La Plata Open Space Conservancy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The organizations primary exempt purpose is to permanently protect, for the benefit of the community and the general public, lands in southwest Colorado that have significant agricultural, wildlife, open space, recreational, and/or historical/archeological resources.
- Income
- $444,154
- Spending
- $328,786
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 64.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 31%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 22
- Highest pay
- $38,366, 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
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 64.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 254 of 10 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (1)
- $254,530 spent. Land protection and stewardship: Since incorporating in 1992, LPOSC has accepted donations of conservation easements permanently protecting in excess of 20,709 acres of land with superior conservation values across six counties in southwestern Colorado. In October 2024, LPOSC implemented LANDSCAPE, a secure, cloud-based land conservation software platform designed by former land trust professionals. The system centralizes project management, annual monitoring, exercised rights, issue tracking, funding management, and accreditation reporting thereby enhancing organizational efficiency, long-term accountability, and transparency. This platform strengthens LPOSCs ability to maintain compliance with accrediation requirements and land trust best practice standards. As a certified conservation easement holder, LPOSC is legally obligated to monitor land use and ecological conditions on each property on which it holds a conservation easement to ensure that the conserved land and natural resources are being used in compliance with the terms of the conservation easement. Monitoring helps LPOSC to establish and/or maintain valuable relationships with owners of conserved land, and further helps to foster LPOSCs image in the community as a trusted land steward. This is in addition to work the organization does with numerous private landowners to secure protection of other valuable open spaces, wildlife habitat, recreational areas, and agricultural land in the region.
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 2024.
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 September 1992.
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.