Standing Cedars Community Land Conservancy Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Preserve and protect field and forest and natural habitat along the lower St. Croix river.
- Income
- $136,641
- Spending
- $103,164
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 12.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 85
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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 40% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $19,418 spent. Land Management: The Land Management Committee and its many volunteers put in over 900 hours this year on land conservation efforts. Land restoration and enhancement projects include activities such as controlling invasive buckthorn,hedgerow removal, and other brush encroachment through prescribed burns and other mechanical methods on our prairie and oak savanna habitat. A forest management plan was developed to help with protection activity prioritization, and began the process of updating our land management plan. Continued working with a local farmer to ready a 35-acre field for restoration work to begin in 2026. Trails on all four of our properties with public access are maintained for year-round recreation such hiking and cross-country skiing.
- $1,985 spent. Public Relations: Throughout the year we informed the public and our 200 plus volunteers about about our activities and opportunities through social media, email, the newsletter and other mailings. We participated in the annual River Road Farm Crawl and co-hosted a First Day Hike, and have initiated a major upgrade of the trailhead Kiosks. It was the third year of Standing Cedars awarding two scholarships to high school students.
- $73,932 spent. Land Protection: Progress has been made on the conversion of the old farmstead we acquired in 2024 into our headquarters. Siding was replaced and heat was added to a shop building, to serve as storage and meeting space. The dilapidated barn was demolished, and asbestos and vermiculite abatement was completed in the old house, which will be demolished in 2026. Compliance reviews were completed for all the properties with Standing Cedars conservation easements.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1994.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.