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Napa County Land Trust

EIN 94-2315096 · Napa, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE LAND TRUST OF NAPA COUNTY IS TO PRESERVE THE CHARACTER OF NAPA COUNTY BY PERMANENTLY PROTECTING LAND. THE ORGANIZATION'S VISION IS THE PROTECTION OF UNIQUE NATURAL RESOURCES, PROACTIVE PRESERVATION OF THE SCENIC BEAUTY, (CONTINUED, SCHEDULE O) AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE, AND BIODIVERSITY OF NAPA COUNTY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$39.7 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
23
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$423,184, ceo

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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 83% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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)
  1. $3.4 million spent. LAND ACQUISITION AND PROTECTION: IN OUR 48-YEAR HISTORY, LTNC HAS PERMANENTLY PROTECTED MORE THAN 95,000 ACRES OF LAND THROUGHOUT NAPA COUNTY. WE HAVE COMPLETED OVER 270 REAL ESTATE PROJECTS, WORKED WITH ABOUT 100 PROPERTY OWNERS, HOLD OVER 160 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND PARTNERED WITH LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES ON THE PROTECTION AND TRANSFER OF ADDITIONAL LAND FOR PUBLIC AND RECREATIONAL USE. IN ADDITION, WE OWN PRESERVES THAT TOTAL MORE THAN 22,000 ACRES IN OUR PRESERVE NETWORK, INCLUDING PRISTINE WATERSHEDS, OLD GROWTH REDWOOD STANDS AND PROTECTED WILDLIFE MIGRATION CORRIDORS. OUR PRIMARY STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE IS TO INCREASE THE PACE OF LAND PROTECTION, FOCUSING ON PRIORITY AREAS CHOSEN FOR THEIR CONSERVATION VALUES INCLUDING AGRICULTURE, BIODIVERSITY (FLORA AND FAUNA), WILDLIFE AND WATERSHED PROTECTION, AS WELL AS PRESERVING THE UNIQUE CHARACTER AND SCENIC BEAUTY OF NAPA COUNTY.
  2. $2.1 million spent. STEWARDSHIP AND CONSERVATION EASEMENT MONITORING PROGRAMS: LTNC DEMONSTRATES EXEMPLARY STEWARDSHIP OF THE LANDS WE OWN IN OUR PRESERVE NETWORK TO MAINTAIN THE BIODIVERSE, SCENIC, AGRICULTURAL, AND NATURAL FEATURES THAT DEFINE THE CHARACTER OF NAPA COUNTY. WE DO SO THROUGH SCIENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT PLANS, IMPLEMENTING SITE-SPECIFIC RESTORATION PROJECTS SUCH AS PRESCRIBED BURNS FOR ELIMINATION OF INVASIVE SPECIES AND FUELS REDUCTION, RIPARIAN RESTORATION, WILDLIFE INDEXING, BOTANICAL SURVEYS, THE PROTECTION OF RARE AND ENDANGERED FLORA AND FAUNA, THE PROTECTION OF WATERSHEDS AND MORE. IN ADDITION, LTNC WORKS WITH LANDOWNERS WHO HAVE DONATED A CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO ENSURE THEIR LAND PROTECTION OBJECTIVES ARE ACHIEVED AND ANNUALLY MONITORS ALL PROPERTIES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE EASEMENT.
  3. $85,444 spent. COMMUNITY, COMMUNICATIONS AND CAPACITY BUILDING: LTNC OFFERS A ROBUST HIKING PROGRAM AS A BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY AND ENGAGES HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ANNUALLY THROUGH OUR TOPIC SPECIFIC HIKES, FIELD TRIPS AND OUTINGS. OUR PROGRAM CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH THE LAND LTNC PROTECTS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF LAND CONSERVATION. WE PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS TO FURTHER EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT OUR MISSION AND OFFER A VARIETY OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES BOTH IN THE FIELD AND IN THE OFFICE. OUR COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY AIMS TO REACH NEW AND INFORM EXISTING SUPPORTERS AND INCLUDES PRINT MATERIALS, WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS, OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, AND EVENTS. OUR COMMUNICATIONS GOAL IS TO CULTIVATE NEW SUPPORTERS AND FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION BY RAISING FUNDS, FRIENDS AND AWARENESS.

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

  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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1976.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.