Conservation Lands Foundation
Conservation Lands Foundation is a public charity based in Durango, Colorado. Founded in 2007, it works to protect, restore, and expand the National Conservation Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), using education, advocacy, partnerships, and community-led action.
Conservation Lands Foundation at a glance
In short: Conservation Lands Foundation gave $2.5M across 53 grants in 2025 (avg $47K), mostly in California. 2% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,516,500
- +32.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 53
- -13.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $47,481
- +52.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $11,248,294
- +29.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 2% first-time grantees (1 of 53, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (55% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Conservation Lands Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; grants are by invitation. Its field program staff identifies prospective grantees, and invited organizations submit proposals aligned with the foundation’s priorities.
- Contact
Mailing address: 835 E 2Nd Ave Suite 305, Durango, CO 81301
Phone: (970) 247-0807
Website: https://conservationlands.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Conservation Lands Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mojave Desert Land Trust ($410K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
298 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 221 grants of 298 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its work as supporting National Conservation Lands managed by the BLM. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to California (55%), New Mexico (9%), Colorado (8%), Utah (8%), and Nevada (7%). Listed 2025 recipients also included organizations in Oregon and Arizona.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 53 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Conservation Lands Foundation open to new grantees?
2%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 53 grantees (2%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $48K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2020) to $2.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 53 grants totaling $2.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mojave Desert Land Trust Joshua Tree, CA | Promote conservation | $410,000 |
| Transition Habitat Conservancy Pinon Hills, CA | Promote conservation | $225,000 |
| Friends of the Inyo Bishop, CA | Promote conservation | $155,000 |
| Friends of the Desert Mountains Palm Desert, CA | Promote conservation | $110,500 |
| New Mexico Wilderness Alliance Albuquerque, NM | Promote conservation | $108,500 |
| CactusToCloud Institute La Quinta, CA | Promote conservation | $84,000 |
| Friends of the Owyhee Ontario, OR | Promote conservation | $83,500 |
| Archaeology Southwest Tucson, AZ | Promote conservation | $80,000 |
| Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve Morongo Valley, CA | Promote conservation | $71,500 |
| Bears Ears Partnership Bluff, UT | Promote conservation | $70,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Conservation Lands Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $11,248,294 | $10,166,862 | $9,074,168 | $2,516,500 | 53 | $254,268 |
| 2024 | $8,690,319 | $5,537,207 | $7,225,120 | $1,894,000 | 61 | $373,052 |
| 2023 | $10,073,993 | $6,946,945 | $8,305,217 | $1,917,000 | 65 | $253,303 |
| 2022 | $10,606,749 | $8,075,903 | $8,502,697 | $1,937,000 | 68 | $19,209 |
| 2021 | $10,309,607 | $7,535,879 | $6,120,261 | $1,656,500 | 51 | $7,056 |
| 2020 | $8,932,384 | $6,267,898 | $5,711,686 | $1,601,000 | 45 | $60,903 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to protect, restore, and expand the National Conservation Lands through education, advocacy, and partnerships. Its grantmaking supports community partners and community-led movements that advance campaigns for new or expanded National Conservation Lands units, respond to conservation opportunities or urgent crises affecting those lands, and broaden the diversity of voices in advocacy, education, and partnerships.
Grantees are nonprofit, community-based organizations whose work aligns with the foundation’s goals. The foundation’s grant materials describe support for project-specific work, general support, and organizational development, as well as training and other professional resources.
Examples illustrate the range of grantee work. Friends of the Inyo describes its mission as protecting and caring for the lands and waters of California’s Eastern Sierra. Friends of the Owyhee says it promotes conservation advocacy, stewardship, and recreation in the Owyhee region. Archaeology Southwest describes its work as preservation archaeology: exploring and protecting heritage places, sharing archaeological information, advocating for landscape-scale protection, and stewarding heritage properties and conservation easements.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 53 grants totaling $2,516,500. Grant amounts ranged from $7,000 to $410,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest awards included $410,000 to Mojave Desert Land Trust, $225,000 to Transition Habitat Conservancy, $155,000 to Friends of the Inyo, $110,500 to Friends of the Desert Mountains, and $108,500 to New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. The reported purpose for each of these grants was “Promote conservation.”
The foundation says grants are awarded by staff and its Board of Trustees to organizations identified by its field program team. Grantees are typically members of the Friends Grassroots Network. Fiscal sponsors are permitted. The foundation reports that its grants are unrestricted, while its filing also describes support for both project-specific work and general support and organizational development.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mark Headley as Board Chair and Hilary Dessouky as Secretary. It lists Angelo Baca, Jason Baldes, Maria Cartagena, Swep Davis, Alfredo Gonzalez, Natasha Hale, Jim Kenna, and Camila Thorndike as board members.
Conservation Lands Foundation is led by Christine Hill, Executive Director on the 2025 filing; 9 of 25 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Christine Hill
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$232K (2025)
Mark Headley
Board Chair
Director → Board Member, 2021
Board Member → Board Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bertha Gutierrez-Tejada
Program Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$108K (2025)
Kara Matsumoto
Policy Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$101K (2025)
Julie Thibodeau
Chief Finance & Oper Officer
Senior Director Fina → Senior Director Finance & Oper, 2023
Senior Director Finance & Oper → Chief Finance & Oper Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$129K (2020) → $151K (2025)
Kristine Deutschman
Chief Comms Officer
Senior Committee Director → Chief Comms Officer, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$120K (2020) → $149K (2025)
Jocelyn Torres
Chief Conservation Officer
Senior Conservat → Senior Conservation Director, 2023
Senior Conservation Director → Chief Conservation Officer, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$128K (2022) → $152K (2025)
Charlotte Overby
Vice President - Conservation Field Pr
Senior Field Director → Vice President - Conservation Field Programs, 2024
Vice President - Conservation Field Programs → Vice President - Conservation Field Pr, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$130K (2023) → $145K (2025)
David Feinman
Vice President - Government Affairs
Gov Affairs Director → Vice President - Government Affairs, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$119K (2023) → $126K (2025)
Anna Zawisza
Vice President - Development
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$116K (2025)
Angelo Baca
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hilary Dessouky
Secretary
Director → Board Member, 2021
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Baldes
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Kenna
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Cartagena
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Swep Davis
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alfredo Gonzalez
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Natasha Hale
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Camila Thorndike
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rajeep Roy
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Malooly
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Daniel Davis
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Scott
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Natalie Dawson
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tarn Udall
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (25)
- Former: Brian Sybert (2020–2024) — Executive Director
- Former: Chris Killingsworth (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Greg Moore (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Heath Nero (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Hilary Tompkins (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Peter Metcalf (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Suzanne Connors (2020–2024) — Chief Philanthropy Officer
- Former: Brian Vallo (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Kai Anderson (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Danielle Murray (2021–2023) — Senior Legal & Policy
- Former: Elyane Stefanick (2023) — Calif Program Director
- Former: Gavin Noyes (2023) — Grassroots Eng Director
- Former: Maggie Anderson (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Edward M Norton (2020–2022) — Board Chair
- Former: John Wallin (2020–2022) — Deputy Director
- Former: Roderick Morris (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Alex Laskey (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Douglas P Wheeler (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Marcus Jimenez (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Dave Fienman (2021) — Govt Affairs
- Former: Anne Shields (2020) — Director
- Former: Dayton Duncan (2020) — Director
- Former: Hansjorg Wyss (2020) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Speers (2020) — Director
- Former: Tommy P Beaudreau (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $232K, to Christine Hill (Executive Director). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Conservation Lands Foundation
How much does Conservation Lands Foundation give each year?
Conservation Lands Foundation gave $2.5M across 53 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.9M across 61 grants.
What is Conservation Lands Foundation's typical grant size?
Conservation Lands Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $47,481, across 53 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Conservation Lands Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Conservation Lands Foundation give grants?
Conservation Lands Foundation gives mostly in California: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were New Mexico (9%) and Colorado (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Albuquerque, NM (3 grants), Las Vegas, NV (3 grants), Tucson, AZ (2 grants) and Shoshone, CA (2 grants).
Does Conservation Lands Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 53 grants with a stated purpose on Conservation Lands Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Promote conservation" (53 grants).
Who are Conservation Lands Foundation's largest grantees?
Conservation Lands Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Mojave Desert Land Trust ($410,000), Transition Habitat Conservancy ($225,000) and Friends of the Inyo ($155,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Conservation Lands Foundation?
Conservation Lands Foundation reported $11.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $10.2M.
What does Conservation Lands Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to protect, restore, and expand the National Conservation Lands through education, advocacy, and partnerships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Conservation Lands Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; grants are by invitation. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Conservation Lands Foundation's EIN?
Conservation Lands Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8924520. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Conservation Lands Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 5, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 4, 2023)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Conservation Lands Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Conservation Lands Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/conservation-lands-foundation-morg_19753ac5f6a74ee8bf9ff45a098e26f4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_208924520_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Conservation Lands Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/conservation-lands-foundation-morg_19753ac5f6a74ee8bf9ff45a098e26f4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Conservation Lands Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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