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THOUSAND ISLANDS LAND TRUST INC
CLAYTON, NY · EIN 222629183 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE C340 · Environment · Medium ($1M-$10M) · tilandtrust.org
revenue
$3.4M
expenses
$1.3M
net assets
$25.2M
employees
19
volunteers
40
program ratio
64%
mission · from form 990

SAFEGUARD THE REGIONAL LANDSCAPE OF THE 1000 ISLANDS BY ACCEPTING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, ACQUIRING PROPERTY, AND BY ESTABLISHING ACCESSIBLE AREAS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT.

profile · synthesized from sources

Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) is a land conservation nonprofit protecting the natural landscape of the Thousand Islands region in upstate New York. The organization acquires land and conservation easements, establishes public-accessible preserves, and manages stewardship programs. TILT also engages the community through environmental education, public treks, and volunteer opportunities.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Forest Carbon Initiative
Program to sequester carbon and combat climate change on conserved lands including Crooked Creek and Payne Lake
Golden-winged Warbler Conservation Partnership
Habitat management and best practices program to support the conservation of golden-winged warblers
Hunting Permit Program
Managed deer hunting on select preserves including Crooked Creek and Grindstone Island to support wildlife population balance
KidsTreks and TILTKids Day Camp
Environmental education programs for children featuring themed activities such as “Ichthyologist for a Day” and nature exploration camps
TILTreks
Free public programs including birding, hiking, kayaking, history outings, and stewardship volunteer events on TILT preserves
Zenda Community Garden
Community gardening space at Zenda Farms Preserve where local residents grow fruits and vegetables for a small fee
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 3 activities
    • Discovery Center operations
      Operates the Discovery Center in Clayton, NY as a hub for environmental education, featuring interactive exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the Thousand Islands. Provides resources for trip planning and showcases artifacts and conservation initiatives to visitors.
    • Environmental education programs for children and families
      Offers free educational programs including TILTreks, KidsTreks, TILTKids Day Camp, and themed science activities like “Ichthyologist for a Day” and “Invasive Inspectors” at the Thousand Islands Biological Station and other sites. Engages over 1,000 participants annually in hands-on outdoor learning.
    • Public environmental education and outreach events
      Organizes guided outdoor outings such as birding, hiking, kayaking, history tours, and volunteer stewardship treks. Offers lectures and presentations led by volunteer trek leaders and experts to promote public engagement with regional ecology and conservation.
  • Tree Planting and Reforestation Initiatives 1 activity
    • Climate resilience and carbon sequestration initiative
      Launched the Forest Carbon Initiative to enhance carbon sequestration across conserved lands, contributing to climate change mitigation while protecting biodiversity and improving ecosystem health.
  • Community-Based Urban Agriculture 1 activity
    • Community gardening initiative
      Operates the Zenda Community Garden, providing garden plots for local residents to grow fresh fruits and vegetables, promoting community engagement and local food production.
  • Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
    • Habitat and ecosystem restoration
      Conducts active habitat management including invasive species control, grassland mowing, tree planting (over 465 trees planted at Zenda Farms Preserve), wetland restoration (e.g., Goose Bay Marsh), and fish passage improvement (e.g., fish ladder installation at Delaney Bay).
  • Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements 1 activity
    • Land conservation through acquisition and easements
      Acquires land and accepts donations of property or conservation easements to permanently protect natural landscapes, including forests, wetlands, and grasslands. As of recent reporting, owns 8,286 acres and holds conservation easements on an additional 5,674 acres across the Thousand Islands region.
  • Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
    • Public access and trail development
      Manages 10 publicly accessible Signature Preserves with approximately 22 miles of trails, including the Rivergate Trail and connected pathways established through the Rivergate Community Connection Project. Develops and maintains recreational infrastructure such as bridges, benches, and marked trails for year-round public use.
  • Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
    • Volunteer engagement and coordination
      Engages over 170 volunteers annually in conservation and operational activities, including trail maintenance, event support, office administration, photography, and leading educational outings. Partners with clubs, schools, corporate teams, and other groups for service projects.
  • Wildlife Conservation and Sustainable Hunting Management 1 activity
    • Wildlife population and hunting management
      Manages wildlife populations through a public deer hunting permit program on Crooked Creek and Grindstone Island Preserves, supporting ecological balance and sustainable land use.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Research and economic impact analysis
      Commissioned a 2018 economic impact study to assess the value of conserved lands in the Thousand Islands region, supporting data-driven conservation advocacy and policy engagement.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.40M
Contributions & grants$3.12M92%
Program service revenue$103K3%
Investment income$141K4%
Other revenue$36K
expenses
Total expenses$1.33M
Program expenses64%
Admin / overhead25%
Fundraising12%
Salaries & benefits$666K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$26.10M
Cash$644K
Investments$4.77M
Liabilities$905K
Net assets$25.20M
Liquid reserves48.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -44.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 16
  • ART MACK — DIRECTOR
  • BASIL SEGGOS — DIRECTOR
  • BEN WALLDROFF — DIRECTOR
  • CAMPBELL MARSHALL — DIRECTOR
  • DAVID LUCAS — PRESIDENT
  • ERIC GREGWARE — DIRECTOR
  • GREG MCLEAN — TREASURER
  • JANE HEFFRON — DIRECTOR
  • JANICE MCPHAIL — DIRECTOR
  • JENNIFER CADDICK — VICE PRESIDE
  • JOHN FARRELL — DIRECTOR
  • JOSH TRUMAN — DIRECTOR
  • LARRY KINGSLEY — SECRETARY
  • MARY LANGAN — MEMBER AT LA
  • MOLLY MACWADE — DIRECTOR
  • ROBIN HOFFMAN — MEMBER AT LA
relationships · 96

Who they work with

  • 1000 Islands Catering Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • 1000 Islands River Rat Cheese Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Adirondacks Partner — Region referenced in the tracking journey of Alice the Moose, connected through TILT’s Crooked Creek Preserve.
  • Algonquin Park Partner — Final destination of Alice the Moose’s journey from the Adirondacks through TILT’s Crooked Creek Preserve.
  • Angel Rock Waterfront Cottages Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Atwood Morgan Architecture Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Aubertine Excavation LLC Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Aubertine and Currier Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • BCA Architects & Engineers Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Bach & Co. Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Barclay Damon Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Bark Box Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Big Duck Bags Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Bill Elliot & Sons Tree Service Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Blue Line Engineering Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Cantwell family Partner — Collaborated with TILT to conserve three parcels on Carrier Ridge while retaining other portions for residential development.
  • Cerow Agency, Inc. Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Channelside Restaurant Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Chris Matthews Partner — Worked with TILT to permanently protect 44 acres of McCarn Hill while allowing adjacent portions to proceed with residential development.
  • Chris Murray Photography Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Clarkson University Partner — Academic affiliate whose faculty peer-reviewed the 2018 economic impact study on conserved lands
  • Clayton Island Tours Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Clayton Marina Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Community Bank Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Coughlin Printing Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Cross Island Farms Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Deluke’s Garden Center & Northern Flow Vineyards Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Diprinzio’s Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
  • Doug Drumm Creations Partner — Sponsor or partner of Thousand Islands Land Trust
+ 66 more
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.

  • Community-Based Stewardship and Monitoring
    methodology: community-based-stewardship
    By involving volunteers in trail maintenance, invasive species monitoring, and data collection, we enhance ecological management capacity because community engagement extends stewardship reach and fosters local ownership of conservation outcomes.
  • Conservation Through Easements and Land Acquisition
    methodology: land-conservation-through-easements-and-acquisition
    By using conservation easements and land acquisition, we permanently protect ecologically significant lands because legal protection and ownership ensure long-term preservation of conservation values.
  • Ecological Connectivity and Corridor Conservation
    methodology: ecological-connectivity_conservation
    By focusing on migratory flyways, aquatic corridors, and regional connectivity through initiatives like A2A, we protect biodiversity and ecosystem resilience because species survival depends on linked, functional landscapes.
  • Experiential Environmental Education
    methodology: experiential-environmental-education
    By engaging people in direct outdoor experiences and hands-on learning, we cultivate lasting environmental stewardship because emotional and intellectual connection to nature motivates conservation behavior.
  • Integration of Conservation and Sustainable Development
    methodology: conservation-and-development-integration
    By aligning conservation with responsible development and public access, we strengthen community investment in land protection because shared benefits reinforce long-term regional sustainability.