Inland Northwest Land Trust
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CONSERVE, CARE FOR, AND CONNECT WITH THE LANDS AND WATERS ESSENTIAL TO LIFE IN THE INLAND NORTHWEST.
- Income
- $3.8 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- -47.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $111,821, 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
Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 57% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 45% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
- OVER THE LAST 30+ YEARS, INLAND NORTHWEST LAND CONSERVANCY HAS WORKED TO CONSERVE, CARE FOR, AND CONNECT WITH LANDS AND WATERS ESSENTIAL TO LIFE IN THE INLAND NORTHWEST. INLC ENVISIONS A FUTURE OF INTERCONNECTED NATURAL HABITATS THROUGHOUT THE INLAND NORTHWEST, SUPPORTING THRIVING POPULATIONS OF NATIVE PLANTS AND WILDLIFE, RESPECTED, AND ENJOYED BY ALL WHO CALL THIS REGION HOME. THE CONSERVANCY HAS PROTECTED NEARLY 28,000 ACRES, INCLUDING 12,000 ACRES OF PARTNER PROJECTS, 1,000 ACRES OF PRESERVE LAND, 15,000 ACRES OF PRIVATE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, AND 50 MILES OF PROTECTED WATERWAYS.OUR PROJECTS ARE MOSTLY DONATED CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, WITH A FEW EASEMENT PURCHASES FUNDED BY A THIRD PARTY. SINCE WE WERE FIRST ACCREDITED, WE HAVE STARTED ACQUIRING CONSERVATION LAND AS BRIDGE OWNERS UNTIL THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT AGENCY CAN FIND FUNDING TO BUY IT FROM US. WE OWN AND MANAGE WAIKIKI SPRINGS NATURE PRESERVE AS A PUBLIC PRESERVE, WELCOMING OVER 20,000 VISITORS IN 2024.MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:PINEBLUFF EASEMENT: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INLAND NORTHWEST LAND CONSERVANCY, PEGGY CLEMONS AND MARY FOUTZ RECENTLY PRESERVED THEIR CHERISHED 60-ACRE PINE BLUFF PROPERTY AS OPEN SPACE IN PERPETUITY. BORDERING RIVERSIDE STATE PARK NEAR NINE MILE FALLS, THE LAND FEATURES STUNNING VIEWS, DIVERSE PLANT LIFE, AND CRITICAL WILDLIFE HABITAT, INCLUDING MOOSE, DEER, AND RAPTORS. CONCERNED ABOUT INCREASING DEVELOPMENT AND SHRINKING HABITAT, CLEMONS AND FOUTZ PLACED A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE PROPERTY TO ENSURE ITS PROTECTION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. INLC WILL MONITOR THE LAND ANNUALLY, SAFEGUARDING THEIR VISION OF PRESERVED FOREST FOR WILDLIFE. "WE HOPE OTHERS ARE INSPIRED TO PRESERVE THEIR LAND," CLEMONS SHARED.SCHLEPP EASEMENT: ONCE HEAVILY CONTAMINATED WITH LEGACY MINING WASTES, THE SCHLEPP RANCH NOW HAS NEARLY 400 ACRES OF HEALTHY WETLANDS ALONG THE COEUR D'ALENE RIVER, FOREVER PROTECTED BY A CONSERVATION EASEMENT WITH INLC. THE USFWS AND EPA HANDLED THE REMEDIATION OF HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION IN THE FLOODPLAINS AND ENLISTED DUCKS UNLIMITED TO RESTORE VIBRANT WETLANDS FOR COUNTLESS MIGRATORY BIRDS, INCLUDING TUNDRA SWANS. THE AGENCIES SOUGHT OUT INLC TO BE THE PERMANENT HOLDER OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE PROPERTY, AND IN MARCH 2024 INLC TOOK ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY. THE INLC STEWARDSHIP DIRECTOR, VISITS AND MONITORS THE PROPERTY AND THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT ANNUALLY AND COMMUNICATES CLOSELY WITH THE SCHLEPPS AND THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.NATIVE PLANT NURSERY: IN THE SUMMER OF 2024, INLAND NORTHWEST LAND CONSERVANCY COMPLETED A NATIVE PLANT NURSERY AT THE GLEN TANA PROPERTY TO SUPPORT REGIONAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS WITH PARTNERS LIKE SPOKANE TRIBE AND WASHINGTON STATE AGENCIES. DESPITE SETBACKSINCLUDING CONSTRUCTION DELAYS AND EQUIPMENT THEFTTHE PROJECT MOVED FORWARD THANKS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT. PRESERVE MANAGER STEVEN EDDINGTON LED THE EFFORT, LEVELING THE SITE, BUILDING A HOOP HOUSE, INSTALLING IRRIGATION, AND CONSTRUCTING AN EXCLUSION FENCE TO PROTECT PLANTS FROM WILDLIFE. NOW HOME TO THOUSANDS OF NATIVE PLANTS, THE NURSERY WILL PROVIDE ESSENTIAL VEGETATION FOR RESTORATION PROJECTS ACROSS THE REGION. MANY OF THESE PLANTS WILL BE USED IN A NAWCA-FUNDED RESTORATION PROJECT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US FISH AND WILDLIFE AT THE WAIKIKI SPRINGS NATURE PRESERVE.CAPITAL CAMPAIGN: IN 2024, THE PHILANTHROPY TEAM MANAGED A $4M CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, "IT'S IN OUR NATURE," TO COMPLETE THE PROTECTION OF THE GLEN TANA CONSERVATION AREA ON THE LITTLE SPOKANE RIVER. THE CAMPAIGN, MEANT TO HELP COVER BRIDGE OWNERSHIP COSTS AND REPLENISH FUNDS THE CONSERVANCY INVESTED IN THE LAND, HAD RAISED OVER $3.8M BY THE END OF THE YEAR AND WILL CELEBRATE ITS SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION IN JUNE OF 2025.2025-2030 STRATEGIC PLAN: SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE CONSERVANCY BOARD, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEADERSHIP STAFF, WORKED WITH BERNUTH AND WILLIAMSON TO CRAFT A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WILL GUIDE CONSERVATION WORK FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. THE PLAN INCLUDES BOLD GOALS, SUCH AS PROTECTING AN ADDITIONAL 15,000 ACRES BY THE END OF 2030, STANDING UP AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT TRAINS CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS FOR A FUTURE IN LAND TRUST (OR RELATED) WORK, AND CREATES A FRAMEWORK FOR INCREASED ENGAGEMENT AND VISIBILITY IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL TRIBES, CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING IN NEW DONORS.
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 October 13, 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 October 1992.
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 October 21, 2026.
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