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Center for Natural Lands Management

EIN 68-0233573 · Temecula, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE CENTER FOR NATURAL LANDS MANAGEMENT IS (A) TO CONSERVE NATIVE SPECIES, THEIR HABITAT AND FUNCTIONING ECOSYSTEMS IN PERPETUITY, (B) TO OWN AND/OR MANAGE LANDS IN AN ECOLOGICALLY BENEFICIAL MANNER CONSISTENT WITH LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND WITH SCIENCE-BASED STEWARDSHIP, (C) TO PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION VALUES OF SUCH LANDS THROUGH EDUCATION, (D) TO PROMOTE AND FACILITATE USES OF LANDS BY THE PUBLIC THAT PRESERVE THE CONSERVATION VALUES, AND (E) TO COOPERATE WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO PROTECT NATIVE SPECIES AND THEIR HABITATS FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT.

Income
$6.8 million
Spending
$9.8 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-100.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
60
Volunteers
318
Highest pay
$247,065, co-exec dir & cfo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 43% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% 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

    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, 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 (1)
  1. $7.6 million spent. AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2024, THE CENTER FOR NATURAL LANDS MANAGEMENT (CNLM) HAS PERMANENTLY PROTECTED, THROUGH IN-FEE OWNERSHIP AND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, 73,050.96 ACRES OF LAND AND WETLANDS THAT PROVIDE ASSOCIATED HABITAT FOR AT-RISK SPECIES. PROTECTION AND STEWARDSHIP WERE PROVIDED THROUGH PATROLLING, PUBLIC EDUCATION, CONTROL OF NON-NATIVE VEGETATION, BIOLOGICAL MONITORING, BOUNDARY SECURITY, HABITAT RESTORATION, RESEARCH, AND OTHER ACTIVITES. THROUGH THIS STEWARDSHIP, CNLM PROTECTED APPROXIMATELY 142 FEDERAL OR STATE LISTED OR SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIES, INCLUDING 23 MAMMAL, 28 BIRD, 12 REPTILE, 8 AMPHIBIAN, 6 FISH, 13 INVERTEBRATE, AND 52 PLANT SPECIES ON ITS PRESERVES IN CALIFORNIA, OREGON, AND WASHINGTON. CNLM'S GOAL IS PERPETUAL PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF THESE SPECIES AND THEIR HABITATS. TO SUPPORT THESE STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES, CNLM HELD 113 RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS WITH A CUMULATIVE VALUE OF $278,843,053 AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 OF WHICH $1,025,154 WAS NEWLY CONTRIBUTED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, AT THE CLOSE OF THE FISCAL YEAR, CNLM HELD $34,760,235 IN FUNDS RESTRICTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING ADDITIONAL CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES. CNLM ALSO MANAGES CONSERVATION LANDS UNDER CONTRACT WITH OTHERS. DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD, CNLM MANAGED OVER 3,750 ACRES UNDER CONTRACT IN CALIFORNIA AND WASHINGTON, ALL OF WHICH PROVIDED HABITAT FOR LISTED OR RARE SPECIES OR REPRESENTED SENSITIVE OR RARE HABITAT. IN ADDITION, CNLM PROVIDES A SUITE OF BIOLOGICAL MONITORING, RESTORATION, AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO OTHERS TO ENHANCE THE ECOLOGICAL VALUE OF CONSERVATION LANDS OR TO ASSIST IN SPECIES RECOVERY EFFORTS. IN THESE CASES, CNLM HOLDS NO DIRECT REALTY INTEREST BUT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE HABITAT TYPES AND MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES. ADDITIONALLY, CNLM PROVIDES SERVICES TO ASSIST OTHERS (SUCH AS CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS) TO BETTER CALCULATE THE COSTS OF THEIR LONG-TERM OR PERPETUAL MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES OF OPEN SPACE AREAS. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH DIRECT SERVICE CONTRACTS, OFFERING AS A SUBSCRIPTION AN "APP" THAT WE DEVELOPED FOR THAT PURPOSE, AND PROVIDING INFORMATION THROUGH PUBLICATIONS, CONFERENCES, AND TRAINING VIDEOS. APPROXIMATELY 318 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED THEIR LABOR TO FURTHER SUPPORT CNLM'S HABITAT STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION EFFORTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 February 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.