Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Colorado Cattlemens Agricultural Land Trust

EIN 84-1317592 · Lakewood, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CONSERVING COLORADO'S WESTERN HERITAGE AND WORKING LANDSCAPES FOR THE BENEFIT OF FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$19.5 million
Spending
$19.4 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
23
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$208,713, 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

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 65% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 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 (2)
  1. $18.3 million spent. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, THE COLORADO CATTLEMEN'S AGRICULTURAL LAND TRUST (CCALT) WORKED WITH RANCHING FAMILIES AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO PERMANENTLY CONSERVE APPROXIMATELY 8,152 ACRES OF RANCHLAND ON 9 PROPERTIES. AS OF JUNE 30, 2025, CCALT HOLDS AND STEWARDS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS COVERING APPROXIMATELY 814,182 ACRES IN 45 COUNTIES THROUGHOUT COLORADO, AND IN PARTS OF NEW MEXICO, UTAH, AND WYOMING. CCALT CONTINUES TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS TO ADVANCE AND SUPPORT LAND CONSERVATION IN COLORADO AND NATIONWIDE. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION
  2. LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: THESE EFFORTS WILL HELP TO ENSURE THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENTS REMAIN A VIABLE TOOL FOR COLORADANS AND THAT THEIR BENEFITS CONTINUE TO IMPACT NOT ONLY THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY, BUT COLORADO'S ROBUST TOURISM, RECREATION, AND OUTDOOR INDUSTRIES AS WELL. WE ARE PROUD OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ARE THANKFUL FOR THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR LANDOWNERS, DONORS, AND PARTNERS.

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 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.

    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 January 1996.

    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 November 4, 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.