Skagit Land Trust
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SKAGIT LAND TRUST CONSERVES WILDLIFE HABITAT, WETLANDS, AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST LANDS, SCENIC OPEN SPACE, AND SHORELINE FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND AS A LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE. THE TRUST WORKS THROUGHOUT THE MAINLAND AND ISLANDS OF SKAGIT COUNTY, WA.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 21 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 47%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 474
- Highest pay
- $133,800, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 21.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 2517 of 17 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 March 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)
- $907,920 spent. LAND CONSERVATION: PROJECTS COMPLETED INCLUDE PROTECTING 128 ACRES AND 1.2 MILES OF MARINE SHORELINE ON SAMISH BAY VIA CONSERVATION EASEMENT (CE); ADDING 123 ACRES VIA CE TO A WILDLIFE CORRIDOR THAT ECOLOGICALLY CONNECTS SKAGIT RIVER TO UPLAND FORESTS NEAR BIRSDVIEW; PROTECTING 1185 FEET OF SALMON HABITAT ON THE CASCADE RIVER THROUGH LAND PURCHASES; ADDING LAND AND MARINE SHORELINE TO THE SAMISH ISLAND CONSERVATION AREA; AND EXPANDING THE HURN FIELD CONSERVATION AREA. WORK BEGAN ON 17 OTHER LAND CONSERVATION PROJECTS INCLUDING ASSISTING PARTNERS.
- $503,123 spent. STEWARDSHIP: OVER 300 VOLUNTEERS ATTENDED ONE OR MORE OF SLT'S 30 WORK PARTIES. 52 VOLUNTEER LAND STEWARDS MADE REGULAR VISITS TO SLT PROPERTIES TO ASSIST WITH THEIR UPKEEP. SLT PARTNERED WITH OVER A DOZEN ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP RESTORE ITS LANDS. DOZENS OF COMMUNITY SCIENCE VOLUNTEERS CONDUCTED AMPHIBIAN AND GREAT BLUE HERON MONITORING. SLT MANAGED BIG ROCK AND ASSISTED WITH TRAIL CONNECTIVITY AND PLANNING IN ANTICIPATION OF BIG ROCK COUNTY PARK'S EXPANSION. SLT CONTINUED ITS WORK WITH PARTNERS TO EXPLORE RESTORATION POTENTIAL OF KEY PROPERTIES.
- $326,012 spent. OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION: SLT LANDS HAD OVER 29,500 VISITS. PUBLIC CONSERVATION EASEMENTS SLT CONSERVES HAD OVER 143,000 VISITS. OVER 2000 STUDENTS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS VISITED A SLT PROPERTY OR ENGAGED IN A PROGRAM WITH SLT TO LEARN ABOUT NATURE AND STEWARDSHIP. IN ALL SLT HOSTED 28 YOUTH EDUCATION EVENTS AND OVERSAW THE KULSHAN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH PROGRAM. SLT HOSTED DOZENS OF COMMUNITY AND MEMBER EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND TOURS INCLUDING SWANRISE VIEWINGS WHICH ATTRACTED 180 PEOPLE OVER A SERIES OF WEEKS. SLT BEGAN AN ON-LINE SPEAKERS SERIES. SLT WEIGHED IN ON LOCAL POLICIES AND PLANS THAT IMPACT ITS MISSION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, 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 March 2025.
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 1996.
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.
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.