Central Oregon Landwatch
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO DEFEND AND PLAN FOR CENTRAL OREGONS LIVABLE FUTURE
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 31.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $158,525, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 31.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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, 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 (4)
- $372,974 spent. Cities and Towns: To improve livability for all Central Oregon residents, LandWatch focuses on creating Complete Communities, with affordable housing, plentiful transit options, walkable neighborhoods, and nearby parks and open space. In 2025, we helped secure $10 million in state funding for affordable housing. We steered the City of Sisters toward a right-size, right-site urban growth boundary expansion and helped advance the Bend Central District vision. In 2025, we served on 9 community advisory boards, reviewed over 200 urban land use and development applications, and testified on 17 pieces of housing, land use, and transportation legislation.
- $476,017 spent. Rural Lands: LandWatch advocates for policies that promote the wise use of our rural lands and litigates against harmful land use decisions to uphold the land use laws that keep our region unique. In 2025, LandWatch reviewed 1,800+ rural land use and development applications and testified in 26 land use hearings and prevented more than 450 acres of farmland and rangeland from conversion to other uses.
- $475,379 spent. Wild Lands & Water:LandWatch keeps landscapes intact and whole and protects our most precious resources and wild places. In 2025, LandWatch led the Bend to Suttle Lake Wildlife Passage Initiative to reach a critical fundraising milestone of $1 million and embark on engineering and design of four wildlife crossings, and scored major policy changes to improve the states wildlife-vehicle collision program. We fought a proposal to develop BLM public lands in Central Oregon into Freedom Cities. We engaged in efforts opposed to rolling back the Roadless Rule and advocated for accountability in local environmental policy decisions. We submitted 11 technical comments on Forest Service projects and mobilized 900+ advocates on public lands and wildlife issues.
- $36,748 spent. COMMS PROGRAM
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 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 April 1987.
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.