The Trust for Public Land
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1972, TPL works to create parks and protect public land across the United States, with a focus on ensuring equitable access to nature and outdoor spaces for all communities. The organization operates as both a direct service provider and a grant-making entity, supporting community organizations, municipalities, schools, and tribal nations in their conservation and park equity efforts.
Key facts about The Trust for Public Land
- EIN
- 23-7222333
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,449,362
- Grants made (2024)
- 59
- Average grant
- $75,413
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 63% first-time grantees (37 of 59, 2024)
- Total assets
- $396,538,094
- Primary geography
- California (46% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Trust for Public Land funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Trust for Public Land's 59 itemized 2024 grants were California (46%), Colorado (15%) and Maine (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (5 grants), Boulder, CO (4 grants), Chattanooga, TN (3 grants) and Seattle, WA (2 grants). None of its 59 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Grants" (32 grants), "Contributions" (19 grants) and "Grants, Land Conservation" (5 grants).
Is The Trust for Public Land open to new grantees?
63%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 37 of 59 grantees (63%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $95K; repeat grants $42K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $24K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Trust for Public Land
- How to evaluate The Trust for Public Land as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$396.5M
+22.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.4M
-25.2% YoY
Grant Count
59
-15.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$75K
-11.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Create parks and protect land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come.
TPL's core conviction is that all people need access to nature and the outdoors close to home, in the cities and communities where they live. The organization addresses park access disparities, with research showing that neighborhoods where most residents identify as people of color have access to 43% less park acreage than predominantly white neighborhoods.
Primary focus areas include:
- Parks for People: Ensuring close-to-home park access for all Americans, particularly children, with emphasis on the 80% of Americans living in or near cities
- Land Conservation: Protecting land for recreation, drinking water, and wildlife habitat preservation
- Climate Resilience: Supporting parks and public lands with climate adaptation capabilities
- Equity & Justice: Addressing disparities in park access and outdoor recreation opportunities
- Ballot Measure Advocacy: Supporting state and local ballot initiatives for public funding of parks and natural spaces
Grantmaking
TPL operates as a grant-making foundation through several targeted programs supporting park equity, climate resilience, and outdoor access projects. The organization's grant-making focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services, with primary geographic concentration in California, Colorado, and Hawaii.
Grant Range
** $20,000 - $5,000,000+
Ready to take the next step with The Trust for Public Land?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
TPL operates nationally across the United States, with work spanning from Hawaii's coasts to New England's slopes. The organization maintains offices in multiple states and has particular concentration in California, Colorado, and Hawaii.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 59 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Revenue: $237,278,506
- Total Expenses: $197,479,138
- Total Assets: $396,538,094
- Total Liabilities: $164,000,000
- Number of Employees: 420
Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $324,349,767
- Total Giving: $182,179,357
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) organization, tax-exempt since February 1978. Donations are tax-deductible.
Rating: Four-Star charity with 98% overall score (based on Accountability & Finance 83%, Leadership & Adaptability 10%, Culture & Community 7%)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $396,538,094 | $324,349,767 | $308,182,607 |
| Revenue | $237,278,506 | $297,379,545 | $193,309,210 |
| Expenses | $197,479,138 | $290,939,884 | $171,537,007 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $5,382,830 | $4,597,012 | $9,198,852 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
295 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Community Foundation Santa Cruz County ($1,425,000), Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust ($400,000), Maine Community Foundation ($355,455).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SANTA CRUZ COUNTY Aptos, CA | GRANTS | $1,425,000 |
| LOS ANGELES NEIGHBORHOOD LAND TRUST Los Angeles, CA | GRANTS | $400,000 |
| MAINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Ellsworth, ME | GRANTS | $355,455 |
| FLATHEAD LAND TRUST Kalispell, MT | GRANTS | $175,000 |
| FEATHER RIVER LAND TRUST Quincy, CA | GRANTS, LAND CONSERVATION | $159,750 |
| FARIBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOLS Faribault, MN | GRANTS | $155,000 |
| CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER Denver, CO | GRANTS | $150,000 |
| BOULDER COUNTY COLORADO Boulder, CO | GRANTS | $150,000 |
| BROOKLYN CTR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS Brooklyn Center, MN | PARK CONSTRUCTION GRANT | $143,194 |
| OREGON RANGELAND TRUST Pendleton, OR | GRANTS | $94,786 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
President & Chief Executive Officer: Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser (assumed role in 2024)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diane C Regas | President | 40 | $547,638 |
| Lucas St Clair | Chair | 1 | — |
| David Poppe | Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Florence Williams | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Joe Lipscomb | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Alex Martin Johnson | Director | 1 | — |
| Alexis G Sant | Director | 1 | — |
| Allegra Happy Haynes | Director | 1 | — |
| Alvin Warren | Director | 1 | — |
| Anita Graham | Director | 1 | — |
| L Anton Seals Jr | Director | 1 | — |
| Ben Jealous | Director (Thru 10/25/23) | 1 | — |
| Caroline Niemczyk | Director (Thru 10/25/23) | 1 | — |
| Christopher G Lea | Director | 1 | — |
| Christopher Knight | Director | 1 | — |
| Eliot Merrill | Director | 1 | — |
| F Jerome Tone | Director | 1 | — |
| Ignacia S Moreno | Director | 1 | — |
| J Franklin Farrow | Director | 1 | — |
| Jennifer Jones | Director | 1 | — |
| Jerome Vascellaro | Director | 1 | — |
| Jodi Archambault | Director | 1 | — |
| Jody S Gill | Director | 1 | — |
| Keith Weaver | Director | 1 | — |
| Kenneth Wong | Director | 1 | — |
| Laura Richards | Director | 1 | — |
| Lindi Von Mutius | Director | 1 | — |
| Luis Benitez | Director (Thru 10/9/23) | 1 | — |
| Michael Parish | Director | 1 | — |
| Mickey Fearn | Director | 1 | — |
| Philip June | Director | 1 | — |
| Sheryl Tishman | Director | 1 | — |
| Susan D Whiting | Director | 1 | — |
| Taylor Toynes | Director | 1 | — |
| Theodore Roosevelt V | Director | 1 | — |
| Thomas S Reeve | Director | 1 | — |
| Whitney Hatch | Director (Thru 10/25/23) | 1 | — |
| David M Carson | SVP, General Counsel/Corp Secretary | 40 | $240,444 |
| Katherine M Pandori | VP, Director of Finance & Actg | 40 | $233,220 |
| Margaret Madden | VP, Associate General Counsel | 40 | $211,932 |
| James H Obendorf | SVP/Chief Financial & Admin Officer | 40 | $307,783 |
| Catherine Brown | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $122,074 |
| Peggy Chiu | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $166,877 |
| Mimi Faller Helvie | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $129,460 |
| Elizabeth Fee | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $69,684 |
| Peter Fodor | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $138,949 |
| Stacy Gayhart | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $95,856 |
| Alex Ghio | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $155,298 |
| Jane Kim | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $136,810 |
| Jennifer Kolto | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $108,426 |
| Joy Legget-Murphy | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $116,894 |
| Gilman Miller | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $167,269 |
| Denise Mullane | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $182,439 |
| Gordon Okawa | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $141,576 |
| Polly Powell | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $87,363 |
| Tily Shue | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $206,692 |
| Carter Strickland | Assistant Secretary (Thru 5/12/23) | 40 | $107,360 |
| Anthony a Traverso | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $187,997 |
| Thomas Tyner | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $195,851 |
| Justin Yost | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $120,805 |
| Kenneth J Danter | SVP, Field Programs | 40 | $306,325 |
| William Lee | SVP, Policy, Advocacy, & Gov't Relat | 38 | $247,312 |
| Patricia Watson | SVP/Chief Philanthropy Officer | 40 | $398,954 |
| I Ling Thompson | SVP, Ccmo (Thru 8/31/23) | 40 | $252,338 |
| Howard Frumkin | SVP, Land and People Lab | 40 | $289,736 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Conservation Accomplishments:**
Protected 4 million acres of land cumulatively
Connected 9.7 million people to the outdoors
Created 5,504 outdoor spaces
Completed 5,000 park-creation and land conservation projects across the United States
$28 million has been awarded to 64 projects across New York to ...Helped pass nearly 700 ballot measures, creating $110 billion in voter-approved public funding for parks and open spaces
**Recent Project Activity (2024-2025):**
Completed 47 conservation transactions, protecting over 126,000 acres for recreation, drinking water, and wildlife habitat preservation
Helped pass 7 state and local ballot measures generating $662 million in public funds for parks and natural spaces
Trust for Public Land Celebrates $117 Million in U.S. Forest Service GrantsCompleted 17 new schoolyards and 3 new parks
Announced acquisition of 11,520 acres of forestland in the Upper Wenatchee Watershed
Trust for Public Land Announces Acquisition of 11,520 Acres of ForestlandCelebrated $117 million in U.S. Forest Service grants to protect working forests and strengthen rural economies
Trust for Public Land Celebrates $117 Million in U.S. Forest Service GrantsAwarded $28 million to 64 projects across New York to help local governments plan and fund parks and conservation efforts
$28 million has been awarded to 64 projects across New York to ...**Contact Information:**
Website: www.tpl.org
Main Office: 23 Geary Street, Suite 1000, San Francisco, CA 94108-5750
Phone: 415-495-4014
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Trust for Public Land fund?
**Mission:** Create parks and protect land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. TPL's core conviction is that all people need access to nature and the outdoors close to home, in the cities and communities where they live. The organization addresses park access disparities, with research showing that neighborhoods where most residents identify as people of color have access to 43% less park acreage than predominantly white neighborhoods. Primary focus areas …
How do I apply for a grant from The Trust for Public Land?
**Grant Range:** $20,000 - $5,000,000+ **Annual Giving:** $182,179,357 (fiscal year 2023) **Number of Awards:** 91 grants distributed in 2023 **Total Assets:** $324,349,767 - $396,538,094 (depending on fiscal year) TPL operates as a grant-making foundation through several targeted programs supporting park equity, climate resilience, and outdoor access projects. The organization's grant-making focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services, with primary geograp…
Where does The Trust for Public Land make grants?
TPL operates nationally across the United States, with work spanning from Hawaii's coasts to New England's slopes. The organization maintains offices in multiple states and has particular concentration in California, Colorado, and Hawaii.
What size grants does The Trust for Public Land award?
In 2024, The Trust for Public Land awarded 59 grants totaling $4.4M — an average of about $75K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Trust for Public Land's EIN?
The Trust for Public Land's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7222333. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.