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New Mexico Land Conservancy

EIN 06-1648104 · Santa Fe, NM

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE NEW MEXICO'S LAND HERITAGE BY HELPING PEOPLE CONSERVE THE PLACES THEY LOVE. NMLC WORKS WITH LANDOWNERS AND OTHERS TO PROTECT WILDLIFE HABITAT, AGRICULTURAL LANDS, SCENIC OPEN SPACE, CULTURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES, AND RECREATIONAL LANDS.

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
11
Highest pay
$132,591, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 58% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 (1)
  1. $4.2 million spent. IN FY25, NMLC COMPLETED 2 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN 2024 (HERMOSA-KELSEY AND GIBSON RANCH), WITH AN ADDITIONAL ACREAGE AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR UTE LAKE RANCH, PROTECTING 4,273 ACRES AND INCREASING ITS TOTAL PORTFOLIO TO 123 EASEMENTS OVER 696,921 ACRES AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2025. WHILE THE EASEMENT DONATIONS REPRESENT VALUE TO THE GRANTORS BASED UPON THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS FOREGONE THROUGH THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS (WHICH FORM THE BASIS OF THEIR CHARITABLE TAX DEDUCTIONS), THE EASEMENTS HAVE NO REAL FINANCIAL OR MARKETABLE VALUE ONCE THEY ARE DONATED TO THE LAND TRUST. THE COMBINED VALUE OF THE NON-CASH CONSERVATION EASEMENT CONTRIBUTIONS GRANTED TO NMLC FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 WAS 1,575,000, AS COMPARED TO 1,575,000 FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2024. NMLC COMPLETED 2 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN 2024 (HERMOSA-KELSEY AND GIBSON RANCH), WITH AN ADDITIONAL ACREAGE AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR UTE LAKE RANCH, PROTECTING 4,273 ACRES AND INCREASING ITS TOTAL PORTFOLIO TO 123 EASEMENTS OVER 696,921 ACRES AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2025. WHILE THE EASEMENT DONATIONS REPRESENT VALUE TO THE GRANTORS BASED UPON THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS FOREGONE THROUGH THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS (WHICH FORM THE BASIS OF THEIR CHARITABLE TAX DEDUCTIONS), THE EASEMENTS HAVE NO REAL FINANCIAL OR MARKETABLE VALUE ONCE THEY ARE DONATED TO THE LAND TRUST. THE COMBINED VALUE OF THE NON-CASH CONSERVATION EASEMENT CONTRIBUTIONS GRANTED TO NMLC FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 WAS 1,575,000, AS COMPARED TO 1,575,000 FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2024. CONSERVATION EASEMENT ACQUISITION FUNDING AGREEMENTS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, NMLC WILL ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AS A COOPERATING/SPONSORSHIP ORGANIZATION TO FACILITATE THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY OR ENTITIES PARTICIPATION IN ACQUISITION OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. UPON CLOSING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ACQUISITION, WHERE LAND TITLE IS PASSED THROUGH NMLC, NMLC WILL RECORD REVENUE AND AN EQUAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT ACQUISITION EXPENDITURE FOR AMOUNTS THAT NMLC HAS PASSED THROUGH THE LANDOWNER. IN FY25, NMLC COMPLETED 2 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN 2024 (HERMOSA-KELSEY AND GIBSON RANCH), WITH AN ADDITIONAL ACREAGE AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR UTE LAKE RANCH, PROTECTING 4,273 ACRES AND INCREASING ITS TOTAL PORTFOLIO TO 123 EASEMENTS OVER 696,921 ACRES AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2025. WHILE THE EASEMENT DONATIONS REPRESENT VALUE TO THE GRANTORS BASED UPON THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS FOREGONE THROUGH THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS (WHICH FORM THE BASIS OF THEIR CHARITABLE TAX DEDUCTIONS), THE EASEMENTS HAVE NO REAL FINANCIAL OR MARKETABLE VALUE ONCE THEY ARE DONATED TO THE LAND TRUST. THE COMBINED VALUE OF THE NON-CASH CONSERVATION EASEMENT CONTRIBUTIONS GRANTED TO NMLC FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 WAS 1,575,000, AS COMPARED TO 1,575,000 FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2024. NMLC COMPLETED 2 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN 2024 (HERMOSA-KELSEY AND GIBSON RANCH), WITH AN ADDITIONAL ACREAGE AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR UTE LAKE RANCH, PROTECTING 4,273 ACRES AND INCREASING ITS TOTAL PORTFOLIO TO 123 EASEMENTS OVER 696,921 ACRES AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2025. WHILE THE EASEMENT DONATIONS REPRESENT VALUE TO THE GRANTORS BASED UPON THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS FOREGONE THROUGH THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS (WHICH FORM THE BASIS OF THEIR CHARITABLE TAX DEDUCTIONS), THE EASEMENTS HAVE NO REAL FINANCIAL OR MARKETABLE VALUE ONCE THEY ARE DONATED TO THE LAND TRUST. THE COMBINED VALUE OF THE NON-CASH CONSERVATION EASEMENT CONTRIBUTIONS GRANTED TO NMLC FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 WAS 1,575,000, AS COMPARED TO 1,575,000 FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2024. CONSERVATION EASEMENT ACQUISITION FUNDING AGREEMENTS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, NMLC WILL ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AS A COOPERATING/SPONSORSHIP ORGANIZATION TO FACILITATE THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY OR ENTITIES PARTICIPATION IN ACQUISITION OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. UPON CLOSING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ACQUISITION, WHERE LAND TITLE IS PASSED THROUGH NMLC, NMLC WILL RECORD REVENUE AND AN EQUAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT ACQUISITION EXPENDITURE FOR AMOUNTS THAT NMLC HAS PASSED THROUGH THE LANDOWNER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.