — Will manage portions of the conserved Snowbird properties and expand wildlife-associated recreation opportunities.
  • Open Space Institute Network — Member of the Open Space Institute network
  • Open Space Institute, Inc. Network — Supporting organization of the Open Space Institute, Inc. (OSI)
  • South Carolina Conservation Bank Partner — Supported OSI's conservation effort to establish Old Beech Hill State Forest.
  • South Carolina Forestry Commission Partner — Collaborated with OSI to transfer conserved land into public ownership and establish Old Beech Hill State Forest.
  • South Carolina State Forestry Commission Partner — Collaborated to permanently protect and open a landscape in South Carolina’s Lowcountry.
  • Sustain SC Partner — Partnered with OSI to protect a critical portion of Waties Island in Horry County, SC.
  • The Nature Conservancy Funder — Provided support for the Snowbird conservation project.
  • The Nature Conservancy Partner — Collaborated with OSI to protect 7,300 acres of Buckfield Plantation in South Carolina.
  • U.S. Forest Service Government — Partnered with OSI on the Snowbird conservation project and will receive transferred lands for federal management.
  • Waccamaw Community Foundation Partner — Collaborated with OSI to protect a key portion of Waties Island in South Carolina.
  • local land trusts Partner — Partners with local land trusts through grants and loans to protect habitat, water, climate-resilient landscapes, and community forests.
strategies · 5

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.

  • Climate-Resilient and Carbon-Focused Landscape Protection
    methodology: carbon-stronghold-conservation
    By prioritizing lands with high carbon sequestration potential and ecological resilience, we mitigate climate change and protect biodiversity, because strategic land conservation serves as a scalable natural climate solution with co-benefits for water, wildlife, and community adaptation.
  • Collaborative Land Conservation with Public Access
    methodology: collaborative-land-conservation
    By forming partnerships with state agencies, local entities, and community stakeholders, we achieve permanent land protection and expand public recreational access, because collaborative models increase political and social sustainability of conservation efforts and broaden public support.
  • Community-Centered Conservation and Social License
    methodology: social license
    By engaging communities and identifying who benefits from conservation, we build broader constituencies and legitimacy for land protection efforts, because public support and inclusive stewardship increase long-term success and equitable access to nature.
  • Permanent Conservation Through Legal and Financial Tools
    methodology: permanent-protection-through-easements
    By using direct land acquisition, conservation easements, and permanent legal protections, we ensure long-term ecological and community benefits, because durability of protection is foundational to achieving climate resilience, biodiversity, and sustained public access.
  • Science-Guided Strategic Grantmaking and Lending
    methodology: science-guided conservation financing
    By deploying grants and low-cost loans informed by ecological science, we accelerate landscape-scale conservation in priority areas, because targeted capital interventions increase the effectiveness and scalability of local land trusts and conservation outcomes.