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Public Lands Foundation

EIN 54-1437054 · Arlington, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong97 out of 100GovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Advocate for professional management of public lands.

Income
$146,708
Spending
$143,960
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
35.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 45%
Employees
1
Volunteers
44

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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 35.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 137% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 29 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $12,862 spent. Advocated for effective management of 245 million acres of public land administered by BLM for the publics benefit and enjoyment. Produced quarterly issues of newsletter The Public Lands Monitor with a distribution to about 1000 recipients. We work year round on advocacy-outreach activities. We pursue this advocacy mission by remaining current on public land issues and polcies, preparing Position Statements, and communicating our concerns and recommendations to the BLM, Congress, stakeholder interest groups and the general public. We testify before Congress and submit written testimony on budget, legislation and policy matters affecting the BLM and the public lands. Our Priority Advocacy issues include Rebuilding the BLM, Public Land Access, Public Land Recreation, Special Areas Management an Renewable Energy
  2. $7,779 spent. Educated members on land issues and provided information to members on related issues. Held quarterly conference calls with Board members and an annual meeting for members to network and share views on BLM issues. This years annual meeting theme was Recreation and National Landscape Conservation System Management. The annual meeting had a range of local experts that discussed recreation, partnerships and permits. The general message was the importance of developing partnership efforts between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), State recreation agencies, recreation stakeholder interest groups, and public land users to address ever-increasing recreation demands on the public lands. The importance of developing strong relationships with local communities and the value of Friends organizations to support the work of BLM in management of National Conservation Areas and Monuments was also addressed
  3. $11,071 spent. Awarded two $ 5000 scholarships to deserving junior, senior or master-level college students pursuing degrees in natural resources management or public land policy related fields. These scholarships assist the students in successfully completing their studies and encourage them to seriously consider future employment with the BLM or other federal land management agencies. This scholarship allows a shadow opportunity with a BLM Manager.
  4. $73,436 spent. Student Congress Fourteen volunteers spent hundreds of hours over a two-year period developing, organizing and implementing the sixth biennial John Freemuth Student Congress in Las Vegas, NV in October 2024. Twenty-three college and graduate students from throughout the United States participated in the Congress.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 June 1989.

    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.