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San Bernadino Mountains Land Trust

EIN 33-0700417 · Lk Arrowhead, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS LAND TRUST IS DEDICATED TO THE ACQUISITION OF FOREST OPEN SPACE AND WILDLIFE HABITAT ON PRIVATE LANDS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST TO HELP ENSURE LASTING PUBLIC BENEFIT TO THE NATURAL MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$304,445
Spending
$181,990
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
4
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$66,593, secretary

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 85% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% 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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 (2)
  1. $174,408 spent. CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM: THE ORGANIZATION MANAGED AND MAINTAINED SEVEN NATURAL FOREST ECOLOGICAL PRESERVES COMPRISING OVER 1100 ACRES WITH THE SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST FOR HABITAT PROTECTION AND PUBLIC ACCESS. THESE PRIVATE PRESERVES ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR PASSIVE RECREATIONAL ENJOYMENT, SUCH AS HIKING, BIRD WATCHING, OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY AND EQUESTRIAN USE, AS WELL AS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO WORK WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE TO PROTECT ENDANGERED FISH HABITAT IN THE SHAY POND AND WET MEADOWLAND AREA OF THE NATIONAL FOREST. LIKEWISE, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INLAND EMPIRE RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT TO BETTER SAFEGUARD AND RESTORE RARE AND ENDANGERED PLANT SPECIES ON THE UNIQUE PEBBLE PLAIN HABITAT FOUND ONLY IN THE BIG BEAR VALLEY OF THE SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST. THE ORGANIZATION HAS ALSO STARTED A TREE NURSERY THIS YEAR TO GROW NATIVE TREES IN THE FOREST.
  2. PUBLIC OUTREACH, PUBLICATIONS AND WEBSITE: THE ORGANIZATION KEPT THE PUBLIC AND ITS SUPPORTERS INFORMED OF PROGRESS, EVENTS, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, EMAIL BLASTS, MAILINGS, AND NEWSLETTERS.

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 November 1996.

    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.