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Redlands Conservancy

EIN 33-0600577 · Redlands, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE REDLANDS' HISTORIC BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TO CONSERVE THE IRREPLACEABLE, NATURAL AND AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENTS TO CONNECT REDLANDS RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO OUR PIONEERS AND VISIONARIES.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
3
Volunteers
135
Highest pay
$80,000, 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% 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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $1.4 million spent. PROPERTY/LAND MANAGEMENT - REDLANDS GATEWAY RANCH IS 167 ACRES AND A HOME THAT WILL SERVE AS A HUB OF HIKING TRAILS IN LIVE OAK CANYON. THIS PROJECT INCLUDES CREATING THE STAGING AREA, ESTABLISHING THE NATIVE PLANT NURSERY, RESTORING THE HOUSE FOR A PERMANENT CARETAKER, DEVELOPING THE OUTBUILDINGS INTO EXPLORATION STATIONS, AND CONSTRUCTING ADA TRAILS AND FACILITIES. IN 2018 WE RECEIVED FEE TITLE TO THE ASISTENCIA, A ONE-ACRE SITE WITH 8,000 SQUARE FEET OF BUILDING SPACE AS A RE-CREATION OF AN 1830'S ESTANCIA LOCATED ON THE SITE.
  2. $655 spent. PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE IN AND SURROUNDING REDLANDS KNOWN AS THE EMERALD NECKLACE TRAIL. TOURS AND EDUCATION OF WILDLANDS INCLUDING CITRUS GROVES AND ZANJA GREENWAY TRAIL PARK. INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAM ARE LAND AND EASEMENT ACQUISITION PROGRAMS TO ADD MORE CONSERVED LAND TO REDLANDS CONSERVANCY MANAGEMENT. CONSERVATION EASEMENT MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, MONITORING, AND ENHANCEMENT; AND LAND MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING PROTECTION OF NATURAL HISTORIC RESOURCES. A DESIGNATION OF THE "OFFICIAL" ROUTE FOR CYCLING AND DRIVING TO REACH ALL OF THE HISTORIC, CULTURAL, AND OPEN SPACE SITES ON THE DEFINED EMERALD NECKLACE TRAIL AND SCENIC ROUTE; INCLUDES STOPS AT DESIGNATED "GEM SITES," WITH ACCESS TO INTERPRETIVE MESSAGES. ALSO, INCLUDES AN ANNUAL EMERALD NECKLACE GRAND TOUR FOR 300 CYCLISTS, DRIVERS AND BUS RIDERS TO LEARN ABOUT AND CELEBRATE THE REDLANDS' EMERALD NECKLACE. ADDITIONALLY, THE ZANJA TRAIL AND GREENWAY PARK IS A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT TO DEVELOP A NATURAL SURFACE TRAIL AND LINEAR PARK ALONG OR NEAR THE HISTORIC MILL CREEK ZANJA, A 198-YEAR-OLD IRRIGATION CHANNEL CONSTRUCTED BY REGIONAL SERRANO AND CAHUILLA INDIANS. HALF OF THE ORIGINAL ZANJA STILL EXISTS. THE (ULTIMATELY) 5-MILE TRAIL WILL INCLUDE INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE, EXERCISE NODES, POCKET PARKS, AND NATIVE VEGETATION. FIRST ONE-MILE REACH OPENED IN LATE 2017.
  3. DURING 2022, THE ORGANIZATION ACQUIRED 70 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE IN LIVE OAK CANYON KNOWN AS THE QUAIL CANYON PRESERVE. THE LAND IS CONNECTED TO THE WEST SIDE OF HERNGT 'AKI' PRESERVE BY A HISTORIC TRAIL THAT RUNS THROUGH THE CANYON. THE TRAIL WILL CONNECT HIKERS, CYCLISTS, AND HORSEBACK RIDERS TO TEDDY'S TRAIL ON THE NORTH END AND TO HERNGT 'AKI' PRESERVE ON THE SOUTH. REDLANDS CONSERVANCY WILL MANAGE THIS PROPERTY TO CONSERVE AND RESTORE THE NATIVE VEGETATION, TO MAINTAIN THE HISTORIC TRAIL THROUGH THE SITE, AND TO PROTECT THE WILDLIFE. PLANS INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SMALL REST STATION FOR EQUESTRIANS WITH ACCESS TO WATER FOR HORSES, AND THE INSTALLATION OF AN ATTRACTIVE TWO-STRAND CABLE FENCE TO EXTEND FROM THE WEST END OF THE FENCE ALONG LIVE OAK CANYON ROAD IN FRONT OF HERNGT 'AKI' PRESERVE.

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 1995.

    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.

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.