Freshwater Land Trust
Freshwater Land Trust works to conserve and care for environmentally significant land throughout central Alabama and to connect the red rock trail system throughout Jefferson county
Freshwater Land Trust at a glance
- Total assets
- $46,746,277
- +8.5% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $4,678,840
- +104.0% vs 2023
- Net investment income (2024)
- $162,218
- +282.9% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $1,567,799
- -4.5% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Freshwater Land Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
1 grant across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 1 grant of 1 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2021 it made 1 grant totaling $160K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vulcan Trail Foundation Inc Birmingham, AL | Land Purchase | $160,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $46,746,277 | $4,678,840 | $1,567,799 | — | — | $162,218 |
| 2023 | $43,071,835 | $2,293,081 | $1,642,072 | — | — | $42,370 |
| 2022 | $42,383,085 | $2,227,521 | $2,754,407 | — | — | $-179,094 |
| 2021 | $42,766,765 | $3,412,437 | $2,190,558 | $160,000 | 1 | $20,702 |
| 2020 | $41,482,022 | $1,595,842 | $993,520 | — | — | $8,770 |
About Freshwater Land Trust
Based on IRS filings
Freshwater Land Trust is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Birmingham, AL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $46.7M in total assets. Net investment income was $162K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Freshwater Land Trust is led by Rusha Smith, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 22 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Rusha Smith
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$133K (2020) → $184K (2024)
Sid Trant
Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barrie Stokes
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hampton McFadden Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Price
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ken Marion
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Bense
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Carruthers III
Director
Secretary → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joel McMahon
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Nix
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terri Sharpley Reynolds
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Josh Bennett
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Reggie Torbor
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Oaks
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Wilson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Kohler
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stacey Turner
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Libet Anderson
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeanne Jackson
Immediate Past Chair
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2022
Chairman → Immediate Past Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Proctor
Chairman Emeritus
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nelson Bean
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randy Jordan
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Richard Embrey (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Susan Comensky (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Thomas W. Thagard III (2020–2023) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Randretta Rincher (2023) — Director
- Former: Larry Thornton (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Virginia Randolph (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Jon W. Whetsell (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Natalie Kelly (2020) — Director
- Former: Olivia Affuso (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $184K, to Rusha Smith (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Freshwater Land Trust
How large is Freshwater Land Trust?
Freshwater Land Trust reported $46.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.7M.
What is Freshwater Land Trust?
Freshwater Land Trust is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Birmingham, AL. It holds $46.7M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Freshwater Land Trust operate?
Freshwater Land Trust has awarded grants in Alabama.
What is Freshwater Land Trust's EIN?
Freshwater Land Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-1387424. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Freshwater Land Trust funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Freshwater Land Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Freshwater Land Trust down — hundreds of funders to go?