Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust

EIN 56-2563880 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIENDS OF THE COLUMBIA GORGE LAND TRUST WORKS TO PRESERVE SCENIC GORGE LANDSCAPES, SAFEGUARD SENSITIVE HABITATS, STEWARD VITAL GORGE LANDS, AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
0
Volunteers
317
Highest pay
$188,601, executive dir.

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

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 63% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.4 million spent. LAND TRUST - FRIENDS OF THE COLUMBIA GORGE LAND TRUST WORKS TO PRESERVE SCENIC GORGE LANDSCAPES, SAFEGUARD SENSITIVE HABITATS, STEWARD VITAL GORGE LANDS, AND STRENGTHEN GORGE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS.
  2. $867,981 spent. SHARE THE WONDER - SHARE THE WONDER IS A $6.6 MILLION CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE THE COLUMBIA GORGE REMAINS A NATURAL WONDER. THE CAMPAIGN IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT IT AND INSPIRE YOUNGER GENERATIONS AND NEW LEADERS TO CARRY ON THIS CRITICAL WORK IN THE YEARS AND DECADES AHEAD. THE VISION OF THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN IS TO ACQUIRE NEW PROPERTIES, RESTORE CAPE HORN AND CATHERINE CREEK TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS SPACES FOR BOTH WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE, AND FORGE NEW TRAIL CONNECTIONS TO ENHANCE ACCESSIBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE GORGE.
  3. $125,992 spent. GORGE TOWN TO TRAILS - FRIENDS WORKS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC HIKING TRAILS AND STRENGTHEN GORGE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS THROUGH THE CREATION OF A NEW 200-MILE LOOP TRAIL NETWORK THAT ENHANCES GORGE RECREATION AND LOCAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

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

  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 October 13, 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 June 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 January 2007.

    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 October 21, 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.