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Public Lands Alliance

EIN 54-1123356 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PUBLIC LANDS ALLIANCE (PLA) CONNECTS, STRENGTHENS, AND REPRESENTS THE NONPROFIT PARTNERS OF AMERICA'S PUBLIC LANDS. FOUNDED IN 1977, PLA IS THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF NONPROFITS THAT SUPPORT PUBLIC LANDS, INCLUDING COOPERATING ASSOCIATIONS, FRIENDS GROUPS, TRAIL AND WATERSHED CONSERVANCIES, HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS, AND COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS. PLA REPRESENTS A NETWORK OF NEARLY 150 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING MORE THAN 750 PUBLIC LAND SITES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. PLA BUILDS THE CAPACITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE NONPROFIT PARTNERS TO LEVERAGE PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY, ENGAGE VOLUNTEERS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES, EXPAND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND INSPIRE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR NATION'S TREASURED LANDSCAPES AND HISTORIC PLACES. STRONG NONPROFIT PARTNERS ARE ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING THAT ONE DAY AMERICA'S PUBLIC LANDS ARE UNDERSTOOD AND APPRECIATED, PRESERVED AND CONSERVED, AND ENJOYED BY ALL.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%
Employees
9
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$172,248, president an

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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 September 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 (3)
  1. $948,971 spent. STRENGTHEN PLA OFFERS A VARIETY OF TRAINING, CONSULTATION, AND NETWORKING EXPERIENCES THAT ENHANCE THE CAPABILITIES OF NONPROFIT PUBLIC LAND ORGANIZATIONS AND LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, CREATE IMPACT, AND ACHIEVE SHARED MISSIONS THAT BENEFIT PUBLIC LANDS AND THEIR USERS. PLA DELIVERS ITS PROGRAMS ONLINE AND AT FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ITS ANNUAL CONVENTION AND TRADE SHOW OFFERS CRITICAL EDUCATION, SHARED LEARNING, AND BEST PRACTICES TO MORE THAN 600 PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS FROM THE PUBLIC LANDS COMMUNITY AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS. OTHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE PARTNERSHIP AWARDS PROGRAM, WEBINARS, AND AN ONLINE EDUCATION RESOURCE LIBRARY. PLA HAS A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF AND PRIVATE SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM THROUGH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS AND CAPACITY BUILDING WITH REFUGE FRIENDS ORGANIZATIONS. STRENGTHEN PLA OFFERS A VARIETY OF TRAINING, CONSULTATION, AND NETWORKING EXPERIENCES THAT ENHANCE THE CAPABILITIES OF NONPROFIT PUBLIC LAND ORGANIZATIONS AND LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, CREATE IMPACT, AND ACHIEVE SHARED MISSIONS THAT BENEFIT PUBLIC LANDS AND THEIR USERS. PLA DELIVERS ITS PROGRAMS ONLINE AND AT FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ITS ANNUAL CONVENTION AND TRADE SHOW OFFERS CRITICAL EDUCATION, SHARED LEARNING, AND BEST PRACTICES TO MORE THAN 600 PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS FROM THE PUBLIC LANDS COMMUNITY AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS. OTHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE PARTNERSHIP AWARDS PROGRAM, WEBINARS, AND AN ONLINE EDUCATION RESOURCE LIBRARY. PLA HAS A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF AND PRIVATE SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM THROUGH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS AND CAPACITY BUILDING WITH REFUGE FRIENDS ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $202,521 spent. CONNECT PLA PROVIDES CURRENT, RELEVANT, AND CUSTOMIZED COMMUNICATION WITH NONPROFIT MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, AGENCY PARTNERS,INDUSTRY BUSINESS PARTNERS, AND OTHER LIKE-MISSION ORGANIZATIONS. ITS ONLINE CONNECTED COMMUNITIES PLATFORM ENABLES GREATER NETWORKING BETWEEN NONPROFIT MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, HELPING THEM ADDRESS CURRENT CHALLENGES AND EXCHANGE IDEAS WITH THEIR PEERS. PLA PUBLISHES AN ELECTRONIC MONTHLY NEWSLETTER WITH A SUBSCRIPTION TO MORE THAN 3,500 COMMUNITY LEADERS AND PROFESSIONALS THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THAT MATCH THE SPECIAL INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC LANDS PARTNER COMMUNITY.
  3. $181,464 spent. REPRESENT PLA SERVES AS A NONPARTISAN ADVOCATE FOR BETTER PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ON AMERICA'S PUBLIC LANDS, INCREASED FUNDING FOR PLACES AND PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THE MISSIONS OF OUR MEMBERSHIP, AND INCREASED LEARNING AND SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC LANDS VISITORS. PLA PROVIDES TIMELY, COMPREHENSIVE INPUT TO AGENCY LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THESE AND RELATED ISSUES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF NONPROFIT PUBLIC LANDS PARTNERS. PLA ALSO ENGAGES AND EDUCATES ITS NONPROFIT MEMBERS ON ISSUES CRITICAL TO THEIR SUCCESS, INVITING THEM TO BECOME BETTER AND STRONGER ADVOCATES FOR PUBLIC LANDS AND PARTNERSHIPS IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1981.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.