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Sogorea Te Land Trust

EIN 82-4415931 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SOGOREA TE' LAND TRUST IS AN URBAN INDIGENOUS WOMEN-LED LAND TRUST BASED IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA THAT FACILITATES THE RETURN OF INDIGENOUS LAND TO INDGENOUS PEOPLE. THROUGH THE PRACTICES OF REMATRIATION, CULTURAL REVITALIZATION, AND LAND RESTORATION, SOGOREA TE' CALLS ON NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE PEOPLES TO HEAL AND TRANSFORM THE LEGACIES OF COLONIZATION,GENOCIDE, AND PATRIARCHY AND TO DO THE WORK OUR ANCESTORS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS ARE CALLING US TO DO.

Income
$12.5 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
85.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
32
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$101,914, co-director

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 88% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 85.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 77% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 72% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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 (1)
  1. $2.2 million spent. SOGOREA TE' LAND TRUST TENDED SEVEN LAND SITES IN HUCHIUN (THE EAST BAY), CULTIVATING NATIVE TRADITIONAL PLANTS, GROWING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, AND DESIGNING AND BUILDING CUSTOMIZED STRUCTURES FOR TOOLS, SUPPLIES AND OUR EMERGENCY RESILIENCY HUB, HIMMETKA. SOGOREA TE' ALSO PRODUCED A CHOCHENYO LANGUAGE WORKSHOP SERIES FOR THE LISJAN OHLONE COMMUNITY, STRENGTHENING THE NETWORK, TEACHING NEW LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND DISTRIBUTING RESOURCES INCLUDING A CHOCHENYO DICTIONARY AND STUDY GUIDES. SOGOREA TE' STAFF LAUNCHED OUR MITIINI NUMMA REMATRIATION YOUTH PROGRAM AND PRESENTED DOZENS OF PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS, TALKS AND WORKSHOPS TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT LISJAN OHLONE HISTORY AND CULTURE, INDIGENOUS SOVEREIGNTY AND REMATRIATION.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2019 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2019.

    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 December 2019.

    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.