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City of Lakes Community Land Trust

EIN 06-1665031 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CREATING COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP THAT PRESERVES AFFORDABILITY AND INCLUSIVITY IS THE MISSION OF THE CITY OF LAKES COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
55.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 100%
Employees
9
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$124,650, executive 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: 64 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 55.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 47% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 76% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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 (2)
  1. $3.4 million spent. IN 2024 THE CLCLT ASSISTED 48 NEW HOUSEHOLDS ACHIEVE CLCLT HOMEOWNERSHIP IN MINNEAPOLIS, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HOMES IN TRUST TO 415 VIA GROUND LEASE AND DEED RESTRICTIONS. CONSTRUCTION ON THE CLCLT'S TWO LARGEST PROJECTS, THE 628 (7-UNIT CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX) AND HARRISON TOWNHOMES (17-UNITS), WERE COMPLETED IN 2024. CLOSINGS ON INDIVIDUAL HARRISON TOWNHOMES STARTED IN APRIL 2024 AND THE 628 IN OCTOBER 2024. ADDITIONALLY, THE CLCLT ACQUIRED FIFTEEN NEW PROPERTIES THROUGH ITS HOMEBUYER INITIATED PROGRAM; FOUR HOMES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS; ONE THROUGH THE SELLER-LEVERAGED PROGRAM; THREE THROUGH PROJECT: SUSTAINED LEGACY; THREE EXISTING CONTRACT FOR DEED HOLDERS REFINANCED INTO CONVENTIONAL MORTGAGE; AND THREE CONTRACT FOR DEEDS WERE CANCELLED. OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS SERVED IN 2024, 61% WERE FROM COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND THE AVERAGE AREA MEDIAN INCOME WAS 51.06%IN ADDITION TO THE 415 HOMES IN TRUST AT YEAR-END 2024, THE CLCLT ALSO OWNS AND MAINTAINS FOUR RENTAL PROPERTIES, THE CLCLT OFFICE BUILDING, AND SEVERAL ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES UNDER DEVELOPMENT IN MINNEAPOLIS. EACH OF THESE PROPERTIES WILL REMAIN PERPETUALLY AFFORDABLE WITH NO OR VERY LITTLE ADDITIONAL AFFORDABILITY INVESTMENT BEING NEEDED AGAIN. AS OF YEAR-END 2024 THE CLCLT HAD ALSO FACILITATED A TOTAL OF 132 RESALES. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT NO NEW PUBLIC INVESTMENTS WERE NEEDED TO CREATE AFFORDABILITY FOR THE 134 RESALES DUE TO THE LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY MECHANISM BUILT INTO THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. THE RESALES REPRESENT 134 LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WHO WERE ASSISTED INTO HOMEOWNERSHIP WITHOUT THE CLCLT NEEDING TO RAISE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO KEEP THE HOMES AFFORDABLE DESPITE RAPIDLY RISING HOME VALUES IN MINNEAPOLIS AND INCREASING INTEREST RATES NATIONALLY. ALTHOUGH CONSTRUCTION COSTS STABILIZED SLIGHTLY IN 2024, THE IMPACT CONTINUES TO BE FELT ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. EVEN THOUGH PUBLIC FUNDERS HAVE BEGUN TO ADJUST THEIR PER UNIT AFFORDABILITY OR DEVELOPMENT GAP MAXIMUM SUBSIDY LEVELS, THE CLCLT REMAINS CAUTIOUS ABOUT TAKING ON DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WITHOUT AMPLE GAP RESOURCES OR DEFINITIVE PERMANENT FINANCING SOURCES AVAILABLE TO ENSURE THE HOMES ARE PRICED AFFORDABLY AT COMPLETION.IN 2024 THE CLCLT SPONSORED OVER 28 CLCLT ORIENTATIONS. CONTINUING TO PROVIDE VIRTUAL ORIENTATIONS HAS ALLOWED THE CLCLT TO OFFER ORIENTATIONS WITHOUT LIMITING THE NUMBER OF ATTENDEES DUE TO SPACE RESTRICTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CLCLT PARTICIPATED IN FOUR COMMUNITY EVENTS AND FACILITATED FOUR COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS. THROUGH THESE OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES, THE CLCLT ESTIMATES IT WAS ABLE TO INFORM OVER 1,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT COMMUNITY LAND TRUST HOMEOWNERSHIP AND THE CLCLT'S PATHS INTO HOMEOWNERSHIP. ADDITIONALLY, THE CLCLT CONTINUES TO MEET WITH HOMEBUYERS VIRTUALLY, PRESENT TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND SOCIAL/HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT HOMEBUYER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY AND THROUGH THE CLCLT WAY OF HOMEOWNERSHIP. AT YEAR'S END, CLCLT WAS STAFFED BY 6.8 FTE. OTHER SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN 2024: CLCLT'S LONG-TIME FINANCE DIRECTOR TRANSITIONED OUT OF THE ORGANIZATION IN NOVEMBER 2024.
  2. $74,045 spent. CITY OF LAKES COMMUNITY REALTY (CLCR), A MINNESOTA LIMITED LIABILTY NONPROFIT COMPANY, WAS FORMED TO FACILITATE LAND TRUST RESALES, PURCHASES, AND SELL RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE ON BEHALF OF CLCLT, AND TO REPRESENT REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS OF PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP. THE ACTIVITIES ARE SUPPORTED PRIMARILY FROM COMMISSIONS ON REAL ESTATE SALES.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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