Nonprofit · EIN 72-1603033
THE CALIFORNIA DESERT LAND CONSERVANCY
Also known as MOJAVE DESERT LAND TRUST
Tax-exempt · JOSHUA TREE, CA 92252
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $12,174,899 | $5,476,609 | $6,698,290 | $72,597,795 | $15,470,490 | $57,127,305 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $2,510,990 | $2,337,622 | $173,368 | $63,531,103 | $14,042,190 | $49,488,913 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 (amended) | $8,113,167 | $3,315,195 | $4,797,972 | $60,229,508 | $11,473,410 | $48,756,098 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $10,291,642
- of which government grants
- $2,112,207
- Program service revenue
- $524,397
- Investment income
- $1,262,774
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $809,643
- Other revenue
- $96,086
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $256,366
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,954,484
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $2,581,153
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $68,701
- Accounting fees
- $140,540
- Occupancy
- $71,544
- Travel
- $67,843
- Depreciation
- $39,420
- Program services (functional)
- $4,359,808
- Management and general (functional)
- $766,095
- Fundraising (functional)
- $350,706
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $63,531,103
- Total assets, end of year
- $72,597,795
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $15,470,490
- Net assets, end of year
- $57,127,305
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $1,469,450
- Publicly traded securities
- $29,080,328
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $2,897,064
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $54,230,241
- Gross receipts
- $14,141,314
- Employees
- 38
- Volunteers
- 227
- Year formed
- 2005
- State of legal domicile
- CA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KELLY HERBINSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $139,446 |
| CODY HANFORD | CHIEF CONSERVATION OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $100,609 |
| BRANDY IVENER | CFO (UNTIL 12/24) Officer | 40 | $92,555 |
| JOHN SIMPSON | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| STEVE HELY | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| ABDEL REID | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| GEARY HUND | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| GWEN BARKER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| ROBYN HELMLINGER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| PETER BROOKS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| RON RADZINER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| BRAD WILSON | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 04/25) Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| JAKE WILSON | CFO/COO (AS OF 01/25) Officer | 40 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 12 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KELLY HERBINSON | JOINT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $0 |
| CODY HANFORD | JOINT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $0 |
| BRANDY IVENER | CFO Officer | 40 | $0 |
| JOHN SIMPSON | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| ABDEL REID | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| PETER BROOKS | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| GEARY HUND | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| STEVE HELY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| ROBYN HELMLINGER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| RON RADZINER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| BRAD WILSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| GWEN BARKER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 12 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KELLY HERBINSON | JOINT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $106,496 | $13,341 |
| CODY HANFORD | JOINT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $93,335 | $11,486 |
| JOHN SIMPSON | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| ABDEL REID | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| PETER BROOKS | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| GEARY HUND | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| TERRYSA GUERRA | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 11/23) Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVE HELY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBYN HELMLINGER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| RON RADZINER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| BRAD WILSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| GWEN BARKER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 60124 29 PALMS HWY, JOSHUA TREE, CA 92252-4130
- In care of
- % DANIELLE SEGURA
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- KELLY HERBINSON, 60124 29 PALMS HIGHWAY, JOSHUA TREE, CA 92252
- Signed the 990
- JOHN SIMPSON, PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (760) 366-5440
- Website
- WWW.MDLT.ORG
- Return prepared by
- BAKER TILLY ADVISORY GROUP LP
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 72-1603033 or by the name THE CALIFORNIA DESERT LAND CONSERVANCY.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
SEE SCHEDULE O
Program accomplishments
- ORGANIZATION PURSUES LANDS THAT HAVE STRATEGIC CONSERVATION VALUES AND WORKS TO ENSURE THAT ALL ACQUIRED LAND IS PROPERLY STEWARDED AND MAINTAINED. EVERY LAND TRANSACTION SUPPORTS THE VISION OF A MOJAVE DESERT WITH INTERCONNECTED, PERMANENTLY PROTECTED SCENIC AND NATURAL AREAS HOSTING A DIVERSITY OF NATIVE PLANTS AND WILDLIFE. LAND STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE FEE LAND AND CONSERVATION EASEMENT MONITORING, SIMPLE RESTORATION, BIOLOGICAL SURVEYS, AND INSTALLATION OF SIGNS AND FENCING. TOTAL LANDS CONSERVED TO DATE ARE 124,282 ACRES OF FEE LANDS AND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS COMBINED.Expenses $2,502,477 · revenue $357,267
- THE PLANT CONSERVATION PROGRAM INCLUDES A NATIVE PLANT RESTORATION NURSERY AND A CONSERVATION SEED BANK. THE NURSERY GROWS NATIVE PLANTS FOR RESTORATION CONTRACTS FOR REVEGETATION PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE CALIFORNIA DESERTS. THE SEED BANK STORES AND PRESERVES NATIVE SEEDS AND HERBARIUM SPECIMENS FROM MDLT PROPERTIES FOR FUTURE RESEARCH. IN FY25, THE NURSERY SOLD OVER 10,000 PLANTS AND PROPAGATED 100 SPECIES FOR RESTORATION AND OUR ANNUAL PUBLIC PLANT SALE. THE SEED BANK CONTINUED TO IMPROVE STAFFING AND MADE 82 COLLECTIONS OF 71 SPECIES.Expenses $1,479,188
- EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAMS INCLUDE COMMUNITY CONSERVATION, TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT, OUTDOOR EDUCATION, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND AN INTERNSHIP FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH. IN FY25, MDLT LAUNCHED ITS COMMUNITY CONSERVATION INITIATIVES DEPARTMENT TO DEEPEN PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL PARTNERS AND ENSURE THAT CONSERVATION EFFORTS REFLECT SHARED VALUES AND PRIORITIES. COMMUNITY-CENTERED CONSERVATION IS CENTRAL TO OUR MISSION, AND THIS DEPARTMENT AIMS TO EXPAND PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT AND UPLIFT INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, ENGAGE WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO MONITOR HABITAT AND WILDLIFE HEALTH, AND PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ON CONSERVATION ISSUES THAT IMPACT MDLT'S MISSION. IN 2025, THE DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATED IN 13 LOCAL COMMUNITY AND TRIBAL EVENTS, CONNECTING WITH OVER 500 PEOPLE IN-PERSON AND OVER 200 PEOPLE VIRTUALLY. WE HAD 219 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE 3,854.25 HOURS AND HAD THREE PEOPLE TOOK PART IN THE WOMEN IN SCIENCE DISCOVERING OUR MOJAVE (WISDOM) INTERNSHIP.Expenses $378,143 · revenue $167,130
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 72-1603033
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2006
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Environment (C34)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $72,597,795
- Income (IRS master file)
- $14,141,314
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $12,174,899 | $5,476,609 | $72,597,795 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $2,510,990 | $2,337,622 | $63,531,103 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $8,113,167 | $3,315,195 | $60,229,508 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $8,072,702 | $3,005,485 | $51,837,293 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 72-1603033).
Questions about THE CALIFORNIA DESERT LAND CONSERVANCY
- What is the EIN of THE CALIFORNIA DESERT LAND CONSERVANCY?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THE CALIFORNIA DESERT LAND CONSERVANCY is 72-1603033.
- Is THE CALIFORNIA DESERT LAND CONSERVANCY tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2006.
- Are donations to THE CALIFORNIA DESERT LAND CONSERVANCY tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THE CALIFORNIA DESERT LAND CONSERVANCY file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of THE CALIFORNIA DESERT LAND CONSERVANCY due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did THE CALIFORNIA DESERT LAND CONSERVANCY last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of THE CALIFORNIA DESERT LAND CONSERVANCY?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names KELLY HERBINSON.
- Who are the officers and directors of THE CALIFORNIA DESERT LAND CONSERVANCY?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 13 people; 3 received compensation from the organization, the highest $139,446 (KELLY HERBINSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does THE CALIFORNIA DESERT LAND CONSERVANCY have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $12,174,899, expenses of $5,476,609 and total assets of $72,597,795 at year end.
Other nonprofits in JOSHUA TREE
- OUTDOOR RECREATION EDUCATION EIN 81-4167899 · last filed 990-N for 2025
- MORONGO BASIN CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION INC EIN 95-2625065 · last filed 990-N for 2025
- MORONGO BASIN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION INC EIN 95-6100536 · last filed 990 for 2026
- MORONGO BASIN UNITY HOME INC EIN 33-0126790 · last filed 990 for 2025
- COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE FOUNDATION EIN 95-3778234 · last filed 990 for 2025
- INSTITUTE OF MENTALPHYSICS EIN 95-1643331 · last filed 990 for 2024
- ANIMAL ACTION LEAGUE EIN 33-0345283 · last filed 990 for 2024
- HIGH DESERT TEST SITES EIN 45-2844566 · last filed 990 for 2025