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Rondo Community Land Trust

EIN 41-1753148 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EMPOWERING WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING. STRENGTHEN AND PRESERVE COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING AND ADVOCATING FOR PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE, SUSTAINABLE HOUSING FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH LOW TO MODERATE INCOMES. PROMOTE THE UTILIZATION OF THE LAND TRUST MODEL AS A METHOD OF PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION. SUPPORT AND CELEBRATE CULTURAL DIVERSITY BY PROVIDING AFFORDABLE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC WEALTH, PROPERTY VALUES AND JOBS.

Income
$14.8 million
Spending
$7.9 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
10
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$140,655, 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 50% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (2)
  1. $7.4 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION, A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST (CLT), ACHIEVES PERMANENT, LONG TERM HOUSING AFFORDABILITY THROUGH THE USE OF GROUND LEASES. CLT HOMEBUYERS PURCHASE ONLY THE HOUSE, AND ENTER INTO A 99 YEAR GROUND LEASE WITH THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE LAND. THE ORGANIZATION'S GROUND LEASE STATES THAT WHEN A HOMEOWNER DECIDES TO SELL THEIR HOME, THE HOUSE IS SOLD TO ANOTHER LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLD FOR THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE PLUS 25% OF ANY APPRECIATION IN THE HOME'S VALUE. BY LIMITING MARKET APPRECIATION, PERMANENT AFFORDABILITY IS ENSURED AND INITIAL SUBSIDIES INVESTED IN MAKING THE HOME AFFORDABLE ARE SPREAD ACROSS GENERATIONS OF LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOMEBUYERS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTION GIVES HOUSEHOLDS THAT COULD OTHERWISE ONLY AFFFORD TO RENT THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL OF THE BENEFITS OF HOMEOWNERSHIP STABILITY, SECURITY, TAX BENEFITS, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN EQUITY AND APPRECIATION IN REAL ESTATE THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH RENTING.
  2. $144,202 spent. THE RONDO COMMUNITY LAND TRUST (RONDO CLT) CREATED THE RONDO DEVELOPMENT ON SELBY, LLC. A SUBSIDIARY LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATION FOR THE SELBY MILTON VICTORIA (SMV) COMMERCIAL LAND TRUST AND SENIOR HOUSING PROJECT ON SELBY AVENUE. RONDO CLT, ALONG WITH ITS PARTNER COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (CHDC), DEVELOPED TWO MIXED USE COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS. THESE BUILDINGS PROVIDE LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR SMALL, LOCAL, AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES ALONG WITH AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING. THE BUILDINGS ARE LOCATED AT 852 SELBY AND 940 SELBY IN ST. PAUL. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 34 UNITS OF LOW INCOME SENIOR HOUSING. THE 34 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING BUILT ON THE TOP TWO FLOORS OF THESE BUILDINGS AND WERE FINANCED BY A COMBINATION OF DEFERRED LOANS AND LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS. THE UNITS ARE AFFORDABLE TO THOSE AT 30% TO 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. THE AFFORDABILITY WILL BE SECURED WITH RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS. THERE IS 9,300 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE. THERE ARE FIVE COMMERCIAL SPACES AND TWO LIVE WORK UNITS. THE HOUSING PORTION OF THIS PROJECT IS OWNED BY THE CHDC RONDO LIMITED PARTNERSHIP. RONDO DEVELOPMENT ON SELBY LLC IS A COGENERAL PARTNER IN THIS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP.

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 March 1995.

    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.