Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Crested Butte Land Trust

EIN 84-1190830 · Crested Butte, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST IS TO FOREVER PROTECT AND STEWARD OPEN LANDS FOR VISTAS, RECREATION, WILDLIFE AND RANCHING, THUS CONTRIBUTING TO THE PRESERVATION OF GUNNISON COUNTYS UNIQUE HERITAGE AND QUALITY OF LIFE

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
24.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 72%
Employees
6
Volunteers
246
Highest pay
$146,393, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 June 30, 2025, 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. $1.0 million spent. THE PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE THROUGH LAND ACQUISITION AND EASEMENTS: A MAJOR MULTIYEAR PROJECT TO SUPPORT A FEDERAL LAND EXCHANGE AND ACCEPT A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON MT EMMONS CLOSED ON AUGUST 29, 2024. WITH THE MT EMMONS PROJECT, THE CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST EXPANDED THE CONSERVATION PORTFOLIO BY 885 ACRES AND HELPED PROTECT CRITICAL WILDLIFE, RECREATION AND VIEW CORRIDOR FOR THE PUBLIC. IN ADDITION, THE LAND TRUST ACQUIRED 44 ACRES OF PRIVATE LAND WITHIN FEDERAL NATIONAL FORESTS INCLUDING CONGRESSIONALLY DESIGNATED WILDERNESS.
  2. STAFF MONITORED AND MAINTAINED 72 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND FEE OWNED PARCELS ACROSS 6500 ACRES. THE LAND TRUST IMPROVED TRAIL CONDITIONS SUPPORTED WILDLIFE HABITATS, CATTLE RANCHING AND RECREATIONAL ACCESS FOR THE PUBLIC. CRITICAL PARTNERSHIPS WERE ENHANCED THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH PRIVATE INDUSTRY, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND MISSION ALIGNED NON-PROFITS.
  3. THE CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST SUCCESSFULLY ADVANCED THE ORGANIZATION'S LONG TERM CONSERVATION STRATEGY WITH SEVERAL NEW FEE ACQUISITION AND CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROJECT GOING UNDER CONTRACT AND CLOSING IN FY26.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 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 July 1992.

    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.