Sonoma Land Trust
Sonoma Land Trust reported $26.9 million in revenue and $12.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $62.70 went to program services, $17.83 to management and general costs and $19.47 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 90.4% of the total. Government grants made up 46.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $314,927 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 20 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 251% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025 (3 mo.).
Where $100 of spending went
The 3-month short period ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $12MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The 3-month short period ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $27MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 62.7% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 17.8% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 19.5% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 90.4% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 46.4% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 2.2% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $314,927 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.57% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 20 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 70.8 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 18 of 18 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 (3 mo.) · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseLand acquisitions: we work with landowners to assess and understand goals for their properties, which can lead to an acquisition of property or conservation easement, or a transfer of property to the public. Transactions are negotiated to provide the best outcome for the landowner with the ultimate goal of permanently preserving land whether the final ownership is private or public. Land stewardship: we work with the land and community to restore and protect native habitats, creeks, wildlife corridors, productive farms and ranches, and other permanently protected private lands under our care.…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 (3 mo.) · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $289,408 | $0 | $25,519 | $314,927 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $208,727 | $0 | $30,650 | $239,377 |
| DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $206,124 | $0 | $24,891 | $231,015 |
| LAND ACQUISITION DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $176,646 | $0 | $34,857 | $211,503 |
| DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $165,768 | $0 | $20,236 | $186,004 |
| DIRECTOR OF STEWARDSHIP Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $162,078 | $0 | $22,248 | $184,326 |
| ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF STEWARDSHIP Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $156,951 | $0 | $8,195 | $165,146 |
20 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Sonoma Land Trust (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $567K (Part IX, line 5).
7 filings since FY2020
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 (3 mo.) · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b18 · 18 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 543
- Volunteers Part I, line 660
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 (3 mo.) · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| PRUNUSKE CHATHAM INC Planning, site assessment, project manag | $1,102,515 |
| PORTOLA SYSTEMS INC It services | $146,002 |
| SHUTE MIHALY & WEINBERGER LLP Legal services | $135,663 |
| SPYE GENERAL ENGINEERING Vegetation & fire management | $126,096 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 7 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
24 private foundations reported grants to Sonoma Land Trust totaling $300K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Sonoma Land Trust's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Sonoma Land Trust, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Sonoma Land Trust spent in FY2025, $62.70 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- ClearpathWashington, DC · revenue $27M · programs 82.8% · 2025
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Questions people ask
How much of Sonoma Land Trust's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, Sonoma Land Trust reported that 62.7% of its $12.3 million in expenses went to program services, 17.8% to management and general and 19.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Sonoma Land Trust pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Sonoma Land Trust reported for one person in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 was $314,927, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Sonoma Land Trust get its money?
Of $26.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, 90.4% came from contributions and grants (including 46.4% from government grants) and 2.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Sonoma Land Trust a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 51-0197006 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025 (3 mo.): Form 990 for the 3-month short period ending June 30, 2025, object 202601319349303510 · read the filing · XML
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, object 202640439349300644 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, object 202540449349302304 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, object 202400409349301225 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, object 202340449349301434 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, object 202240469349302719 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, object 202120479349301497 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 51-0197006: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.