Bodega Land Trust
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission is to support and preserve the health and diversity of the various communities to which we belong. From its origins in the town of Bodega, the Trust has focused its efforts on protecting the local area roughly defined by the Sonoma Coast from Jenner to the Estero Americano and the watersheds of Salmon Creek and Dutch Bill Creek, a tributary of the Russian River. The Bodega Land Trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of land and its communities. It protects land through conservation easements, encourages wise land use practices, and promotes appreciation and knowledge of the interaction of individuals and communities with natural resources.
- Income
- $67,196
- Spending
- $58,376
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 87.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 20
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 87.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Fair: 62 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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 (3)
- $31,476 spent. Baseline and monitoring program - reviews each easement property on site once a year (or more if necessary) to monitor compliance with easement provisions. The program recruits volunteers and trains them to do the baseline monitoring. The program also creates the baseline for all new easements along with mapping and narration, and easement restrictions and allowances. The entire community benefits from this program. The program is led by the program monitoring program director.
- Walks and Talks - a series of walks and lectures led by local naturalists and other experts concerning environmental interests of the local area including lambing, native plants, wildfire protection, birding, geology, and archaeology. These walks and talks are open to, and benefit, all members of the community and surrounding areas. There is a small charge and the leaders usually donate their time.
- $11,108 spent. Bodega Land Trust is extremely pleased to announce Mark Jacobsen's donation of Title to the important Tannery Creek Reserve (TCR) property to BLT. For almost 12 years, BLT has held a Conservation Easement on TCR, a beautiful 187.2 acre property that includes Tannery Creek canyon and its surrounding redwoods. BLT is working with the Tannery Creek Reserve Neighborhood Association, which has forged an impressive stewardship approach for the land. The Tannery Creek Reserve is truly protected for posterity. Bodega Land Trust is currently conducting a Forest Management Plan to protect the forest in the future.
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 March 1993.
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.