Santa Fe Conservation Trust
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SANTA FE CONSERVATION TRUST PARTNERS WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO KEEP NORTHERN NEW MEXICO'S LIVING LANDS AND PEOPLE FLOURISHING TOGETHER. WE PROTECT CULTURALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SIGNIFICANT LANDSCAPES, IGNITE PEOPLE'S PASSION FOR NATURE AND ENABLE THE CONTINUAL REGENERATION OF OUR HEALTHY PLACE.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 17.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 230
- Highest pay
- $139,493, 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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 (3)
- $523,915 spent. LAND PROGRAM - SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1993, SFCT HAS PROTECTED OVER 46,640 ACRES IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO, IN RIO ARRIBA, SAN MIGUEL, SANTA FE, AND TAOS COUNTIES, WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS TO CREATE VOLUNTARY LAND PROTECTION AGREEMENTS USING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, AS WELL AS PURCHASING FEE TITLE LAND WITH HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ARE LEGAL DOCUMENTS THAT PERMANENTLY PROTECT PRIVATE LAND, ENSURING IT REMAINS PRISTINE AND BEAUTIFUL FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS WHICH BENEFITS THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. SFCT WORKS WITH LANDOWNERS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FOR POSTERITY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
- $171,463 spent. TRAILS PROGRAM - SFCT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION OF OVER 80 MILES OF TRAILS, INCLUDING: THE DALE BALL TRAILS, ATALAYA TRAIL, SANTA FE RAIL TRAIL, THE SPUR TRAIL, LA TIERRA TRAILS, LA PIEDRA TRAIL AND, ALONG WITH COMMONWEAL CONSERVANCY, THE GALISTEO BASIN PRESERVE TRAILS. SFCT TRAILS PROGRAM WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SANTA FE AND IT'S VOLUNTEER GROUP, ALONG WITH OTHER ENTITIES, TO COORDINATE TRAIL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION, ORGANIZE VOLUNTEER TRAIL WORK, IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE TRAIL LINKAGES, PROMOTE THE TRAILS, AND PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH TRAIL INFORMATION AND ACCESS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. SFCT IS ALSO LEADING A PARTNERSHIP SUPPORT FOR THE GRAND UNIFIED SANTA FE TRAIL ORGANIZATION (GUSTO). SFCT IS IN CHARGE OF CONVENING PARTNERS, RESEARCHING AND MAPPING EXISTING TRAILS, IDENTIFYING GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW TRAILS, AND PRIORITIZING AND IMPLEMENTING THE TRAIL CONNECTIONS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS. THE VISION OF THE GUSTO INITIATIVE IS AN INTERCONNECTED SYSTEM OF NATURAL-SURFACE TRAILS THAT ALLOWS NON-MOTORIZED USERS TO TRAVEL IN A LOOP AROUND THE GREATER SANTA FE AREA, AS WELL AS BETWEEN THE CITY CENTER AND THE PERIPHERY. THE GUSTO INITIATIVE HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO AIM TO HAVE A UNIFIED, SUSTAINABLE TRAIL SYSTEM AROUND THE ENTIRE METROPOLITAN AREA.
- $257,194 spent. COMMUNITY CONSERVATION - BECAUSE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ARE PERMANENT AND RUN WITH THE LAND, SFCT MUST MONITOR AND ENFORCE ITS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS FOREVER. THIS DUTY OF PERPETUAL CARE PRESENTS UNIQUE CHALLENGES TO LAND TRUSTS EVERYWHERE. SFCT MUST HAVE BROAD COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO ENSURE ITS LONGEVITY AND VIABILITY. SFCT IS WORKING TO STRENGTHEN THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF "COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PROGRAMS" THAT HELP SFCT BROADEN AND DIVERSIFY ITS CONSTITUENCY. SFCT PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE EVERYONE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES THAT WILL HELP THEM BECOME PASSIONATE DEFENDERS OF NATURE AND OF CONSERVATION. SFCT'S LEGACY OF TRAILS WORK IS THE NATURAL WAY TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. AS SUCH, SFCT OFFERS PROGRAMS TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NATURE AND SANTA FE'S TRAIL RESOURCES. SINCE 2014, SFCT HAS INTRODUCED OVER 5,000 SOUTH SIDE KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO SANTA FE'S TRAIL SYSTEM (PASSPORT TO TRAILS). IN 2018, SFCT STARTED AN IN-TOWN WALKING PROGRAM (VAMONOS: SANTA FE WALKS) FOR THOSE WHOSE ACCESS TO NATURE IS MORE CHALLENGING: THE ELDERLY, INFIRM, TRANSPORTATION LIMITED, IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, OR TO THOSE AFRAID TO WALK ALONE. THROUGH 2024, SFCT HAD OVER 3,000 PEOPLE WALK ON THESE TRAILS, RANGING IN AGE FROM 98 TO 2 YEARS OLD. BY WORKING TO IGNITE A PASSION FOR NATURE IN EVERYONE AND GIVE THEM ACCESS TO THE FOOTHILL TRAILS AND URBAN TRAILS, SFCT WORKS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH, BUILD COMMUNITY ON THE TRAILS AND CREATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATIONISTS WHILE PROMOTING ACCESS TO THE LIFE-ENHANCING QUALITIES OF THE OUTDOORS.
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 November 6, 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 1994.
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 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.