Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	Trust for Public Land
Address:	101 Montgomery Street, Suite 900
	San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone:	415-495-4014 800-714-5263
Web Address:	www.tpl.org

Trust for Public Land (TPL) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

TPL reports that it helps structure, negotiate, and complete land transactions to create parks, playgrounds, and protected natural areas. The organization serves as an independent agent, buying land from willing landowners and then transferring it to public agencies, land trusts, or other groups for protection. TPL reports that it may protect land through conservation easements, which restrict development but permit traditional uses such as farming and ranching. TPL works to design and construct or renovate public parks and school playgrounds. The organization states that services may also include advising communities on the stewardship and maintenance of the parks/playgrounds. The organization also provides conservation finance services to governments on conservation funding and helps to design, pass and implement measures that dedicate new public funds for parks and land conservation. TPL’s Vision services include “greenprinting” that work to help communities make informed decisions by creating a visual plan of land use. TPL analyzes options and recommends approaches for the funding of land acquisition, and helps to develop a long-term conservation action plan.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, TPL's program expenses were:

Contributions of land and easements	55,769,000
Open space conservation programs	52,269,000
Total Program Expenses:	$108,038,000

Chief Executive : William Rogers, President

Compensation*:

$266,857

Chair of the Board: Page Knudsen Cowles
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Managing Director, Knudsen Vineyards, LLC

Board Size: 20

Paid Staff Size: 338

*April 1, 2009 - March 31, 2010 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, cause-related marketing, and membership appeals.

Fund raising costs were 6% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $114,138,000, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on TPL's audited financial statements - consolidated for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010.

Source of Funds
Contributions and grants	88,906,000
Contributions of land and easements	25,232,000
Project fees and other income	17,703,000
Gains on investments	8,275,000
Interest income	2,210,000
Change in value of land holdings	-6,118,000
Total Income	$136,208,000

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 86%  Fund Raising: 6%  Administrative: 8%

Total income				$136,208,000
	Program expenses			$108,038,000
	Fund raising expenses			7,128,000
	Administrative expenses			10,611,000
Total expenses				$125,777,000
Income in Excess of Expenses				10,431,000
Beginning net assets				185,004,000
Other Changes in Net Assets				(3,435,000)
Ending net assets				192,000,000
Total liabilities				140,655,000
Total assets				$332,655,000

Note: According to TPL, the organization received $448,246 of in-kind contributions, including legal services ($322,981), fundraising consultants ($68,823), miscellaneous contributions ($46,442), and public relations services ($10,000).

Note: Other changes in net assets in the Financial section above includes allowance for uncollectible grants and restricted grants returned to donors (-3,435,000).