California Council of Land Trusts
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To conserve California's extraordinary land and water resources through a strong network of land trusts with one cohesive voice across urban and rural communities.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 39%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $129,112, program director
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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 74% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 120% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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)
- $678,610 spent. GRANT PROGRAMS:1. Secured $5 Million in reimbursable funding received from Wildlife Conservation Board in February 2024. Awarded $1.9 million to 23 land trusts that leverages over $70 million of other funding for project advancement.2. $1.73 Million in reimbursable funding received from the Department of Conservation for Capacity Building Programs for Land Trusts. Awarded $1.1million to 11 projects that leverage over $55 million in other funding.
- $176,334 spent. EDUCATION:1. Held an annual conference for over 300 attendees including over 100 hours of training. Thisincludeda Conservation Forum for attorneys.2. Held 4 quarterly meetings for members with the updates on 30x30, policy updates, and special topics impacting land trust operations and practices.3. Supported the California Natural Resources Agency with the delivery of a Tribal Summit related to 30x30.4. Organized or participated in numerous regional meetings throughout the state at which education, information,andnetworking were the focus.5. Assisted state agency staff in helping to define conservation for 30x30 and the role that land trusts already play in helping to meet the state's goals.
- $54,986 spent. POLICY:1. Provided several letters of support for bills related to land conservation.2. Communication about existing state law on easement amendments, mitigation endowments, and welfare exemption of open space.3. Advocacy for funding for the 30x30 initiative for land acquisitions and capacity building for land trusts. Part of the coalition that shaped and negotiated the legislative initiative that became Proposition 4, a $10 billion bond measure for climate, water, and wildfire.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2011.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.