PLATINUM2022

Wellesley Conservation Land Trust, Inc

Protecting open space in Wellesley

aka Wellesley Conservation Council   |   WELLESLEY HLS, MA   |  www.wellesleyconservationlandtrust.org

Mission

The mission of the Wellesley Conservation Land Trust (formerly Council) is to: * Protect and preserve the natural environment in Wellesley, MA * Maintain sanctuaries open to the public for study and enjoyment * Educate youth and interest adults in matters of conservation

Ruling year info

1960

President

Michael Tobin

Vice President

Judy Barr

Main address

PO BOX 81129

WELLESLEY HLS, MA 02481 USA

Show more contact info

Formerly known as

Wellesley Conservation Council Inc

EIN

04-6079721

NTEE code info

Land Resources Conservation (C34)

Natural Resource Conservation and Protection (C30)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990-N.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Open natural spaces in Wellesley are disappearing. Much of the remaining open spaces are not protected and can be sold to development. Massachusetts 40B affordable housing regulations allow developers to bypass much of local town zoning and bylaws. With many residents concerned about global climate change, they are looking for more information and actions they can take locally.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Protect open space in Wellesley, MA

As a land trust, the WCLT takes title to properties, either through gifts or purchases, which then become permanent nature sanctuaries. The WCLT also accepts conservation easements on private properties.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Fulfill the mission of educating youth and adults in matters of conservation.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Where we work

Videos

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Acres of land managed

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults, Children and youth, Family relationships

Related Program

Protect open space in Wellesley, MA

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Total number of acres of fee owned properties + conservation easements on properties.

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

The mission of the Wellesley Conservation Land Trust is to:
* Protect and preserve the natural environment in Wellesley, MA
* Maintain sanctuaries open to the public for study and enjoyment
* Educate youth and interest adults in matters of conservation

The strategies to accomplish the mission of the Wellesley Conservation Land Trust include:
* Protect and preserve the natural environment in Wellesley, MA - Acquire fee owned properties and conservation restrictions
* Maintain sanctuaries open to the public for study and enjoyment - Monitor, manage, and protect current properties and easements
* Educate youth and interest adults in matters of conservation - Provide periodic activities and events to engage and educate residents.

Our capabilities include:
* Current property assets
* Current conservation restrictions
* Diverse capabilities of our Board of Directors
* Large and growing membership and friends
* Partnerships with town and community organizations, including the Natural Resources Commission, Wellesley Trails, and Sustainable Wellesley
* Social media, web, and email capabilities
* Ability to acquire grants and donations
* Publications including Walks in Wellesley

* By adding Zoom virtual educational events in 2021, we quadrupled the number of events we offered over prior years and increased attendance over 500%.
* We have increased attendance at events over 200% for semi-annual education programs and spring bird walks over 3 years
* We have increased our annual membership and donations by 3x over 3 years
* We have increased our grants received by outside funders from 0 to three over 2 years
* We have implemented a middle school eco-camp and run it for three years straight

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    All residents of Wellesley, MA.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Community meetings/Town halls, Suggestion box/email,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    During the pandemic, we stopped our in person events (e.g. guided bird walks) and our in person educational events (e.g. twice yearly conservation related talks at the library). We heard from constituents that they would like to see virtual events, and that they would be comfortable attending outdoor events that followed at-the-time COVID protocols. So in 2021, we organized and held 9 virtual events over Zoom which were dramatically well attended, significantly more than when we held in-person talks, and we held 5 in person bird walks that limited the attendees and followed COVID protocols supported my our local board of health.

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    The people we serve, Our board, Our community partners,

  • How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?

    Since we made made the changes from listening to feedback, we have informally heard very positive additional feedback of the changes, and we have measurably increased our membership and donations.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,

Financials

Wellesley Conservation Land Trust, Inc
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Wellesley Conservation Land Trust, Inc

Board of directors
as of 02/21/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Michael Tobin

Michael Tobin

Dyne Therapeutics

John Spencer

Treasurer

Judy Barr

Northeastern Univ

Judith Boland

Newton Wellesley Hospital

Joan Gaughan

Wellesley Natural Resources Commission

Kevin Hanron

Queues Enforth Development

Peter Jones

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 2/21/2022
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

No data

The organization's co-leader identifies as:

No data

Race & ethnicity

No data

Gender identity

No data

 

No data

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 02/21/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.