The Lands Council
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PRESERVES AND REVITALIZES OUR INLAND NORTHWEST FORESTS, WATER, AND WILDLIFE THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, EFFECTIVE ACTION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
- Income
- $969,376
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 58%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 0
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
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 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 (5)
- $207,143 spent. PUBLIC LANDS AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM: TLC'S PUBLIC LANDS AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM SEEKS TO PROTECT OLD GROWTH, IMPROVE FOREST MANAGEMENT, PERMANENTLY PROTECT ROADLESS AREAS, AND INCREASE POPULATIONS OF RARE, THREATENED, AND ENDANGERED SPECIES ON PUBLIC LANDS IN THE INLAND NORTHWEST. TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS, WE USE SCIENCE, COLLABORATION, AND WHEN NECESSARY, LITIGATION. WE PARTICIPATE IN FOREST MANAGEMENT PROJECTS IN NE WASHINGTON AND N IDAHO. WE HAVE HELPED START FOUR COLLABORATIVE GROUPS ON THREE NATIONAL FORESTS THAT INCLUDE DIVERSE STAKEHOLDER.
- $172,359 spent. WATERSHED PROTECTION AND RESTORATION PROGRAM: TLC'S WATERSHED PROGRAM WORKS IN THE SPOKANE AND COEUR D'ALENE RIVER WATERSHEDS TO RESTORE WATER QUALITY. WE IMPROVE STREAMSIDE HABITAT BY PLANTING NATIVE TREES AND PLANTS, WORK TO REDUCE TOXICS FLOWING INTO WATER BODIES WITH UNIQUE PROJECT THAT CAPTURE AND CLEAN POLLUTED STORMWATER. OUT BEAVER COEXISTENCE PROGRAM HELPS LANDOWNERS COEXIST WITH BEAVERS, ALLOWING BEAVER-DERIVED ECOSYSTEM SERVICES SUCH AS WETLAND CREATION AND WATER STORAGE TO FLOURISH ON THE LANDSCAPE.
- $128,461 spent. CLIMATE JUSTICE AND URBAN ECOLOGY PROGRAM: TLC'S CLIMATE JUSTICE PROGRAM INVOLVES WORKING WITH LOW INCOME AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO INFORM THEM ABOUT EFFORTS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO TOXIC CHEMICALS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT. OUR SPOCANOPY PROGRAM WORKS WITH THE CITY OF SPOKANE TO PLANT FREE STREET TREES IN THE URBAN FOREST IN AREAS OF LOW CANOPY COVER. OUR PROJECT SUSTAIN WORKS WITH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OUR REGION TO GIVE THEM HANDS-ON, OUTDOOR, AND ECOLOGICALLY BASED LEARNING ACTIVITIES. WE ALSO WORK TO REDUCE THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE BY ADVOCATING FOR THE USE OF CLEAN AND RENEWABLE ENERGY.
- $327,265 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS $60,380MILL CREEK PROGRAM $266,885
- URBAN FORESTRY: OUR URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAM SEEKS TO EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTE TREES AND THEIR ASSOCIATED BENEFITS TO ALL COMMUNITY MEMBER IN THE SPOKANE AREA. $126,936
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 May 1989.
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.