Big Sur Land Trust
Big Sur Land Trust reported $17.8 million in revenue and $5.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $75.89 went to program services, $14.69 to management and general costs and $9.42 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 87.6% of the total. Government grants made up 63.9%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $282,812 (CEO). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 283% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $5.8MFor 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 June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $18MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 75.9% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.7% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.4% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 87.6% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 63.9% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.2% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $282,812 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 4.88% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 180.8 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 15 of 15 | 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 expenseStewardship - Big Sur Land Trust (BSLT) expends funds and initiates community partnerships to be effective stewards of both the BSLT's protected acreage as well as other important public and private lands. BSLT provides a high standard of stewardship for our ecological, cultural and scenic features that define the character of our properties and contribute to our natural and cultural heritage. Stewardship includes care of the facilities and amenities that ensure a high quality visitor experience; the standard of care balances ecological health and human use of the land. Approximately 100,000…
Community - Funds are utilized to facilitate local community projects on the central coast relating to protection and conservation of significant lands. In addition, local conservation sites are being utilized to promote healthy communities by providing meaningful outdoor experiences for local youth and other groups in order to enhance the connection of people with the land. Planning and development of a new community park in Salinas, CA. Approximately 100,000 people benefited
Planning and Conservation - Investigation and assessment of properties for possible acquisition such as Basin Ranch, Hiss Parcel, and a percentage interest of Martin Dunes. Examples of investigation and assessment include but are not limited to title and legal review, minerals assessment, habitat assessment, legal document drafting, and other research and transaction negotiation activities. Work towards the restoration of habitats, floodplains and other environmentally sensitive landscapes including Carr lake and the Carmel River
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $227,528 | $0 | $55,284 | $282,812 |
| CFO/COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $155,000 | $0 | $6,598 | $161,598 |
| Dir. Conservation Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $140,637 | $0 | $14,880 | $155,517 |
| Dir. Philanthropy Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $141,985 | $0 | $7,356 | $149,341 |
| Dir. Stewarship Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $128,896 | $0 | $19,698 | $148,594 |
| Controller Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $122,722 | $0 | $24,820 | $147,542 |
| Dir. Comm. Program Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $101,172 | $0 | $23,362 | $124,534 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Big Sur Land Trust (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $467K (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–1b15 · 15 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 534
- Volunteers Part I, line 6167
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Robert A Bothman Inc Construction | $10,061,439 |
| Odin Environmental Solutions LLC Construction | $8,430,580 |
| River Partners Restoration Planting | $850,828 |
| Balance Hydrologics Inc Environmental Consult | $692,076 |
| Felice Consulting Services Construction Mgr | $649,187 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 269,812 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
23 private foundations reported grants to Big Sur Land Trust totaling $2.0M 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 Big Sur 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 Big Sur Land Trust, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Big Sur Land Trust spent in FY2025, $75.89 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Tri City Economic Development CorporationUnion City, CA · revenue $18M · programs 97.0% · 2024
- Norfolk Botanical GardenNorfolk, VA · revenue $18M · programs 89.4% · FY2025
- The Marie Selby Botanical GardensSarasota, FL · revenue $18M · programs 78.3% · FY2025
- Fairmount Park ConservancyPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $18M · programs 73.8% · 2025
- Nantucket Conservation FoundationNantucket, MA · revenue $18M · programs 70.2% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of Big Sur Land Trust's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Big Sur Land Trust reported that 75.9% of its $5.8 million in expenses went to program services, 14.7% to management and general and 9.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Big Sur Land Trust pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Big Sur Land Trust reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $282,812, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Big Sur Land Trust get its money?
Of $17.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 87.6% came from contributions and grants (including 63.9% from government grants) and 0.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Big Sur Land Trust a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 94-2473415 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 June 30, 2025, object 202631189349302228 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531349349310233 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202400679349301720 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202320689349301852 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202200459349301030 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202100569349301855 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 94-2473415: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.