irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $1.17MSEE SCHEDULE O FOR DESCRIPTION.THTLT WORKS WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO PROTECT WORKING FOREST, FARMS, RECREATION, AND WILD LANDS IN NORTHERN NEW YORK'S 2,100 SQUARE MILE TUG HILL REGION AND SURROUNDING AREAS. THE TUG HILL REGION COVERS PART OF JEFFERSON, LEWIS, ONEIDA, AND OSWEGO COUNTIES. IN 2024, THTLT CLOSED ON ONE EASEMENT - TON KA WA ROD & HUNT CLUB IN HERKIMER COUNTY, AND ACQUIRED THE STONE HOUSE PRESERVE IN THE TOWN OF VIENNA IN ONEIDA COUNTY.WE WORKED WITH THE DEC AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO CREATE A PROGRAM IN PLACE OF THE FORMER ACUB PROGRAM. THE NEW NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION PROGRAM AROUND FORT DRUM WILL BE LAUNCHED IN 2025 AND FUNDED WITH APPROXIMATELY $7.5 MILLION FROM THTLT-EARMARKED FUNDS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 10 YEARS IN THE STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FUND. WE CONTINUED TO WORK ON 14 CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROJECTS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE TUG HILL REGION THAT, WHEN COMPLETED, WILL CONSERVE MORE THAN 5,718 ACRES OF LAND. AT THE END 2024, WE WILL HAVE PROTECTED 21,810 ACRES WITH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THROUGHOUT TUG HILL. IN ADDITION TO OUR CONSERVATION EASEMENT HOLDINGS, THTLT ALSO OWNS FIVE PUBLIC CONSERVATION AREAS, THE 140- ACRE JOSEPH BLAKE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY IN THE TOWN OF RUTLAND, JEFFERSON COUNTY, THE 120-ACRE FRENCH SETTLEMENT ROAD PUBLIC CONSERVATION AREA IN THE TOWN OF LORRAINE, JEFFERSON COUNTY, THE 416-ACRE DAVID S. SMITH PUBLIC CONSERVATION AREA IN THE TOWN OF LERAY, AND THE NEWEST PROPERTY, THE MOHAWK HILL PUBLIC CONSERVATION AREA, 77.57 ACRES IN THE TOWN OF WEST TURIN LERAY. THTLT ADDED THE STONE HOUSE PRESERVE, 434 ACRES, IN THE TOWN OF VIENNA IN LATE 2024. THTLT IS CONTINUOUSLY WORKING TO OPEN ALL 1,192 ACRES OF OUR FEE-OWNED PROPERTY, NOT ALREADY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, BY CREATING PARKING AREAS, TRAILS, AND INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE AS FUNDING AND STAFF TIME ALLOW.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Conservation Easement Program
Works with private landowners to establish voluntary conservation easements on working forests, farms, and wildlands across the Tug Hill region, protecting over 21,810 acres as of 2024.
Educational Outreach
Increases public awareness and appreciation of the Tug Hill region through field trips, special events, and interpretive signage at conservation areas.
Land Protection Partnership with Fort Drum
Collaborates with Fort Drum and state agencies on the Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program and its successor, the Natural Resource Protection Program, to limit development near military lands and protect regional habitat connectivity.
Public Conservation Areas
Manages five fee-owned public conservation areas totaling over 1,192 acres, including the Joseph Blake Wildlife Sanctuary, French Settlement Road, David S. Smith, Mohawk Hill, and Stone House Preserve, with ongoing development of public access infrastructure.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements 2 activities
- Land conservation through easements and fee acquisitionsProtects wildlands, working forests, and farms in the Tug Hill region by securing conservation easements and acquiring land outright. By the end of 2024, had protected 21,810 acres through conservation easements and owns five public conservation areas totaling over 1,192 acres, including recent acquisitions like the Stone House Preserve and Mohawk Hill Public Conservation Area.
- Landowner education and outreach resourcesSupports private landowners in conservation efforts by publishing accessible educational tools such as the ebook "12 Steps to Conserving Your Land," which explains the conservation easement process, and providing actionable guidance on addressing climate change impacts.
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Local Land Conservation Advocacy 1 activity
- Collaborative regional conservation partnershipsAdvances conservation goals by collaborating with local towns, community groups, organizations, and statewide conservation partners to implement regional projects across the Tug Hill region and surrounding counties.
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Wildlife Monitoring and Field Research 1 activity
- Publication of ecological research and habitat guidesProduces and publishes scientific and educational materials on the natural environment of the Tug Hill region, including a 288-page four-season guide with 64 color illustrations, a report on heritage trout and undisturbed wilds, and detailed documentation of 10 major regional habitats.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Maintaining Land Trust AccreditationUpholds national standards for land trust excellence by achieving and renewing Land Trust Accreditation, most recently confirmed through 2022.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.33M
Contributions & grants$1.26M94%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$36K3%
Other revenue$40K
expenses
Total expenses$1.53M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$411K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.75M
Cash$652K
Investments$1.37M
Liabilities$1.92M
Net assets$2.83M
Liquid reserves15.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +59.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARK PACILIO | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $88K |
board members · 15
- BETH MAGUIRE — DIRECTOR
- DANIELLE SALISBURY — DIRECTOR
- DAVID ZEMBIEC — TREASURER
- GEORGE BIBBINS JR — DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
- HEIDI JONES — SECRETARY
- LAURIE FRYKHOLM — DIRECTOR
- LEE WILLBANKS — DIRECTOR
- LYNN MURRAY — DIRECTOR
- MELANIE PARKER GEURTSEN — VICE CHAIR
- NATALIE BOGDANOWICZ — CHAIR
- NORAH MACHIA — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT KELLER JR — IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
- ROBERT QUINN — DIRECTOR
- SUE FASSLER — DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
- ZACHARY WAKEMAN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- Cornell University Partner — Partners in documenting climate change impacts on agriculture in the Northeast.
- Dartmouth College Partner — Cites research from Dartmouth College on climate change impacts on early-flowering plants and plant-pollinator interactions.
- Ducks Unlimited Partner — Partnered on wetland mitigation and bird habitat creation leading to transfer of the Mohawk Hill Public Conservation Area.
- Fort Drum Partner — Partners on the Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program and future Natural Resource Protection Program to conserve land around military training areas.
- Land Trust Alliance Government — Independent program administering the Accreditation Commission that awarded the accreditation seal to Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust.
- National Audubon Society Partner — References National Audubon’s Climate Report to inform understanding of bird species at risk from climate change.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Collaborates with DEC on land protection initiatives and habitat management planning.
- The Nature Conservancy Partner — References The Nature Conservancy’s publication on projected changes to forest ecosystems and fire risk in New York.
- The Nature Conservancy Partner — Relies on ecological assessments from The Nature Conservancy to identify priority wildlife connectivity corridors for conservation.
- University of British Columbia Partner — Collaborates with ecologist Elizabeth Wolkovich on research related to climate change impacts on invasive species.
- University of Massachusetts Partner — Works with Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust on documenting climate change impacts on agriculture.
- University of Wisconsin Partner — Collaborates on agricultural research related to climate change impacts.
- World Wildlife Fund Partner — Cites World Wildlife Fund study on projected species loss due to climate change.
- community groups Partner — Partners with community groups to support conservation of special places in the Tug Hill region.
- local and statewide conservation organizations Partner — Collaborative partners in advancing regional conservation efforts
- local towns Partner — Collaborates with local towns on land and water conservation initiatives.
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.
- Climate Mitigation and Adaptation through Local Action 333 orgsmethodology: mitigation_and_adaptationBy combining climate mitigation and adaptation strategies with science-based understanding, the organization drives local conservation action because framing climate change as a solvable, community-level challenge increases public participation and resilience planning.shared approach: Community-Driven Stewardship →
- Collaborative Partnerships for Regional Conservation Success 333 orgsmethodology: collaborative_conservationBy building collaborative partnerships, the organization ensures long-term success of conservation projects because shared responsibility and local buy-in increase sustainability and effectiveness of land protection efforts.shared approach: Community-Driven Stewardship →
- Education and Outreach to Promote Conservation Engagement 333 orgsmethodology: education-outreachBy providing educational publications and outreach, the organization increases public and landowner engagement in conservation because informed communities are more likely to participate in land protection and planned giving.shared approach: Community-Driven Stewardship →
- Voluntary Conservation Easements for Permanent Land Protection 38 orgsmethodology: voluntary_conservation_easementsBy using voluntary conservation easements, the organization secures permanent protection of working forests, farms, and wildlands because this legal mechanism restricts development while allowing landowners to retain ownership and stewardship.shared approach: Permanent Protection with Adaptive Stewardship →