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Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts

EIN 84-1355809 · Lakewood, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO UNITE, ELEVATE AND EMPOWER COLORADO'S CONSERVATION COMMUNITY TO PROTECT THE LANDS AND WATERS THAT DEFINE OUR STATE.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 59%
Employees
5
Highest pay
$92,671, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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. $905,278 spent. LAND TRUST SUPPORT: KEEP IT COLORADO STRENGTHENS THE CAPACITY OF LAND TRUSTS STATEWIDE BY RAISING AND REGRANTING FUNDS THAT REDUCE BARRIERS FOR LANDOWNERS TO PERMANENTLY CONSERVE THEIR LANDS. KEEP IT COLORADO'S TRANSACTION COST ASSISTANCE PROGRAM MAKES CONSERVATION EASEMENTS FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE FOR LANDOWNERS WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. IN 2025, WE SUPPORTED 20 PROJECTS THAT PERMANENTLY CONSERVED 23,527 ACRES. THESE INVESTMENTS DIRECTLY RESULT IN MORE WORKING LANDS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND INTACT OPEN SPACE CONSERVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
  2. $139,378 spent. PUBLIC POLICY: KEEP IT COLORADO SERVES AS THE COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR PRIVATE LAND CONSERVATION IN COLORADO, ENSURING THAT POLICIES AND FUNDING MECHANISMS ENABLE LASTING CONSERVATION OUTCOMES. OUR POLICY WORK ENSURES THAT CONSERVATION REMAINS A SHARED PUBLIC PRIORITY BACKED BY EFFECTIVE, DURABLE TOOLS.
  3. $639,852 spent. EDUCATION AND COLLABORATION: KEEP IT COLORADO CONNECTS, EDUCATES, AND EMPOWERS THE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS ADVANCING CONSERVATION ACROSS COLORADO. THROUGH STATEWIDE AND REGIONAL CONVENINGS, WEBINARS, AND PEER- LEARNING FORUMS, WE PROVIDE SPACES FOR COLLABORATION, INNOVATION, AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH. OUR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP GATHERINGS EXPLORED COMMUNITY-CENTERED CONSERVATION, INNOVATIVE INCENTIVE MODELS, AND BEST PRACTICES FOR LAND TRUSTS AND OPEN SPACE AGENCIES. ONGOING MONTHLY CALLS AND KNOWLEDGE-SHARING HELPED THE CONSERVATION COMMUNITY TO ACT COLLECTIVELY TO ACHIEVE GREATER IMPACT STATEWIDE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 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 February 1997.

    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.