Minnesota Land Trust
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MINNESOTA LAND TRUST PROTECTS AND RESTORES MINNESOTA'S MOST VITAL NATURAL LANDS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE WILDLIFE HABITAT, CLEAN WATER, OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES AND SCENIC BEAUTY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
- Income
- $25.8 million
- Spending
- $21.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 7.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 75%
- Employees
- 42
- Volunteers
- 110
- Highest pay
- $203,165, ceo
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% 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 2524 of 24 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $19.1 million spent. THE MINNESOTA LAND TRUST ENGAGES IN THREE PRIMARY STRATEGIES TO ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION. PROTECT: PROTECT IMPORTANT NATURAL HABITATS THROUGH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND FEE TITLE TRANSACTIONS. RESTORE: PARTNER WITH GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES ON RECOVERING THE ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE ST. LOUIS RIVER ESTUARY AND HELP LANDOWNERS RESTORE THEIR PROTECTED LANDS TO NATIVE HABITAT. ENGAGE: INVEST IN EFFORTS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF MINNESOTANS IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN MINNESOTA'S GREAT CONSERVATION ETHIC. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE DETAILS.PROTECTION: THE LAND TRUST WORKS WITH LANDOWNERS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT AND RESTORE MINNESOTA'S CHERISHED BUT INCREASINGLY THREATENED LANDS AND WATERS PRIMARILY THROUGH ESTABLISHING, CREATING, AND MONITORING PERPETUAL CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. 760 LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED SINCE 1991, TOTALING 79,131 ACRES AND 3,000,000 FEET OF SHORELINE. RESTORATION: THE LAND TRUST HAS PARTNERED WITH LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL AND TRIBAL ENTITIES ON RESTORATION WORK IN THE ST. LOUIS RIVER ESTUARY, A UNIQUE, 12,000-ACRE WETLAND COMPLEX BETWEEN DULUTH, MN AND SUPERIOR, WI. THE RESTORATION PROGRAM ALSO HELPS PRIVATE LANDOWNERS RESTORE THEIR LAND TO ITS NATURAL STATE, HELPING TO PROTECT WILDLIFE HABITAT AS WELL AS OUR STATE'S SIGNATURE LAKES AND RIVERS. ENGAGEMENT: LAND TRUST FOSTERS A CONSERVATION ETHOS BY BUILDING CONNECTIONS TO NATURE AND INCREASING ACCESS TO MEANINGFUL NATURE EXPERIENCES FOR ALL MINNESOTANS.
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
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 June 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 March 1992.
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.