Rivers & Lands Conservancy connects our community to natural, wild, and open spaces of southern california through land conservation, stewardship, and education.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
62¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$115K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $7.6M a year · 84% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
62%
of spending
Worth a look: 62% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$115K
to officers and key staff · 9% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 9% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $11.7M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 3.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $36K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$409K
1% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 13 voting members
Looks good: 13 of 13 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$12.8M
Spent
$1.3M
To programs
62%
Net assets
$31.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$12.8M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$12.8M
FY2021$2.3M
FY2022$8.4M
FY2023$24.6M
FY2024$4.1M
FY2025$2.4M
Expenses
$1.3M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.3M
FY2021$1.3M
FY2022$1.4M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$2.2M
FY2025$1.3M
Net assets
$31.9M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$31.9M
FY2021$35.4M
FY2022$39.6M
FY2023$61.8M
FY2024$65.1M
FY2025$66.3M

From the FY2020 Form 990 (year ending March 2020) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Feb 1989.

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

Where the money goes

62 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 62% · $821K Management & general 28% · $374K Fundraising 9% · $124K

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

18 people listed on the 990; $115K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2019); the FY2020 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$114,644Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Past President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Rebecca O'Connor’s $107K as Co-Exec Dir is at the 34th 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 · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
John R Easton————$120,412—
Jack Easton—————$114,644
Rebecca O'Connor$106,720$93,592$95,846$73,984——
Nicole Padron$94,339$68,655$64,289$58,794——
John Easton———$28,336——

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 Rivers and Lands Conservancy executive salaries →

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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

Protects and educates about Southern California's natural lands and open spaces.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $821K · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

Land Stewardship

Ongoing management of open space and habitat lands to ensure their conservation in perpetuity or holds conservation easements; includes both lands held in fee title and held under conservation easement.

$413Kprogram expense
02

Land Acquisition Projects

General program to acquire habitat and open space lands throughout southern california. During the fiscal year, the conservancy acquired habitat property using current and prior funding. The funds were expended, the acquired property was added to land held for conservation or was transferred to other conservation agencies for…

$294Kprogram expense
03

Outreach and Community Education

Development of programs to engage the public in stewardship and conservation of open space and associated resources. Building public awareness and appreciation for open space and nature in our community.

$114Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$36K
See all 3 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$12.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$638K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$539K
Money outPt IX
$1.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$821K
Managementcol C$374K
Fundraisingcol D$124K
Owns and owesPt X
$31.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$338K
Total assetsLn 16$32.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$409K
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$5.9M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$3.8M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$61K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$539K
Investment incomeLn 3$638K
Other incomeLn 4–11$4K
Gains on assetsLn 7$299K
Total revenueLn 12$12.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$338K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$338K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$11.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$107K
Other assetsLn 15$20.1M
Total assetsLn 16$32.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$409K
Net assetsLn 32$31.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 59
VolunteersI 6100
Fiscal year endsHeaderMarch
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$358K$338K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$10.7M$11.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$125K$107K
Total assetsLn 16$21.6M$32.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$358K$409K
Net assetsLn 32$21.2M$31.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$122K$22K$100K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$423K$305K$36K$82K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$16K$10K$4K$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$67K$40K$17K$10K
Payroll taxesLn 10$43K$26K$11K$6K
Legal feesLn 11b$149K$132K$16K
Accounting feesLn 11c$6K$6K
Investment management feesLn 11f$108K$108K
Office expensesLn 13$2K$126$1K$345
OccupancyLn 16$4K$3K$1K$624
TravelLn 17$7K$6K$1K$190
InterestLn 20$3K$2K$331$475
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$16K$16K
InsuranceLn 23$39K$25K$9K$5K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$239K$178K$53K$7K
All other expensesLn 24e$76K$56K$10K$10K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.3M$821K$374K$124K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $2.4M$1.3M$1.1M$66.3M 990 PDF
FY2024 $4.1M$2.2M$1.8M$65.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $24.6M$1.3M$23.3M$61.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $8.4M$1.4M$7.0M$39.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.3M$1.3M$999K$35.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $12.8M$1.3M$11.5M$31.9M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $12,822,013 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,922,525$11,640,668
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $376,807$539,145
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $445,739$637,985
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $5,037$4,215
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,750,108$12,822,013
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $293,333$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $511,259$670,942
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $452,681$649,028
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,257,273$1,319,970
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,492,835$11,502,043
Part VI · Governance 13 of 13 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members13
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 $12,822,013 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$61,389
VIII-1e Government grants$5,934,074
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,645,205
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$3,836,000
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$11,640,668
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $539,145$539,145
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $338,503$338,503
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $299,482$299,482
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$9,424−$9,424
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $13,297 · Unrelated business $342$13,639
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $552,442 · Unrelated business $342 · Excluded from tax $628,561$12,822,013
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,319,970 across 16 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $21,954 · Management $100,015$121,969
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $305,455 · Management $36,319 · Fundraising $81,595$423,369
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $9,510 · Management $3,963 · Fundraising $2,377$15,850
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $39,980 · Management $16,645 · Fundraising $9,957$66,582
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $25,920 · Management $10,793 · Fundraising $6,459$43,172
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $132,292 · Management $16,384$148,676
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $6,300$6,300
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $107,876$107,876
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $126 · Management $1,491 · Fundraising $345$1,962
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $2,526 · Management $1,050 · Fundraising $624$4,200
IX-17 TravelPrograms $5,565 · Management $1,158 · Fundraising $190$6,913
IX-20 InterestPrograms $1,833 · Management $331 · Fundraising $475$2,639
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $16,114$16,114
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $25,308 · Management $8,871 · Fundraising $5,309$39,488
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $178,310 · Management $53,273 · Fundraising $7,441$239,024
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $56,263 · Management $9,885 · Fundraising $9,688$75,836
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $821,156 · Management $374,354 · Fundraising $124,460$1,319,970
Part X · Balance sheet $32,282,343 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $357,946$338,157
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $267,394$79,173
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $124,596$107,477
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $10,695,915$11,677,880
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $10,110,526$20,079,656
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $21,572,041$32,282,343
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $70,895$78,078
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $287,304$330,659
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $358,199$408,737
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $630,658$542,214
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $20,583,184$31,331,392
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $21,213,842$31,873,606
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $21,572,041$32,282,343
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $31,873,606 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$12,822,013
XI-2 Total expenses$1,319,970
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$11,502,043
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$21,213,842
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$1,037,170
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$199,000
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$4,109
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$31,873,606

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

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