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Land Trust of Santa Cruz County

EIN 94-2431856 · Santa Cruz, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LAND TRUST OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY (THE ORGANIZATION) WAS INCORPORATED IN CALIFORNIA AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION IN 1978. THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO PROTECT, CARE FOR, AND CONNECT ALL PEOPLE TO THE VIBRANT NATURAL AND WORKING LANDS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND NATURE TO THRIVE TOGETHER FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. VISION THE ORGANIZATION SEES A FUTURE IN WHICH THE AMAZING DIVERSITY OF LANDS THAT DEFINE AND CONNECT ITS WORK TO THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY REGION THE WILD AND WORKING FORESTS, THE GLOBALLY UNIQUE WILDLIFE HABITATS, THE COASTAL LANDSCAPE, AND ITS RICH FARMING AND RANCHING HERITAGE ARE CARED FOR AND PRESERVED FOREVER.

Income
$43.9 million
Spending
$19.5 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
32
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$244,343, executive dir.

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 56% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 319% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 20 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 June 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 (3)
  1. $11.4 million spent. LAND PROTECTION: GUIDED BY ITS STRATEGIC PLAN AND CONSERVATION BLUEPRINT, THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH WILLING LANDOWNERS TO PERMANENTLY PROTECT LANDS WITH SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION VALUE AND HABITAT CONNETIVITY. THE ORGANIZATION PROTECTS WORKING LANDS (FAMRS, FORESTS, AND GRAZING LANDS) AND NATURAL LANDS. THE ORGANIZATION ACQUIRES LAND THROUGH FEE SIMPLE PURCHASE (WHICH MAY INCLUDE A BARGAIN SALE), DONATION AND PURCHASES OR RECEIVES DONATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS THROUGH A CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
  2. $4.6 million spent. PUBLIC ACCESS/EDUCATION: THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THE PUBLIC. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCESS ON SIX PROPERTIES, EDUCATES THE GREATER COMMUNITY ON LOCAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION STRATEGIES, AND BUILDS AND MAINTAINS 29 MILES OF TRAILS. THE ORGANIZATION IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPING A COMMUNITY HARVEST AMENITY ON ITS 500-ACRE FARM.
  3. $2.2 million spent. LAND STEWARDSHIP: THE ORGANIZATION STEWARDS ITS 5,500 ACRES OF FEE TITLE CONSERVATION LANDS BY IMPLEMENTINGHABITAT PROTECTION AND RESTORATION PROJECTS, AND UNDERTAKES SPECIES MONITORING, GRAZING, FOREST MANAGEMENT, AND RESEARCH. ANNUAL MANAGEMENT PLANS GUIDE THE WORK TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION VALUES OF THE LANDS. THE ORGANIZATION HOLDS 45 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PROTECTING 5,100 ACRES. USING A BASELINE REPORT AS A BENCHMARK, THE ORGANIZATION MONITORS THE VALUES OF THE EASEMENTS AND ENSURES COMPLIANCE WITH THE PERMANENT PROTECTION GOALS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 2025.

    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 June 1978.

    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.

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