Georges River Land Trust
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Georges River Land Trust's mission is to conserve the ecosystems and traditional heritage of the Georges River Watershed Region through permanent land protection, stewardship, education, and outdoor experiences.
- Income
- $842,180
- Spending
- $846,043
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 26.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 60
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 26.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $146,206 spent. The land protection program serves the membership of GRLT and participating landowners by working to protect high value conservation lands throughout the St George River Watershed. GRLT has a community-based approach to land protection, which is guided by strategic planning and operated in compliance with land trust alliance standards and practices. GRLT focuses its land conservation efforts in the highest value areas of the watershed as determined through a conservation planning process. The land protection program collaborates with the stewardship program on community and landowner outreach, stewardship budgets, baseline data for protected lands, easement amendments and landowner visits. GRLT participates in a variety of forums, including meetings with landowners and their advisors, partnerships with organizations and agencies, communications with the GRLT Board of Directors, Committee members and donors, and public speaking opportunities at regional and statewide venues.
- $164,144 spent. The stewardship program is responsible for the management of fee-owned preserves and conservation easements. GRLT has a community-based approach to the land stewardship program, which is guided by strategic planning and operated in compliance with land trust alliance standards & practices. GRLT works to accomplish established goals and collaborates with the land protection program on cummunity and landowner outreach, baseline data for preserves, annual monitoring of easements and preserves, easement amendments and landowner visits.
- $149,197 spent. The Langlais Sculpture Preserve is responsible for collaborating with artists, environmentalists, educators, and curators to provide arts- and nature-related programming that is enriching, accessible, climate-conscious, and community-oriented. They display, interpret, and maintain a group of Langlais's site-specific outdoor sculptures, his workshop, tools, and related art and ephemera. Provide public, year-round access to the Preserve and recreational experiences that celebrate the natural resources of the Cushing peninsula.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1987.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.