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Kachemak Heritage Land Trust Inc

EIN 94-3104608 · Homer, AK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

KACHEMAK HERITAGE LAND TRUST (KHLT) IS A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FORMED IN 1989 FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSERVING THE NATURAL HERITAGE OF THE KENAI PENINSULA FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$939,448
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
27.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 59%
Employees
8
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$124,929, executive dir.

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 27.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 65% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 193% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 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. $460,221 spent. LAND: Kachemak Heritage Land Trust proactively contacts landowners in priority areas to gauge interest in conservation projects. In addition, KHLT responds to and evaluates opportunities presented for conservation. KHLT works with partners to foster conservation projects, holds conservation easements and owns land for conservation purposes. KHLT is responsible for permanent preservation of land, which requires highly trained staff and sufficient funds to succeed, including defense of conservation easements when necessary.
  2. $209,721 spent. Stewardship: Once KHLT preserves land through conservation easement or by outright ownership, KHLT becomes perpetually responsible to ensure the conservation purposes for protecting the property are followed. This perpetual responsibility requires highly trained staff with proper equipment and the funds needed to sustain this work, including the funds necessary to defend the conservation values in court if needed. KHLT at least annually monitors property under its care and addresses violations of the conservation restrictions when necessary.
  3. $59,815 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: KHLT CONDUCTS COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGH MULTIPLE MEANS, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA, OUR WEBSITE, PUBLIC SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS AND AT COMMUNITY MEETINGS. KHLT PROVIDES OUR KENAI PENINSULA COMMUNITY WITH INFORMATION AND ACCESS TO CONSERVATION TOOLS DESIGNED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS, AS WELL AS INCLUDES COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN OUR STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES IN PERMANENTLY CARING FOR LAND FOR WHICH WE ARE RESPONSIBLE. MUCH OF OUR WORK IS DONE IN DEEP PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING GOVERNMENTAL BODIES AND AGENCIES, INCLUDING OUR BABY SALMON LIVE HERE SIGN OUTREACH PROGRAM, OUR KING MAKER PROGRAM WHERE WE AWARD GOOD SALMON STEWARDS, AND OUR FISH NEED LAND TOO PROGRAM CO-HOSTED BY KACHEMAK BAY NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE.

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 November 6, 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 May 1994.

    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 November 4, 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.