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Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project

EIN 84-2294981 · Las Cruces, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • Only 40% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

NUESTRA TIERRA CONSERVATION PROJECT'S CORE MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT HISTORICALLY AND DELIBERATELY EXCLUDED COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS AND THAT OUR PEOPLE, HISTORY AND VALUES ARE AUTHENTICALLY REFLECTED IN PUBLIC LAND AND CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT DECISION MAKING.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
40%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
10
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$119,977, executive dir.

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

Fair: 63 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    40% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 65 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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. $226,072 spent. OTHER PROGRAM ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE, 1) THE DAVID SOULES CONSERVATION MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP, 2) PROMOTION OF AMERICA THE BEAUTIFIL COALITION THAT INCORPORATES A DIVERSE ASSEMBLY OF LEADERS COMMITTED TO PRESERVING US LANDSCAPES AND ADVOCATING FOR JUSTICE, 3)PROTECTING NEW MEXICO'S CULTURAL RESOURCES, WILDLIFE, AND PUBLIC LANDS BY ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT'S PUBLIC MEETING ON THE PROPOSAL OF OIL AND GAS LEASING RULES IN NEW MEXICO TO ADVOCATE FOR STRICTER REGULATIONS AND 4) STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LA MANCHA WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECT WHICH AIMS TO RESTORE THE ECOLOGICAL RICHNESS OF THE RIO GRANDE (RIVER) AND PROTECT THIS SPACE AS A PLACE WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN COME TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE RIVER.
  2. $137,313 spent. THE NATIONAL MONUMENTS PROGRAMS PROMOTES MONUMENT CAMPAIGNS THAT REPRESENT AND HONOR LANDS AND PLACES SACRED TO THE COMMUNITIES WHICH THEY BELONG TO. THROUGH COMMUNITY-LED ADVOCACY, ORGANIZING, AND STORYTELLING, THE NATIONAL MONUMENTS PROGRAMS SUPPORT AND FURTHERS THE CREATION OF NEW NATIONAL MONUMENTS THAT MEET THOSE PRINCIPLES. NUESTRA TIERRA HAS SUCCESSFULLY PROTECTED THE CASTNER RANGE MONUMENT IN 2023 AND CONTINUES IN THE DESIGNATION OF FUTURE MONUMENTS, ALONGSIDE STANDARDIZING INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE PRACTICES ACROSS NATIONAL MONUMENT CAMPAIGNS IN OUR NATION.
  3. $114,512 spent. THE OUTDOOR F.U.T.U.R.E INITIATIVE (OFI) SEEKS TO CREATE A NATIONAL EQUITY FUND THAT WILL ENSURE LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS IN PROGRAMS TO SERVE ALL YOUTH WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS. BUILT ON THE HEELS OF OUTDOOR EQUITY FUNDS IN NEW MEXICO, CALIFORNIA AND COLORADO, OFI SEEKS TO INTRODUCE THE OUTDOOR F.U.T.U.R.E ACT. OFI OUTDOOR EQUITY EFFORTS ARE LED BY THE PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES IN RACIALLY AND ETHNICALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

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 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 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 August 2019.

    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.