Ventura Land Trust
Ventura Land Trust shows strong asset growth and consistent revenue surpluses, with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 10769456 · Ventura, CA · NTEE: C34 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Ventura Land Trust Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Ventura Land Trust directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Ventura Land Trust
Ventura Land Trust (EIN: 10769456) is a nonprofit organization based in Ventura, CA, classified under NTEE code C34. The organization reported total revenue of $4.3M and total assets of $14.8M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Ventura Land Trust's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Ventura Land Trust with a Mission Score of 90 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Ventura Land Trust allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size with assets exceeding $12 million and annual revenues in the millions. This suggests either a volunteer-led executive team or that compensation is reported under different expense categories, warranting further investigation for complete transparency.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Ventura Land Trust's IRS 990 filings:
- Unusually low or 0% reported officer compensation, which may obscure actual executive remuneration if it's categorized elsewhere.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Ventura Land Trust:
- Consistent and significant growth in assets, from $642,144 in 2014 to $12,527,525 in 2023, indicating strong financial management and successful fundraising.
- Healthy revenue surpluses in most years, demonstrating financial stability and capacity for growth (e.g., $2,582,352 revenue vs. $2,124,201 expenses in 2023).
- Low liabilities relative to assets, with liabilities at $598,754 against assets of $12,527,525 in 2023, indicating a strong balance sheet.
- Long history of consistent IRS 990 filings (14 filings), suggesting good governance and transparency practices.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ventura Land Trust
Is Ventura Land Trust a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Ventura Land Trust (EIN: 10769456) some concerns. Mission Score: 90/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Ventura Land Trust spend its money?
Ventura Land Trust directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Ventura Land Trust tax-deductible?
Ventura Land Trust is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 10769456). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does Ventura Land Trust manage to report 0% officer compensation given its size and financial activity?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is highly unusual for an organization with over $12 million in assets and multi-million dollar revenues. This could indicate that executive roles are entirely volunteer-based, or that compensation is categorized differently within the expense structure, which would require a deeper dive into the full IRS Form 990 for clarification.
What is the specific breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
While the provided summary data doesn't detail the exact breakdown, the overall financial health suggests a strong focus on mission. To understand the precise allocation, a review of the full IRS Form 990, Part IX (Statement of Functional Expenses) would be necessary.
How does the organization plan to utilize its growing asset base of over $12 million?
Given its mission as a land trust, it's highly probable that a significant portion of these assets are in the form of conserved land or funds designated for land acquisition and stewardship. The growth in assets from $642,144 in 2014 to $12,527,525 in 2023 indicates successful long-term planning and execution of its conservation goals.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Ventura Land Trust showing financial trends over 14 years of public records:
Over 14 years of IRS 990 filings (2010–2023), Ventura Land Trust's revenue has grown by 1191%, moving from $200K to $2.6M. Total assets increased by 1248.3% over the same period, from $929K to $12.5M. Total functional expenses rose by 898.7%, from $213K to $2.1M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Ventura Land Trust reported a surplus of $458K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $599K in liabilities against $12.5M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 4.8%), resulting in net assets of $11.9M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2.6M | $2.1M | $12.5M | $599K | — | — |
| 2022 | $1.5M | $1.6M | $12.8M | $1.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $2.9M | $1.3M | $13.3M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $6.1M | $1.1M | $12.0M | $1.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $4.5M | $954K | $6.2M | $1.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.0M | $592K | $2.6M | $1.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $464K | $373K | $2.0M | $1.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $629K | $380K | $891K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $186K | $212K | $610K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $-18,262 | $186K | $642K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $124K | $191K | $818K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $117K | $193K | $821K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $76K | $144K | $858K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2010 | $200K | $213K | $929K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $2.1M, and assets of $12.5M (revenue +72.8% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $1.5M, expenses of $1.6M, and assets of $12.8M (revenue -47.9% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $2.9M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $13.3M (revenue -52.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $6.1M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $12.0M (revenue +34.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $4.5M, expenses of $954K, and assets of $6.2M (revenue +339.5% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $592K, and assets of $2.6M (revenue +122.4% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $464K, expenses of $373K, and assets of $2.0M (revenue -26.3% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $629K, expenses of $380K, and assets of $891K (revenue +238.8% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $186K, expenses of $212K, and assets of $610K.
- 2014: Revenue of $-18,262, expenses of $186K, and assets of $642K (revenue -114.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $124K, expenses of $191K, and assets of $818K (revenue +5.8% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $117K, expenses of $193K, and assets of $821K (revenue +54.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $76K, expenses of $144K, and assets of $858K (revenue -61.9% year-over-year).
- 2010: Revenue of $200K, expenses of $213K, and assets of $929K.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Ventura Land Trust is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.