Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Driftless Area Land Conservancy Inc

EIN 39-2017802 · Dodgeville, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE THE HEALTH, DIVERSITY AND BEAUTY OF SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN'S NATURAL AND AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE THROUGH PERMANENT LAND PROTECTION AND RESTORATION AND IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES BY CONNECTING THEM TO THE LAND AND EACH OTHER.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
16.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
12
Volunteers
129
Highest pay
$98,659, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 63% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 258% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

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

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 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. $614,315 spent. LAND CONSERVATION - SINCE 2000, DRIFTLESS AREA LAND CONSERVANCY HAS PROTECTED OVER 8,500 ACRES OF FARMS, FORESTS, PRAIRIES, AND WETLANDS. IN 2024, THE CONSERVANCY PROTECTED OVER 290 ACRES OF WOODLANDS, PRAIRIE, PASTURE, AND FARMLAND. THE CONSERVANCY ALSO STEWARDED 900 ACRES OF DALC AND PARTNER-OWNED NATURE PRESERVES INCLUDING THE APPLICATION OF PRESCRIBED FIRE, INTERSEEDING NATIVE SPECIES AND INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL. THE CONSERVANCY CONTINUES TO LEAD THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DRIFTLESS TRAIL, COORDINATE THE LOWERY CREEK WATERSHED INITIATIVE, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE SOUTHERN DRIFTLESS GRASSLANDS PARTNERSHIP.
  2. $352,489 spent. ADVOCACY - THE CONSERVANCY'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS FOCUS ON POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM PROTECTION OF NATURAL, HISTORICAL, AND CULTURE RESOURCES OF SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN'S DRIFTLESS AREA. IN 2024, THE CONSERVANCY CONTINUED ITS EFFORTS TO OPPOSE A MASSIVE AND UNNEEDED TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT. ACTIVITIES IN 2024 WERE LARGELY FOCUSED ON LEGAL MATTERS REGARDING THE PROPOSED CROSSING OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE REFUGE. THE CONSERVANCY ALSO CONTINUES TO BE INVOLVED IN ADVOCATING FOR THE KNOWLES NELSON STEWARDSHIP FUND WHICH SUPPORTS LAND CONSERVATION THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN.
  3. $63,829 spent. OUTREACH AND EDUCATION - THE CONSERVANCY'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS AIM TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE LAND AND TO ONE ANOTHER. THE CONSERVANCY AIMS TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS TO PROTECT AND STEWARD OUR UNIQUE DRIFTLESS LANDSCAPE. WE CONTINUED TO BUILD OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, AND HAVE ENGAGED 119 VOLUNTEERS OVER 1597 HOURS OF DONATED TIME. IN 2024, THE CONSERVANCY ENGAGED OVER 700 PEOPLE IN DALC'S MISSION AND WORK THROUGH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS, FIELD TRIPS, VOLUNTEER WORK DAYS, GATHERINGS, AND EVENTS.

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 May 2001.

    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.