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Bur Oak Land Trust

EIN 42-1104058 · Iowa City, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BUR OAK LAND TRUST ADVANCES BIODIVERSITY IN EASTERN IOWA BY PROTECTING RESILIENT LANDSCAPES AND CONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE.

Income
$931,208
Spending
$833,987
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
8.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
25
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$77,184, executive di

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: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 97 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $579,349 spent. PROPERTY STEWARDSHIP: BUR OAK LAND TRUST OWNS AND MANAGES 13 LOCAL NATURAL AREAS IN IOWA'S JOHNSON, MUSCATINE AND POWESHIEK COUNTIES, TOTALING 594 ACRES. THE TRUST ALSO HOLDS 17 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, TOTALING 391 ACRES FROM PRIVATE LANDOWNERS WHO WISH TO PROTECT THEIR LAND FROM DEVELOPMENT IN PERPETUITY. THE TRUST HAS A CONSERVATION DIRECTOR AND A LAND STEWARD WHO DEVELOP MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR EACH PROPERTY IN COLLABORATION WITH AMERICORPS MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS.
  2. LAND CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT: PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR FEE-OWNED PROPERTIES INCLUDE IDENTIFICATION OF NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE SPECIES FOUND ON THE PROPERTIES, CONTROL OF INVASIVE SPECIES, AND UNIQUE MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED, THREATENED, AND SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN. REDUCTION OF INVASIVE SPECIES WILL ALLOW FOR THE REESTABLISHMENT OF A MORE RESILIENT NATIVE ECOSYSTEM. IN 2024, APPROXIMATELY 15,000 HOURS OF ACTIVE LAND MANAGEMENT OCCURRED ON THE TRUST'S FEE-OWNED PROPERTIES, WITH A FOCUS ON HABITAT RESTORATION AND IMPROVEMENT. MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDED PRESCRIBED FIRE, TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT AND CANOPY REDUCTION, MECHANICAL REMOVAL OF INVASIVE SPECIES, NATIVE SEED HARVESTING AND SEED SPREADING, AND NATIVE SHRUB AND TREE PLANTING. LAND CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT: PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR FEE-OWNED PROPERTIES INCLUDE IDENTIFICATION OF NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE SPECIES FOUND ON THE PROPERTIES, CONTROL OF INVASIVE SPECIES, AND UNIQUE MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED, THREATENED, AND SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN. REDUCTION OF INVASIVE SPECIES WILL ALLOW FOR THE REESTABLISHMENT OF A MORE RESILIENT NATIVE ECOSYSTEM. IN 2024, APPROXIMATELY 15,000 HOURS OF ACTIVE LAND MANAGEMENT OCCURRED ON THE TRUST'S FEE-OWNED PROPERTIES, WITH A FOCUS ON HABITAT RESTORATION AND IMPROVEMENT. MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDED PRESCRIBED FIRE, TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT AND CANOPY REDUCTION, MECHANICAL REMOVAL OF INVASIVE SPECIES, NATIVE SEED HARVESTING AND SEED SPREADING, AND NATIVE SHRUB AND TREE PLANTING.
  3. PUBLIC AWARENESS, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT: BUR OAK LAND TRUST STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND AMERICORPS MEMBERS PRESENTED TO DIVERSE COMMUNITY GROUPS PROMOTING LAND CONSERVATION AND PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE TRUST HOSTED IN-PERSON AND ONLINE EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH EVENTS. THE TRUST MAINTAINS A SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE THROUGH NUMEROUS PLATFORMS, PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL CONTENT AND PROMOTING OPPORTUNITIES.

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 2025.

    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 December 1978.

    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.