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Southern Arizona Land Trust Inc

EIN 26-2948288 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA LAND TRUST INC. IS TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY INTERESTS IN PIMA COUNTY AND SOUTHERN ARIZONA BY INVESTING IN AND REVITALIZING NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-10.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 86%
Employees
7
Highest pay
$168,106, executive di

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: 51 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% 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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
  1. $1.8 million spent. INVEST AND REVITALIZE AREAS IN TUCSON HIT HARDEST IN THE GREAT RECESSION WITH GRANT FUNDING RECEIVED FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM 2 (NSP2) AND IN SUPPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF PIMA COUNTY. ACCOMPLISHMENT: TOTAL RENTAL PORTFOLIO INCLUDES 130 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, 20% OF WHICH, SERVE FAMILIES AT OR BELOW 50% OF MEDIAN INCOME (AMI). THIS PROGRAM SERVICE CONTINUES TO ACCOMPLISH STABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF OCCUPANCY OF APPROXIMATELY FIVE (5) YEARS.
  2. SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF PIMA AND IT'S AFFILIATES. ACCOMPLISHMENT: DEVELOPED AND CONSTRUCTED 3 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES (BENTLEY) FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO 120% AMI OR BELOW TENANTS. 100% OF THE HOMES BUILT WERE ADDED TO THE EXISTING RENTAL PORTFOLIO. THE 1M PROJECT AT S BENTLEY AVE PROVIDED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUBCONSTRACTORS, VENDORS AND MATERIAL SUPPLIERS. THIS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY TRANSFORMED A DONATED LAND PARCEL INTO NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT HOMES AND ADDED VAUABLE HOUSING STOCK TO A COMMUNITY THAT IS LACKING AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVENTORY. SALES OF SELECTED HOMES IN CURRENT RENTAL PORTFOLIO PROVIDED FUNDING NEEDED TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT. SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF PIMA AND IT'S AFFILIATES. ACCOMPLISHMENT: DEVELOPED AND CONSTRUCTED 3 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES (BENTLEY) FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO 120% AMI OR BELOW TENANTS. 100% OF THE HOMES BUILT WERE ADDED TO THE EXISTING RENTAL PORTFOLIO. THE 1M PROJECT AT S BENTLEY AVE PROVIDED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUBCONSTRACTORS, VENDORS AND MATERIAL SUPPLIERS. THIS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY TRANSFORMED A DONATED LAND PARCEL INTO NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT HOMES AND ADDED VAUABLE HOUSING STOCK TO A COMMUNITY THAT IS LACKING AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVENTORY. SALES OF SELECTED HOMES IN CURRENT RENTAL PORTFOLIO PROVIDED FUNDING NEEDED TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT.
  3. PROVIDE NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO LOW INCOME AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES IN TUCSON THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF LANDBANK PROPERTIES. ACCOMPLISHMENT: BELNOR VISTA: SECURED WATER TO BLOCK IV. WORK IN PROGRESS WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR BLOCK I AND THE ONSITE SEWER SYSTEM PLANS. EMERY PARK PLACE: FULLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE 1.3-ACRE SITE AND COMPLETED 80% OF FOUR (4) NEW DUPLEXES IN CONJUNCTION WITH AFFILIATE ORGANIZATION. PINAL VISTA PLACE: SOLD THE PROPERTY TO AFFILIATE ORGANIZATION FOR A FUTURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ELSTONE II: DESIGN THREE (3) HOUSE PLANS AND WORKING ON PREDEVELOPMENT FOR THIS FUTURE TEN (10) LOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUBDIVISION.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 April 2009.

    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.