Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County (the organization) was incorporated in California as a not-for-profit corporation in 1978. The mission of the organization is to protect, care for, and connect all people to the vibrant natural and working lands that are essential for our community and nature to thrive together for generations to come. Vision the organization sees a future in which the amazing diversity of lands that define and connect its work to the santa Cruz county region the wild and working forests, the globally unique wildlife habitats, the coastal landscape, and its rich farming and ranching heritage are cared for and preserved forever.
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County at a glance
- Total assets
- $87,524,969
- +47.3% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $43,880,016
- +318.7% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $1,964,561
- +553.0% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $19,506,881
- +210.0% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Land Trust of Santa Cruz County funds
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2019 it made 1 grant totaling $10K.
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $87,524,969 | $43,880,016 | $19,506,881 | — | — | $1,964,561 |
| 2024 | $59,404,809 | $10,479,171 | $6,292,908 | — | — | $300,836 |
| 2023 | $54,212,815 | $17,227,644 | $9,354,429 | — | — | $704,328 |
| 2022 | $46,905,128 | $13,862,010 | $7,554,344 | — | — | $778,306 |
| 2021 | $41,552,670 | $10,716,120 | $3,968,931 | — | — | $462,409 |
| 2020 | $33,961,737 | $2,055,056 | $4,268,839 | — | — | $271,864 |
| 2019 | $36,026,457 | $6,294,715 | $3,790,047 | $10,000 | 1 | $354,250 |
About Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Based on IRS filings
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Santa Cruz, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $87.5M in total assets. Net investment income was $2.0M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County is led by Sarah Newkirk, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 5 of 23 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sarah Newkirk
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$75K (2022) → $236K (2025)
Joyce Shimizu
Gov Committee Chair
Trustee → Gov Committee Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kate Anderton
Board Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Burns
Land Committee Chair
Trustee → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Land Committee Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bryan Largay
Conservation Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$114K (2019) → $173K (2025)
Laura Dannehl
Engatement Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$107K (2025)
Katherine Beiers
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marieke Rothschild
Trustee
Vice Chair → Co-Chair, 2022
Co-Chair → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thom Jacob
Trustee
Secretary → Co-Chair, 2022
Co-Chair → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Rose
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Brissenden
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Wilmers
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Colin Pearce
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Mountjoy
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Juliano Calil
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Flores
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Maclean
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Teresa Malone
Deputy Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$152K (2022) → $188K (2025)
Eric Lombardo
External Affairs
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$104K (2025)
Emily Thomas
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Culley
Former Chair
Trustee → Chair, 2024
Chair → Former Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Betsy Allen
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Calfo
Vice Chair
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Carie Thompson (2023–2024) — Access Director
- Former: Colin Pierce (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Mireya Gomez Contreras (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Chris Wilmers (2024) — Trustee
- Former: Donna Murphy (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Calah Pasley (2019–2022) — Communications & Development Director
- Former: Dan Medeiros (2019–2022) — Projects Director
- Former: Stephen Slade (2020–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Ana Espinoza (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: John Gilchrist (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Melody Sharp (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Lisa Larson (2019–2020) — CFO
- Former: Jeffery Werner (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Bill Gielow (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Jeffrey Werner (2019) — Treasurer
- Former: Kathy Rose (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Lester Stephen Slade (2019) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $236K, to Sarah Newkirk (Executive Dir.). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
How large is Land Trust of Santa Cruz County?
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County reported $87.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $43.9M.
What is Land Trust of Santa Cruz County?
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Santa Cruz, CA. It holds $87.5M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Land Trust of Santa Cruz County operate?
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County has awarded grants in California.
What is Land Trust of Santa Cruz County's EIN?
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2431856. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 29, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 27, 2026)
Live grants for the work Land Trust of Santa Cruz County funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Land Trust of Santa Cruz County's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Land Trust of Santa Cruz County'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.
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County down — hundreds of funders to go?