Changing lives through Land conservation by connecting people to place, forever.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
85¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$66K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $206K a year · 23% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
85%
of spending
Looks good: 85% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$66K
to officers and key staff · 13% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 13% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
11 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $1.7M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 10.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $130K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$73K
2% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 2% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
0
of 8 voting members
Concern: none of 8 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$774K
+31% vs prior year
Spent
$493K
To programs
85%
Net assets
$2.9M
By yearFY2018–FY2024
Revenue
$774K
FY2020▲ +31%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2018$593K
FY2020$774K
FY2021$789K
FY2022$1.4M
FY2023$784K
FY2024$1.0M
Expenses
$493K
FY2020▲ +18%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2018$417K
FY2020$493K
FY2021$649K
FY2022$782K
FY2023$842K
FY2024$911K
Net assets
$2.9M
FY2020▲ +34%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2018$2.1M
FY2020$2.9M
FY2021$3.0M
FY2022$3.3M
FY2023$3.4M
FY2024$3.7M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Mar 1999.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

85 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 85% · $420K Management & general 9% · $43K Fundraising 6% · $29K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

8 people listed on the 990; $66K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Dir.
$66,183Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Travis Custer’s $91K as Executive Directo is at the 20th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1851 $1–10M environment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020FY2018
Travis Custer$91,204$81,194$81,197$71,252$66,183$53,910

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Montezuma Land Conservancy executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Conserves land to connect people with nature, changing lives permanently.

Questions for Montezuma Land Conservancy

Tap to ask. Montezuma Land Conservancy sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Montezuma Land Conservancy answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $420K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Land Protection and Conservation

During 2020 MLC successfully closed one new conservation easement on 1,332 acres in San Miguel County and continues to work with local landowners on conservation projects throughout the southwest.

$231Kprogram expense
02

Stewardship

in 2020, the organization was responsible for stewardship and monitoring of 90 conservation easements totaling just over 46,000 acres. No easement restrictions were decreased or terminated and the organization successfully monitored all conservation easements in its portfolio thereby ensuring the continued protection of these important…

$164Kprogram expense
03

Outreach

MLC continues to expand its community outreach efforts and programs for engagement. Youth internships and K-12 programs continue through Fozzies Farm and the Montezuma Inspire Coalition. Due to COVID-19 many programs were placed on hold, but MLC did host its farm interns throughout the summer and fall of 2020 in alignment with state and…

$25Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$130K
Grants paid · 1 grant · $6K · 2022–2022

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$774K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$587K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$158K
Investment incomeLn 3$24K
Money outPt IX
$493K
Ln 25
Programscol B$420K
Managementcol C$43K
Fundraisingcol D$29K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$446K
Total assetsLn 16$2.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$73K
PeoplePt VI, VII
8
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b0
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$587K
Government grantsLn 1e$233K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$14K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$158K
Investment incomeLn 3$24K
Other incomeLn 4–11$5K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$5K
Total revenueLn 12$774K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2K
SavingsLn 2$443K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$446K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$630K
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$2.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$73K
Net assetsLn 32$2.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 510
VolunteersI 660
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$228K$446K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.5M$1.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$642K$630K
Total assetsLn 16$2.4M$2.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$20K$73K
Net assetsLn 32$2.4M$2.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$66K$56K$10K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$172K$156K$7K$9K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$7K$6K$563$237
Other employee benefitsLn 9$32K$28K$3K$1K
Payroll taxesLn 10$22K$20K$1K$585
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$6K$6K
Accounting feesLn 11c$839$839
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$5K$5K
Investment management feesLn 11f$16K$16K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$31K$31K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$128$98$14$16
Office expensesLn 13$13K$3K$183$10K
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$13K$12K$667$278
TravelLn 17$2K$2K$191$2
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$13K$13K
InsuranceLn 23$12K$10K$1K$601
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$61K$58K$1K$1K
All other expensesLn 24e$23K$20K$2K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$493K$420K$43K$29K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $1.0M$911K$103K$3.7M 990 PDF
FY2023 $784K$842K−$57K$3.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.4M$782K$593K$3.3M 990 PDF
FY2021 $789K$649K$140K$3.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $774K$493K$281K$2.9M 990 PDF
FY2019 Not on file
FY2018 $593K$417K$176K$2.1M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $773,759 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $438,840$586,808
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $14,833$158,470
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $43,832$23,895
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $5,849$4,586
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $503,354$773,759
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $231,432$298,364
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$4,844
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $216,899$189,416
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $448,331$492,624
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $55,023$281,135
Part VI · Governance 0 of 8 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members0
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $773,759 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$233,173
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$353,635
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$14,381
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$586,808
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $158,470$158,470
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $29,245$29,245
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $415 · Excluded from tax −$5,765−$5,350
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $4,586$4,586
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $188,130 · Excluded from tax −$1,179$773,759
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $492,624 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $56,256 · Management $9,927$66,183
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $156,396 · Management $6,584 · Fundraising $8,654$171,634
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $5,998 · Management $563 · Fundraising $237$6,798
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $28,120 · Management $2,640 · Fundraising $1,112$31,872
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $20,162 · Management $1,130 · Fundraising $585$21,877
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $5,603$5,603
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $839$839
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $4,844$4,844
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $15,942$15,942
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $30,701$30,701
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $98 · Management $14 · Fundraising $16$128
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $2,728 · Management $183 · Fundraising $9,758$12,669
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $11,663 · Management $667 · Fundraising $278$12,608
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,177 · Management $191 · Fundraising $2$2,370
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $12,681$12,681
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $9,973 · Management $1,442 · Fundraising $601$12,016
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $57,967 · Management $1,371 · Fundraising $1,184$60,522
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $19,822 · Management $1,809 · Fundraising $1,706$23,337
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $420,345 · Management $43,302 · Fundraising $28,977$492,624
Part X · Balance sheet $2,935,920 assets, 20 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearing$2,195
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $227,682$443,392
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $5,500$150,746
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $7,520$4,280
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $642,460$629,780
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,514,522$1,705,527
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,397,684$2,935,920
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $19,518$16,765
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $659$56,392
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $20,177$73,157
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,615,599$2,094,471
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $761,908$768,292
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,377,507$2,862,763
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,397,684$2,935,920
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,862,763 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$773,759
XI-2 Total expenses$492,624
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$281,135
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,377,507
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$204,121
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,862,763

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.