Eastern Sierra Land Trust
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ESTABLISHED IN 2001, EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST (ESLT) WORKS WITH WILLING LANDOWNERSTO PRESERVE VITAL LANDS IN THE EASTERN SIERRA REGION FOR THEIR SCENIC, AGRICULTURAL,NATURAL, RECREATIONAL, HISTORICAL, AND WATERSHED VALUES. ESLT RECOGNIZES THAT THELAND WE SHARE HAS LONG BEEN USED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, AND WE WORK TO PRESERVE AHEALTHY BALANCE OF USES FROM RANCHING TO HIKING, WILDLIFE HABITATS TO FAVORITEFISHING SPOTS THAT CAN BE SUSTAINED FOREVER, ENSURING A STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY ANDHEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. ESLT WORKS TO HELP FAMILIES IN THE FACEOF PRESSURES TO SUBDIVIDE THEIR WORKING FARMS AND RANCHES. WE WORK WITH LANDOWNERSTO PROTECT THE REGIONS CRITICAL HABITATS. WE WORK TO OFFER THE ENTIRE EASTERN SIERRA COMMUNITY, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH OUR TREASURED LANDS, WILDLIFE AND A RURAL HERITAGE.AS A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED LAND TRUST, ESLT MEETS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR EXCELLENCE, TRUST AND PERMANENCE.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 80.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 39
- Highest pay
- $166,239, executive dir.
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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 80.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $972,152 spent. Founded in 2001 and nationally accredited as a land trust in 2010with accreditation renewed in 2022the Eastern Sierra Land Trust (ESLT) upholds rigorous standards of excellence to ensure lasting conservation and public trust. ESLT works to permanently protect the Eastern Sierras iconic landscapes through voluntary partnerships with landowners, preserving lands for their scenic, agricultural, ecological, recreational, historic, and watershed values. To date, ESLT has safeguarded over 23,000 acres of vital wildlife habitat, working farms and ranches, and other irreplaceable resources from the threat of development through its conservation easements and stewardship programs.
- ESLTs Community Connections Program provides people of all ages with opportunities to connect with the land and cultivate a spirit of stewardship. In 2024, the program hosted 28 events, certified 7 new pollinator gardens, and worked with over 150 local students.Public events included GardenFest, World Migratory Bird Day, and the annual Mule Deer Migration Corridor Field Trip. Additional community involvement included the Bishop Pride Festival and Bluesapalooza at Mammoth Lakes. ESLT organized highway cleanups on their adopted section of Highway 395 and co-hosted the Great Sierra River Cleanup at the Artesian Wells.With 7 new gardens certified in 2024, the Eastside Pollinator Garden Project grew to a total of 177 pollinator gardens certified. Sunflower Kids a program that educates Bishop Elementary third-graders about pollinators, native plants, and gardening continued in 2024.
- ESLTs Land Conservation Program continued to work with federal, state, and local conservation partners to help protect private lands containing agricultural, ecological, historical, and cultural value. Our organization progressed two conservation projects, including one conservation easement and one land return to a local tribe, both expected to close in 2025. ESLT continued to monitor its growing portfolio of 27 conservation projects, totaling 23,045 acres of conserved land in accordance with the Land Trust Alliance Standards and practices. The organization gathered volunteers for Stewardship Days at Conway Ranch and made significant headway with invasive weed management and habitat restoration. The organization continued to map noxious weed populations on the Conservation Easements in Swall Meadows to improve habitat for the Round Valley mule deer herd. Additionally, the organization was awarded a grant from the Sierra Meadows Partnership to assess planning for meadow restoration, sediment reduction, water-quality improvements, and habitat enhancement on the Ullman Ranch Conservation Easement.
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
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2001.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.