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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: August 2023 Expires: August 2025

The Trust for Public Land

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards

Accreditation seal
Post Office Box 889336
Los Angeles, CA, 90088

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

The Trust for Public Land meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to create parks and protect land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come."

Year, State Incorporated:
1972, CA

Trust for Public Land (TPL) reports that it creates and preserves public lands, parks, trails, and green schoolyards. The organization also seeks to transform underutilized parks in communities of need through local and national partnerships. In 2022, TPL states that it completed 47 conservation transactions that protected 126,862 acres for recreation and the preservation of drinking water and wildlife habitat. In addition, the organization reports that it helped pass seven state and local ballot measures in new public funding for green spaces and completed 18 new schoolyards and four parks.

For the year ended June 30, 2022, The Trust for Public Land's program expenses were:

Donated land and and easement values: $66,395,000

Open space and park programs: $73,574,000

Total Program Expenses: $139,969,000

Chief Executive
Diane C. Regas, President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$526,879

Chair of the Board
Lucas St. Clair

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
President, Elliotsville Foundation, Inc.

Board Size
27

Paid Staff Size
351

*2021 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Radio

Fundraising costs were 10% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $151,743,000, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on The Trust for Public Land's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2022.

Source of Funds
Contributions of land and easements, net $33,000,000
Allowance for uncollectible grants and restricted grants returned to donor $-1,292,000
Contributions and grants $122,694,000
Project fees and other income $32,639,000
Investment income, net $-7,795,000
Total Income $179,246,000

Programs: 81% Fundraising: 9% Administrative: 10%

Total Income $179,246,000
Total expenses: $171,972,000
  Program expenses $139,969,000
  Fundraising expenses $14,941,000
  Administrative expenses $17,062,000
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $7,274,000
Beginning Net Assets $169,862,000
Other Changes In Net Assets $1,856,000
Ending Net Assets $178,992,000
Total Liabilities $129,212,000
Total Assets $308,204,000

Note 1: As noted in the above financial section, "other changes in net assets" refers to the gain on sale of property and equipment ($5,575,000), change in value of land holdings ($232,000), and future interests in charitable trusts (-$3,951,000).

Note 2: According to TPL's audited financial statements - consolidated - for the year ended June 30, 2022, the organization received $33,000,000 in donated land and easements.

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

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Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance