Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Arizona Land and Water Trust Inc

EIN 86-6148507 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ARIZONA LAND AND WATER TRUST HAS BEEN A TRUSTED PARTNER TO RANCHERS AND FARMERS OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA FOR OVER 40 YEARS. THE TRUST ACHIEVES ITS MISSION TO PROTECT LAND AND WATER BY WORKING WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)WHO ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTARILY CONSERVING THEIR LANDS. THE TRUST ALSO WORKS WITH PUBLIC ENTITIES TO DEVELOP LOCAL AND COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PLANS AND GOALS, AND OFTEN SERVES AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN PUBLIC ENTITIES AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS. THE TRUST IS ONE OF NUMEROUS CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS QUALIFIED BY STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS TO ACCEPT CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$995,236
Spent on programs
55%
Reserves
69.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
8
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$155,865, executive director (through 05/25)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 69.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 65% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    55% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 25

    14 of 14 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 September 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 (1)
  1. $551,448 spent. ARIZONA LAND AND WATER TRUST CONTINUED TO ADVANCE ITS PROTECTION OF BIOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS AND WORKING LANDSCAPES THROUGHOUT FY25, PRODUCING A NUMBER OF OUTREACH AND EDUCATION COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS ON LAND AND WATER PROTECTION OPTIONS, AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON CONSERVATION, LAND USE AND POLICY-RELATED ISSUES. THE TRUST MAINTAINED THE PROTECTION OF ITS EXISTING EASEMENTS AND PROPERTIES AND MADE FURTHER PROGRESS ON PROTECTING NEW LANDS. THE TRUST CONTINUED ITS INNOVATIVE WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS, SAVING MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT TO DATE, AND EXPANDED ITS FOCUS INTO THE AREA OF RESILIENCY EFFORTS ON LANDS ALREADY PROTECTED BY THE ORGANIZATION.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)AS OF 9/30/25, ARIZONA LAND AND WATER TRUST HAD PROTECTED NEARLY 72,000 ACRES TO DATE WITH WILLING LANDOWNERS AND OVER 500,000 ACRES AS A RESULT OF OUR POLICY WORK IN LAND AND WATER PLANNING, HABITAT CONSERVATION AND WILDLIFE CORRIDOR MAPPING. OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND PARTNERSHIPS HAVE LEVERAGED UPWARDS OF $350,000,000 OVER THE LIFE OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION.DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, ARIZONA LAND AND WATER TRUST CONTINUED TO ADVANCE ITS PROTECTION OF BIOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS AND WORKING LANDSCAPES, ACQUIRING ANOTHER 233 ACRES OF THE AT RISK SOPORI WATERSHED, AS WELL AS MAINTAINING THE PROTECTION OF THE TRUST'S 40 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THOSE PRIVATE, AGRICULTURAL LANDOWNERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1979.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.