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California Rangeland Trust

EIN 31-1631453 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SERVE THE LAND, PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE BY CONSERVING CALIFORNIA'S WORKING RANGELANDS.

Income
$26.4 million
Spending
$24.6 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
19
Highest pay
$339,040, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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, 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 (5)
  1. $22.0 million spent. IN 2025, CALIFORNIA RANGELAND TRUST PARTNERED WITH 8 FAMILIES TO CONSERVE 19,464 ACRES OF WORKING RANGELANDS. BY CONSERVING THESE LANDS, NEARLY 60 MILES OF FRESHWATER STREAMS, PLUS HABITAT FOR 14 SPECIAL STATUS PLANTS AND ANIMALS, WERE PROTECTED UNDER RANGELAND MANAGEMENT. IN ADDITION TO HAVING THESE LANDS CONSERVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, THE NATURAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY THIS MANAGEMENT HAVE AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF MORE THAN 24.6 MILLION.
  2. $649,050 spent. THE RANGELAND TRUST ENSURES THE UPHOLDING OF OUR COMPLETED EASEMENTS BY CONDUCTING AN ANNUAL MONITORING VISIT ON EACH OF THE 103 RANCHES IN OUR PORTFOLIO. A MONITORING REPORT, PREPARED AFTER EACH VISIT, NOTES ANY CHANGES TO THE RESOURCES OR COMPLIANCE ISSUES, AND RECOMMENDS CORRECTIVE ACTION IF NECESSARY. MONITORING IS PERFORMED BY STAFF, DIRECTORS, OR CONTRACTORS SUPERVISED BY THE RANGELAND TRUST. BIOLOGISTS AND OTHER EXPERTS ARE ADDED TO THE MONITORING TEAM WHEN NECESSARY TO ASSESS THE HEALTH OF THE HABITAT OF ANY SPECIFIC PLANT OR ANIMAL SPECIES INCLUDED IN THE EASEMENT. THIS PROCESS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY STEWARDSHIP ENDOWMENTS CREATED FOR EACH PROPERTY AT THE TIME THE EASEMENT TRANSACTION CLOSES, THEREBY ENSURING PERMANENT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT THESE ACTIVITIES IN PERPETUITY.
  3. $95,058 spent. NEARLY 1,400 PEOPLE FROM MANY BACKGROUNDS ENGAGED IN A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY-BUILDING EVENTS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. THESE EVENTS RAISE AWARENESS FOR THE WORK WE DO, HELP CONNECT PEOPLE TO PEOPLE, AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RANCHERS TO MEET ONE ANOTHER AND LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER.
  4. $40,747 spent. OUR NEW PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT, WHICH WAS LAUNCHED IN FALL 2023, ENGAGED IN LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND PRESENTED WORKSHOPS AND WEBINARS FOR THE RANCHING COMMUNITY. THE PURPOSE IS TO IMPROVE OUR SERVICES TO THE RANCHING COMMUNITY IN CALIFORNIA BY CONNECTING THEM TO RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP THEM KEEP RANCHING, LEARN NEW TOOLS, AND ACCESS FUNDING TOWARD ADVANCING THEIR AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS. IN 2025, WE HOSTED FOUR EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS ON CONSERVATION EASEMENT BASICS AND BENEFITS, THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION PROGRAMS, WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION, AND INSURANCE CONSIDERATIONS. WE ALSO HELD AN IN-PERSON SUCCESSION PLANNING WORKSHOP IN YOLO COUNTY, OFFERING FAMILIES PRACTICAL GUIDANCE FOR PLANNING AHEAD.
  5. OUR NEW PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT, WHICH WAS LAUNCHED IN FALL 2023, ENGAGED IN LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND PRESENTED WORKSHOPS AND WEBINARS FOR THE RANCHING COMMUNITY. THE PURPOSE IS TO IMPROVE OUR SERVICES TO THE RANCHING COMMUNITY IN CALIFORNIA BY CONNECTING THEM TO RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP THEM KEEP RANCHING, LEARN NEW TOOLS, AND ACCESS FUNDING TOWARD ADVANCING THEIR AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS. IN 2025, WE HOSTED FOUR EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS ON CONSERVATION EASEMENT BASICS AND BENEFITS, THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION PROGRAMS, WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION, AND INSURANCE CONSIDERATIONS. WE ALSO HELD AN IN-PERSON SUCCESSION PLANNING WORKSHOP IN YOLO COUNTY, OFFERING FAMILIES PRACTICAL GUIDANCE FOR PLANNING AHEAD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 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 April 1999.

    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 November 4, 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.