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Cardinal Land Conservancy Inc

EIN 31-1673211 · Loveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BENEFIT THE GENERAL PUBLIC BY PRESERVING NATURAL LANDS AND SIGNIFICANT HABITS, LANDS SUITABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FOOD, TIMBER, OR OTHER CULTIVATED OR NATURAL PRODUCTS, LANDS CREATING SCENIC VISTAS FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT, LANDS WITH WATER RESOURCES SUCH AS RIVERS, STREAMS, LAKES, WETLANDS, BOGS AND AQUIFERS, AND ANY OF THE ABOVE LANDS THAT INCLUDE IMPORTANT HISTORIC OR CULTURAL RESOURCES. OUR PRIMARY SERVICE AREA IS ADAMS, BROWN, CLERMONT, CLINTON, HAMILTON, HIGHLAND AND WARREN COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST OHIO.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
52%
Reserves
-165.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 66%
Employees
22
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$74,360, executive dir.

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

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 80% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 52% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    52% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 September 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 (2)
  1. $555,165 spent. LAND STEWARDSHIP: WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO PROTECT CONSERVATION VALUES AND TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND COMMUNITY MEMBER FOR ALL OUR PROPERTIES. WE EVALUATE EVERY PROPERTY FOR ITS CONSERVATION VALUE, THE THREATS TO THESE VALUES, AND FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE CONSERVATION VALUES THROUGH RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT. A FORMAL STEWARDSHIP PLAN IS DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED BASED ON THIS ANALYSIS TO INCLUDE ANNUAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT AS PART OF AN ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK. SOME CONSERVATION PROPERTIES INCLUDE RESTORATION WORK TO REPLACE LOST FUNCTIONS AND TO INCREASE THE CONSERVATION VALUE OF THE PROPERTY. OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE A VITAL AND GROWING RESOURCE FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM WITH INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS OF ALL AGES PARTICIPATING IN PLANNING AND PROVIDING SERVICE. STEWARDING CONSERVED LANDS. A STEWARDSHIP FUNDING STRATEGY, INCLUDING GIFT DONATIONS DURING THE ACQUISITION PROCESS, IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF EVERY NEW CONSERVATION PROJECT. STEWARDSHIP FUNDS ARE USED TO PROVIDE FOR FUTURE EXPENSES OF RESTORATION, MONITORING, ENFORCING COMPLIANCE WITH EASEMENT RESTRICTIONS, AND UNDERWRITING LEGAL DEFENSE OF CONSERVATION PROTECTIONS FOR ALL OUR PROPERTIES. WE INSURE THE CONSERVATION DEFENSE OF OUR PROPERTIES WITH TERRAFIRMA, A LAND TRUST RISK SHARING POOL.
  2. $67,131 spent. CONSERVATION LAND AND EASEMENT ACQUISITION: WE CONSERVE IMPORTANT AND THREATENED LAND USING ALL THE TOOLS OF PRIVATE, VOLUNTARY LAND CONSERVATION. WE WORK EXCLUSIVELY WITH WILLING LANDOWNERS TO FIND WAYS TO CONSERVE, FOREVER, THE SCENIC AND NATURAL VALUES OF THE LAND AND WATER. LANDOWNERS DONATE OR SELL THEIR LAND FOR CONSERVATION OR A CONSERVATION EASEMENT. IN EITHER CASE, THE CONVERSION OF THE LAND TO DEVELOPMENT USES IS RESTRICTED OR ELIMINATED. WE MANAGE THE LAND UNDER A STEWARDSHIP PLAN AND, IF NECESSARY, LEGALLY DEFEND THE TERMS OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT OR THE CONSERVATION VALUES OF OUR FEE LANDS. WE ALSO IDENTIFY PRIORITY CONSERVATION LANDS TO PURCHASE, OFTEN WORKING WITH GOVERNMENTAL AND OTHER FUNDING PARTNERS. FURTHER, WE CONSERVE WORKING FORESTS AND AGRICULTURAL LAND FOR THE PURPOSE OF KEEPING THE LAND IN RESOURCE PRODUCTION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 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 January 2000.

    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.