Bear River Land Conservancy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of the Bear River Land Conservancy is to preserve the benefits of land and water in Northern Utah and the Bear River Watershed for present and future generations. We do this by partnering with communities and landowners to permanently sustain the heritage of working lands and to protect natural areas.
- Income
- $254,322
- Spending
- $222,091
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 11.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 40%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 16
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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)
- $144,204 spent. "Land Protection" includes: 1) working with private landowners to apply for easement funding to protect private lands that provide public values; 2) applying for funding from various grant programs to protect and steward other private lands; and 3) implementing a strategic conservation plan to guide the organization toward the most important lands for conservation. This year, specific accomplishments included: The advancement of several projects and initiation of a new project. Revenue came from developing a fee for service Baseline Documentation Reports.
- $15,421 spent. "Stewardship" included 1) managing the 455 acre Bear River Bottoms conservation easement, monitoring this property and adjacent properties for weed infestations, monitoring for compliance with restrictions outlined in the easement document, managing grazing leases used to control weeds and weedy native vegetation, planning for future management; 2) monitoring the 3 acre Lakota conservation easement for compliance with restrictions outlined in the easement document; 3) monitoring the 25.5 acre Schiess conservation easement for compliance with restrictions outlined in the easement document; 4) Monitoring the 1054 acres Evans Ranch Conservation easement for compliance with restrictions outlined in the easement document. 5) Managing and monitoring a 30 acre fee title property that is owned and managed to protect a threatened species of orchid and for its open space values. Revenue came from grazing leases used to manage vegetation and habitat at Bear River Bottoms and Mendon Meadows.
- $11,654 spent. "Outreach" is primarily education efforts directed at the public and elected officials to increase their understanding of the value of conservation. This year's activities included production and distribution of a newsletters to 1000+ constituents, outreach and education regarding the open space bond and land protection, and engaging volunteers in conservation and monitoring efforts. BRLC also held an open house and supported university student learning opportunities.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2011.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.