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Western Reserve Land Conservancy

EIN 34-1571233 · Moreland Hls, OH

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

LAND CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT

Income
$32.0 million
Spending
$23.8 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
65
Volunteers
65
Highest pay
$449,811, president &

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 32 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 June 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. $19.5 million spent. THE NATIONALLY ACCREDITED WESTERN RESERVE LAND CONSERVANCY, THE LARGEST LAND TRUST IN OHIO, IS A NONPROFIT CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND RESTORING ESSENTIAL NATURAL ASSETS. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1987, THE LAND CONSERVANCY HAS PERMANENTLY PROTECTED 80,000 ACRES ACROSS 1,000 PROPERTIES, HELPED CREATE AND EXPAND 250 PUBLIC PARKS AND PRESERVES, SUPPORTED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEARLY 70 LAND BANKS, AND PLANTED AND DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 18,000 URBAN TREES AND NEARLY 100,000 TREES FOR NATURAL AREAS RESTORATION. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS, GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AND OTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS, THE LAND CONSERVANCY WORKS TO ENSURE THE PERMANENT PROTECTION OF LAND AND WATER.
  2. $3.0 million spent. URBAN REVITALIZATION, REFORESTATION, AND GREENING: WESTERN RESERVE LAND CONSERVANCY'S THRIVING COMMUNITIES URBAN PROGRAM HELPS REMOVE BLIGHTED STRUCTURES, PLANT TREES, AND CREATE PARKS AND NEW GREEN SPACES IN URBAN AREAS, TRANSFORMING NEIGHBORHOODS INTO SAFER, MORE ATTRACTIVE, AND MORE VIBRANT PLACES. PROGRAM INITIATIVES INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEARLY 70 LAND BANKS THROUGHOUT OHIO TO PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED ABILITY TO QUICKLY ACQUIRE FORECLOSED AND VACANT PROPERTIES AND RETURN THEM TO PRODUCTIVE USE. THE PROGRAM ALSO ADVANCES URBAN REFORESTATION AND GREENING BY LEADING EFFORTS TO RESTORE THE URBAN TREE CANOPY THROUGH EXPERT ASSISTANCE TO CITIES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, AND BY PROVIDING HANDS-ON TREE PLANTING AND MAINTENANCE TRAINING, RESULTING IN MORE THAN 18,000 TREES PLANTED AND DISTRIBUTED. IN ADDITION, THE LAND CONSERVANCY CONDUCTS ON-THE-GROUND PROPERTY INVENTORIES TO PROVIDE CITIES WITH CRITICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CURRENT CONDITION OF PARCELS AND THEIR STRUCTURES, ENABLING MORE EFFECTIVE TARGETING OF DEMOLITION AND REHABILITATION RESOURCES. ALTOGETHER, THE LAND CONSERVANCY HAS HELPED RAISE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS OHIO TO DEMOLISH MORE THAN 35,000 DILAPIDATED AND VACANT HOMES, MAKING NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER AND MORE VIBRANT. URBAN REVITALIZATION, REFORESTATION, AND GREENING: WESTERN RESERVE LAND CONSERVANCY'S THRIVING COMMUNITIES URBAN PROGRAM HELPS REMOVE BLIGHTED STRUCTURES, PLANT TREES, AND CREATE PARKS AND NEW GREEN SPACES IN URBAN AREAS, TRANSFORMING NEIGHBORHOODS INTO SAFER, MORE ATTRACTIVE, AND MORE VIBRANT PLACES. PROGRAM INITIATIVES INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEARLY 70 LAND BANKS THROUGHOUT OHIO TO PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED ABILITY TO QUICKLY ACQUIRE FORECLOSED AND VACANT PROPERTIES AND RETURN THEM TO PRODUCTIVE USE. THE PROGRAM ALSO ADVANCES URBAN REFORESTATION AND GREENING BY LEADING EFFORTS TO RESTORE THE URBAN TREE CANOPY THROUGH EXPERT ASSISTANCE TO CITIES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, AND BY PROVIDING HANDS-ON TREE PLANTING AND MAINTENANCE TRAINING, RESULTING IN MORE THAN 18,000 TREES PLANTED AND DISTRIBUTED. IN ADDITION, THE LAND CONSERVANCY CONDUCTS ON-THE-GROUND PROPERTY INVENTORIES TO PROVIDE CITIES WITH CRITICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CURRENT CONDITION OF PARCELS AND THEIR STRUCTURES, ENABLING MORE EFFECTIVE TARGETING OF DEMOLITION AND REHABILITATION RESOURCES. ALTOGETHER, THE LAND CONSERVANCY HAS HELPED RAISE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS OHIO TO DEMOLISH MORE THAN 35,000 DILAPIDATED AND VACANT HOMES, MAKING NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER AND MORE VIBRANT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 October 13, 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 June 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 August 1996.

    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 October 21, 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.