Colorado Open Lands
Colorado Open Lands reported $51.3 million in revenue and $50.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $98.11 went to program services, $1.16 to management and general costs and $0.73 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 97.3% of the total. Government grants made up 37.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $198,172 (PRESIDENT &). 2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 117% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $50MFor 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 fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $51MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 98.1% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 1.2% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.7% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 97.3% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 37.8% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 1.3% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $198,172 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.40% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 2.9 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 25 of 25 | 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 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseLand conservation we have led the protection of nearly 700,000 acres of open space across colorado, thanks to fantastic partnerships and visionary landowners. The protection of those 700,000 acres ensures that valuable wildlife habitat, productive farms and ranches, irreplaceable scenic views, and vital wetlands and river corridors will be there for future generations. We use conservation easements as our primary method for protecting land. A conservation easement is a legal agreement that ensures each property's unique conservation values are permanently protected. For full description
Stewardship the purpose of our stewardship program is to ensure that the conservation values (for example wildlife habitat, open space including productive farmland, recreational and educational opportunities) of each conservation easement we hold are protected forever. By doing so, we ensure that the wishes of the conservation easement donor and the public's trust are upheld. Colorado Open Lands maintains a model conservation easement stewardship program that is certified by the state of colorado and accredited by the land trust alliance accreditation commission. For full description
Healthy lands & water the purpose of the healthy lands & water program is to restore critical landscapes to be ecologically vibrant, resilient, and productive. To achieve this work, we build strong relationships and leverage resources and partnerships to support landowners in stewarding, restoring, and enriching critical natural resources across colorado
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & Officer, 39.00 hrs/week | $173,019 | $0 | $25,153 | $198,172 |
| DIR. OF CONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $101,010 | $0 | $11,403 | $112,413 |
2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Colorado Open Lands (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $215K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · 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–1b25 · 25 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 4No
- 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 531
- Volunteers Part I, line 625
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ECOMETRICS LLC Restoration | $748,986 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
31 private foundations reported grants to Colorado Open Lands totaling $554K 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 Colorado Open Lands's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Colorado Open Lands, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Colorado Open Lands spent in FY2025, $98.11 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- US Green Building CouncilWashington, DC · revenue $50M · programs 64.5% · 2024
- National Parks Conservation AssociationWashington, DC · revenue $52M · programs 77.9% · FY2025
- Clean Air Task ForceBoston, MA · revenue $50M · programs 69.4% · 2024
- Bonneville Environmental FoundationPortland, OR · revenue $52M · programs 96.5% · FY2025
- Klamath River Renewal CorporationBerkeley, CA · revenue $50M · programs 98.5% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Colorado Open Lands's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, Colorado Open Lands reported that 98.1% of its $50.0 million in expenses went to program services, 1.2% to management and general and 0.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Colorado Open Lands pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Colorado Open Lands reported for one person in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 was $198,172, for the role of PRESIDENT & (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Colorado Open Lands get its money?
Of $51.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, 97.3% came from contributions and grants (including 37.8% from government grants) and 1.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Colorado Open Lands a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 84-0866211 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. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, object 202620139349302132 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, object 202413539349300336 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, object 202323499349301752 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, object 202243559349300019 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, object 202103509349301510 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, object 202130299349300618 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 84-0866211: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.