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Sequoia Riverlands Trust

EIN 77-0347417 · Visalia, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

We conserve the lands and waters of California's heartland.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
53%
Reserves
-8.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 36%
Employees
34
Volunteers
224
Highest pay
$132,575, chief investmen

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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 21% 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 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 135% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    53% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 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 (6)
  1. $1.1 million spent. SRT provides Mitigation services to find and acquire either land or easements to offset development sites. SRT now holds over 42,000 acres in protected lands. SRT's Conservation Stewardship manages and monitors wildlife habitat, protects open spaces, guards against misuse of land, and promotes healthy environmental practices. Not only does Stewardship manage easements, it manages its own preserves totaling 11,328 acres.
  2. $390,922 spent. Education and volunteer programs: field trips, seminars, walking tours and SRT's own EARTH Academy provide educational opportunities to youth, families and the general public to learn about the natural history of our area, the biological diversity, and the importance of preserving our open spaces and natural resources. Volunteers help restore and maintain the health of our nature preserves and educate our community amount sustainability.
  3. $118,959 spent. SRT's Policy Department coordinates with stakeholders ranging from farmers and ranchers to business leaders, public health experts and representatives of under served communities to be sure that when key decisions are made, there is a voice for conservation at the table. By reaching out to others and finding common ground, we help to inform land use and transportation planning, water policy and decisions about conservation funding. Thanks in part to in-depth reports researched and authored by our Director of Planning and Policy, SRT is a leading voice on policy solutions to support the protection of habitat and agricultural land.
  4. $32,627 spent. Nursery (growing and selling native plants). Offers the public a chance to adopt and grow native plants that often are more drought resistant and preserves native species.
  5. Grazing & Bee Income: Contracts with ranchers to allow livestock to graze on SRT preserves. Grazing offers a great educational opportunity to demonstrate how good grazing management leads to a more productive mix of plants and increases the regenerative capacity of the land.
  6. Investments & Partnerships develops messaging to help tell our story to the broadest audience possible in order to inspire, educate, and inform the public about our increasingly crucial conservation mission. Communications generates content for the SRT website, e-newsletter, blog, and social media sites.

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 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 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 September 1993.

    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.