Land Trust Alliance Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $22.4 million
- Spending
- $22.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 1.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 57%
- Employees
- 89
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $371,786, interim ceo, chief program officer
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: 62 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 36% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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.
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)
- $15.6 million spent. EDUCATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING: THE ALLIANCE CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN, EMPOWER AND MAGNIFY THE IMPACT OF ITS MORE THAN 1,000-MEMBER LAND TRUSTS AND AFFILIATES. THE ALLIANCE PROVIDES LAND TRUSTS WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO GROW IN STRENGTH AND IMPACT. THROUGH OUR NATIONAL LAND CONSERVATION CONFERENCE, REGIONAL CONFERENCES, WEBINARS AND ONLINE RESOURCE CENTER, WE PROVIDED 77 TRAININGS, 47 SELF-STUDY ONLINE COURSES AND 7 TOOLKITS ON ALL ASPECTS OF CONSERVATION WORK, INCLUDING RISK MANAGEMENT, FUNDRAISING, AND BOARD AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR MORE THAN 13,500 REGISTRANTS IN 2024. OUR TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND LAND TRUST EXCELLENCE PROGRAMS CONTINUED TO INVEST IN HIGH-POTENTIAL LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS WITH AN ADDED EMPHASIS ON STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, CONSERVATION PLANNING AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THERE WERE 470 ACCREDITED LAND TRUSTS IN 46 STATES AND TWO TERRITORIES, REPRESENTING MORE THAN 84% OF THE ACRES OF FARMLAND, FORESTS, WILDLIFE HABITAT AND IMPORTANT WATER SUPPLIES STEWARDED BY LAND TRUSTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE 2017 EDITION OF LAND TRUST STANDARDS AND PRACTICES, THE ETHICAL AND TECHNICAL GUIDELINES FOR OPERATING A LAND TRUST. WE LAUNCHED A NEW RESOURCE, THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES VALUATION TOOL, TO HELP LAND TRUSTS ESTIMATE THE VALUE OF BENEFITS GENERATED BY THE ECOSYSTEMS THEY STEWARD. SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN MAY, THE TOOL HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST VISITED RESOURCES OF THE YEAR.
- $2.5 million spent. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND OUTREACH: THE ALLIANCE FURTHERS THE INTERESTS OF LAND TRUSTS ACROSS AMERICA BY ADVOCATING FOR SOUND POLICIES AND RESOURCES THAT ADVANCE LAND CONSERVATION. THE ALLIANCE LEVERAGED ITS NETWORK OF OVER 300 ADVOCACY AMBASSADORS TO SECURE PASSAGE OF THE CHARITABLE CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM INTEGRITY ACT TO HALT THE ABUSE OF CONSERVATION DONATIONS WHICH THREATENED THE ENHANCED CONSERVATION EASEMENT TAX INCENTIVE. THROUGH OUR AMBASSADOR PROGRAM MANAGER, WE TRAIN AND ENGAGE LAND TRUST STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS IN ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN THE POLICY PROCESS. AMBASSADORS TOOK CENTER STAGE AT OUR ADVOCACY DAYS, A SPRING EVENT THAT PROVIDES LAND TRUST LEADERS WITH HANDS-ON TRAINING AS WELL AS TIME WITH KEY LEGISLATORS TO DISCUSS ISSUES IMPORTANT TO THE LAND TRUST COMMUNITY. THE ALLIANCE SERVES AS THE PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT FOR LAND TRUSTS TO UNDERSTAND THE FARM BILL AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM HELPING THEM TO WORK WITH LANDOWNERS TO PROTECT FARMS AND RANCHES. IN ADDITION, WE EDUCATE LAND TRUSTS ON FEDERAL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THEY HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT LAND CONSERVATION TOOLS.
- $914,263 spent. CONSERVATION PERMANENCE: THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE CONTINUES TO LEAD THE LAND TRUST COMMUNITY IN ITS MISSION TO PROVIDE LASTING LAND CONSERVATION. THE ALLIANCE SUPPORTS LAND TRUST SUCCESS BY INCREASING THEIR EXPERTISE, DILIGENCE AND RESILIENCE. THROUGH ITS CONSERVATION DEFENSE INITIATIVE, LAND TRUSTS ARE MORE PREPARED THAN EVER TO OVERCOME LEGAL AND PRACTICAL CHALLENGES. THE ALLIANCE ALSO WORKS TO SHAPE THE PRACTICE AND THE BODY OF CONSERVATION LAW, ADVANCING THE LEGAL POSITION THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENTS MUST BE UPHELD CAREFULLY AND OWNED LAND DILIGENTLY PROTECTED, THAT CONSERVED LANDS BENEFIT THE PUBLIC AND DESERVE TO BE TAX-EXEMPT, AND THAT THE JUDGMENT OF LAND TRUSTS THEREFORE IS WORTHY OF REGULATORY AND JUDICIAL DEFERENCE. THE 562 LAND TRUST MEMBERS OF TERRAFIRMA IN 2025 HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE WISDOM OF COLLECTIVE CONSERVATION DEFENSE ADDING LEGAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR OVER 12.2 MILLION ACRES OF CONSERVED LAND. TERRAFIRMA RISK RETENTION GROUP LLC, THE CHARITABLE RISK POOL LAUNCHED BY THE ALLIANCE IN 2011 AND OWNED THE INSURED BY LAND TRUSTS, COVERED OVER 41,000 CONSERVATION PROPERTIES. WITH OVER 80 PERCENT OF THE LAND OWNED OR CONSERVED BY LAND TRUSTS SAFELY INSURED WITH TERRAFIRMA, OR HELD BY ORGANIZATIONS CAPABLE OF SELF- INSURANCE, THE LAND TRUST COMMUNITY HAS JUSTIFIABLY EARNED A REPUTATION FOR EXPERTLY SERVING THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
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 November 6, 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 2024.
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 July 1982.
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 November 4, 2026.
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