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Los Angeles Conservancy

EIN 95-3273046 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY IS A NONPROFIT MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY TO RECOGNIZE, PRESERVE, AND REVITALIZE THE HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
19.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
23
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$275,214, president and 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

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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. $876,593 spent. ADVOCACY: LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY ADVOCATES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORICALLY AND CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT SITES IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES, FOSTERING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENRICHING LIVES. THE CONSERVANCY WORKS WITH RESIDENTS, NEIGHBORHOODS, LOCAL AGENCIES, SUPPORTERS, AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES. ADVOCACY EFFORTS INCLUDE PROVIDING TECHNICAL EXPERTISE (ON TOPICS, SUCH AS, EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVES TO DEMOLITION OR NEGLECT OF ARCHITECTURALLY AND CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT SITES), SPONSORING HISTORIC PRESERVATION WORKSHOPS, TAKING DIRECT ACTION TO PRESERVE THREATENED HISTORIC PLACES, AND MOBILIZING SUPPORT ON BEHALF OF ITS EFFORTS.
  2. $638,549 spent. EDUCATION: THE CONSERVANCY RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT AND REINFORCES THE VALUE OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY'S RICH ARCHITECTURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE THROUGH ITS EDUCATION PROGRAMS. EACH YEAR, MORE THAN 8,000 LOS ANGELES RESIDENTS AND VISITORS DISCOVER-AND, OFTEN, REDISCOVER- THE HISTORIC AND CULTURAL FABRIC OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES'S BUILT ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE CONSERVANCY'S AWARD-WINNING WALKING TOUR PROGRAM. SEVEN DIFFERENT WALKING TOURS ARE HELD WEEKLY WITH SPECIAL SEASONAL TOURS OFFERED YEAR ROUND. YOUTH INITIATIVES, SUCH AS IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES AND STUDENT WALKING TOURS, ALIGN WITH CALIFORNIA STATE STANDARDS AND BRING CONCEPTS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO LIFE FOR OVER 1,500 STUDENTS EACH YEAR. THE CONSERVANCY'S SIGNATURE PROGRAM, LAST REMAINING SEATS, WELCOMES NEARLY 6,000 PEOPLE TO HISTORIC MOVIE PALACES TO ENJOY CLASSIC FILMS.
  3. $784,261 spent. OUTREACH: LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY ENGAGES COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO ADVANCE RECOGNITION, PRESERVATION AND REVITALIZATION OF ARCHITECTURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY. STRATEGIC OUTREACH EFFORTS INCLUDE BI-MONTHLY MEMBER NEWSLETTER, DEPLOYING BI-MONTHLY E-NEWS FOR APPROX 31,000 SUBSCRIBER AND EMAIL ALERTS REGARDING PRESERVATION, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND A PROACTIVE PUBLIC RELATIONS APPROACH. THE CONSERVANCY'S WEBSITE (WWW.LACONSERVANCY.ORG) SERVES AS A CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR SUPPORTERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, BUSINESSES AND MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WITH 43,601 FOLLOWERS ON FACEBOOK, 52,910 FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM, AND 17,029 FOLLOWERS ON X (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TWITTER), THE CONSERVANCY COUNTS ON A STRONG BASE OF ACTIVE ONLINE SUPPORTERS. COMMUNICATIONS EFFORTS SUPPORT MEMBERSHIP GROWTH AND EXPAND THE REACH OF THE CONSERVANCY'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND ADVOCACY WORK.

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 September 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.

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.