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Aspen Valley Land Trust

EIN 84-0574754 · Carbondale, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROTECTING THE OPEN LAND AND SPECIAL PLACES OF THE ROARING FORK AND MIDDLE COLORADO RIVER VALLEYS FOR WILDLIFE, AGRICULTURE, AND COMMUNITY FOREVER.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
39.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
10
Volunteers
67
Highest pay
$144,550, executive 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 39.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 52% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (3)
  1. $270,234 spent. LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION. ASPEN VALLEY LAND TRUST HAS PROTECTED 46,319 ACRES SINCE 1967 INCLUDING KEY WILDLIFE HABITAT, FAMILY FARMS AND RANCHES, SCENIC OPEN LANDS, AND OVER 104 MILES OF LAND ALONG RIVERS AND STREAMS IN THE ROARING FORK AND MIDDLE COLORADO RIVER VALLEYS. AVLT ALSO OWNS OR PROTECTS 10 PUBLIC PARKS, 33 MILES OF PUBLIC TRAILS, AND THREE PROPERTIES USED FOR OUTDOOR EDUCATION THAT CONNECT COMMUNITY TO CONSERVED LANDS ACROSS WESTERN COLORADO. IN 2022, AVLT BEGAN IMPLEMENTING THE GOALS OF ITS STRATEGIC CONSERVATION PLAN: TO DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF CONSERVED LAND IN OUR REGION BY 2032. AVLT RENEWED ACCREDITATION BY THE NATIONAL LAND TRUST ACCREDITATION COMMISSION AND CERTIFICATION BY THE STATE OF COLORADO TO HOLD CONSERVATION EASEMENTS FOR WHICH TAX CREDITS ARE CLAIMED.
  2. $555,083 spent. LAND STEWARDSHIP. AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO FOREVER PROTECTING LAND, AVLT MONITORED AND UPHELD EACH OF ITS 269 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND 13 FEE OWNED PROPERTIES IN 2024, ENSURING THAT AGREEMENTS WERE HONORED AND THE LAND CARED FOR. IN ADDITION, WE WORKED WITH LANDOWNERS AND PARTNERS TO RESTORE AND IMPROVE IMPORTANT HABITAT ON CONSERVED LANDS AND TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY ON PUBLIC PARKS AND OPEN SPACES. WE PARTICIPATED IN ACTIVE LAND RESTORATION AND STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS AT COFFMAN RANCH, THE SILT RIVER PRESERVE, MARBLE CHILDREN'S PARK, THE CHAPIN WRIGHT MARBLE BASECAMP, AND SUPPORTED THE CRYSTAL RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT AT RIVERFRONT PARK IN CARBONDALE.
  3. $273,171 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. IN 2024, AVLT WORKED WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND NONPROFITS TO INCREASE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO LAND AND ENSURE THAT ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE WELCOMED AND ABLE TO CONNECT WITH CONSERVED LAND. THIS WAS PRIMARILY ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH HOSTING SCHOOLS AND NONPROFITS TO AVLT'S COFFMAN RANCH AND MARBLE BASECAMP FOR OUTDOOR LEARNING PROGRAMS. A TOTAL OF 27 GROUPS, INCLUDING OVER 1,000 STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN A PROGRAM AT ONE OF AVLT'S AMBASSADOR PROPERTIES IN 2024. IN ADDITION, WE SUPPORTED DEVELOPMENT OF TRAILS, OUTDOOR EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PARTNER-LED PROGRAMS AT THE SILT RIVER PRESERVE, A COMMUNITY CONSERVANCY IN SILT, COLORADO THAT AVLT HELPS THE TOWN OF SILT MANAGE.

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 1967.

    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.