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Nonprofit · EIN 77-0169682

THE OJAI VALLEY LAND CONSERVANCY

Tax-exempt · OJAI, CA 93023

Financials

$5.6M$3.2M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of THE OJAI VALLEY LAND CONSERVANCY by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
June 30, 2025990$5,578,983$3,164,612$2,414,371$32,078,238$460,744$31,617,494
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$3,263,825
Program service revenue
$1,887,760
Investment income
$568,832
Net rental income
-$135,323
Net gain from sales of assets
$293,322
Net income from fundraising events
-$37,827
Net income from sales of inventory
$31,716
Other revenue
-$141,434

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$150,655
Other salaries and wages
$1,054,025
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$1,478,932
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$36,496
Accounting fees
$95,687
Occupancy
$32,982
Travel
$26,143
Depreciation
$26,162
Program services (functional)
$2,144,238
Management and general (functional)
$746,452
Fundraising (functional)
$273,922

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$29,259,972
Total assets, end of year
$32,078,238
Total liabilities, end of year
$460,744
Net assets, end of year
$31,617,494
Land, buildings and equipment
$16,229,105
Publicly traded securities
$13,459,277
Net assets without donor restrictions
$29,237,988
Net assets with donor restrictions
$2,379,506
Gross receipts
$10,663,973
Employees
24
Volunteers
532
Year formed
1987
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.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
TOM MALONEYEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$124,819$4,268
STEFANIE COELERPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
MARTHA GROSZEWSKITREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
SANDY BUECHLEYVICE PRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
SARAH SHESHUNOFFSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
LUCINDA SETNICKABOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
FIONA HUTTONBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BRET BRADIGANBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JERRY MARYNUIKBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DAVID COMFORTBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LIZZY CHOUINARDBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TIM RHONEBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ANNIE NYBORGBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JIM FINCHBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
370 BALDWIN RD BLDG A4, OJAI, CA 93023-9705
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
TOM MALONEY, PO BOX 1092, OJAI, CA 93024
Signed the 990
TOM MALONEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Phone
(805) 649-6852
Return prepared by
HUTCHINSON & BLOODGOOD LLP

Mission

WE WORK TO PERMANENTLY PROTECT AND RESTORE THE OPEN SPACE, NATURAL SCENIC BEAUTY, WILDLIFE, HABITAT, AND WATERSHED OF THE OJAI VALLEY FOR CURRENT, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, TO ENJOY FOREVER.

990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • OVLC'S CONSERVATION ACTION CONTINUES TO EVOLVE. CLIMATE CHANGE IS FUELING LANDSCAPE-SCALE SHIFTS IN OUR WILDLANDS. REVERSING THESE TRENDS REQUIRES PROACTIVE WORK AT ALL SCALES. WHILE CLIMATE CHANGE IS GLOBAL, CLIMATE RESILIENCE REQUIRES A LOCAL STRATEGY. RESTORING NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS ENHANCES NATURE'S ABILITY TO REBOUND FROM EXTREME CLIMATE EVENTS (HEAT, FIRE, DROUGHT, FLOOD). WHILE OVLC HAS DONE EXTENSIVE WORK PROTECTING AND RESTORING NATIVE OAK WOODLAND AND RIPARIAN HABITATS, WE REALIZE THAT THESE EFFORTS NEED TO EXPAND TO ENHANCE HABITAT AND BUILD CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN PROTECTED LANDS. IT IS THIS UNDERSTANDING THAT HAS LED OVLC TO CONTINUE TO GROW THE REWILD OJAI PROGRAM. OUR GOAL IS TO EMPOWER PRIVATE LANDOWNERS ACROSS A MOSAIC OF LAND-USE TYPES TO RESTORE THEIR LAND FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE. BY TAKING STRATEGIC STEPS TODAY, OVLC CAN BENEFIT THE ECOLOGY OF THE VALLEY FOREVER. INVESTMENTS IN OUR NATURAL CAPITAL ARE NO-REGRETS ACTIONS THAT PROTECT THE ATTRIBUTES THAT MAKE THE OJAI VALLEY SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE.TODAY, OVLC HAS PROTECTED ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE VENTURA RIVER AND MANAGES OVER 2,600 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE IN THE OJAI VALLEY. WITHIN THIS GEOGRAPHY, 2,000 ACRES ARE OPEN FOR FREE PUBLIC ACCESS. ON THESE LANDS, OVLC MAINTAINS 27 MILES OF TRAILS, GUIDES HUNDREDS OF VISITORS, AND HOSTS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SCHOOLCHILDREN, HIKERS, EQUESTRIANS, BIKERS, AND MORE EACH YEAR.NOW, NEW THREATS FROM A CHANGING CLIMATE THREATEN THE ECOLOGY, LIVABILITY, AND CHARACTER OF THE OJAI VALLEY. AS THE LEADING CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION IN THE VALLEY, OVLC IS TURNING TO NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO RESPOND TO THESE THREATS.WATER:IN THE OJAI VALLEY, WATER IS SCARCER THAN LAND. THE CITY OF VENTURA'S THREATENED ADJUDICATION OF WATER USES AND THE NEW FOCUS ON GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY (TWO ACTIVE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCIES HAVE BEEN FORMED) ARE EVIDENCE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS ALTERING WATER REGIMES AND THREATENING WATER SUPPLIES. THE UNCERTAINTY AROUND OUR ONGOING DROUGHT COUPLED WITH THE COST OF WATER ARE CAUSING FARMERS AND LARGE LANDOWNERS TO CEASE OR CURTAIL THEIR ORCHARD OPERATIONS. OVLC HAS GROWN ITS ABILITY TO INTERVENE IN THE ADJUDICATION WITH LEGAL REPRESENTATION. OVLC IS ACTIVELY SUPPORTING THE MEDIATION PROCESS TOWARDS A PHYSICAL SOLUTION OF THE THREATENED ADJUDICATION.OVLC IS ALSO EXPANDING ITS ROLE IN SUPPORT OF THE REMOVAL OF THE MATILIJA DAM. OVLC ACQUIRED A PARCEL THAT MAY BE INSTRUMENTAL IN MITIGATING DOWNSTREAM RISK TO PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PROPERTY AFTER DAM REMOVAL. OVLC'S COUNSEL IS PLAYING AN INCREASING ROLE IN IDENTIFYING WAYS TO EXPEDITE DAM REMOVAL BY IDENTIFYING NON-STRUCTURAL MEANS TO MITIGATE RISK TO LANDOWNERS.IN ADDITION TO THE SCARCITY OF WATER, THE CHANGING CLIMATE PRESENTS A POTENTIAL INCREASE IN EXTREME RAIN EVENTS WITH HIGH POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING. FOR FLOOD MITIGATION, WE ARE "PLANNING FOR FLOOD DURING THE TIME OF DROUGHT" WITH A FOCUS ON PURSUING SOLUTIONS TO RETAIN WATER AND ATTENUATE FLOWS FROM HEAVY CLIMATE EVENTS. AT OVLC'S PARKWAY PRESERVE WE RECEIVED GRANT FUNDS TO CREATE A PLAN THAT COMBINES FLOOD PROTECTION WITH HABITAT RESTORATION AND PUBLIC ACCESS OBJECTIVES. OVLC WILL SEEK FUNDS TO CONTINUE THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION.FOR CENTURIES, BROAD CANOPIES OF NATIVE OAKS SLOWED AND DISPERSED DRENCHING RAINS, REDUCING EROSION AND RUNOFF, WHILE THEIR DEEP ROOTS SANK WATER INTO OUR AQUIFERS. BY RESTORING OAK WOODLANDS IN OUR PRESERVES AND WORKING WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO RESTORE LAND BACK TO NATIVE HABITAT, WE HOPE TO SHIFT THE ECOSYSTEM BALANCE BACK TOWARD ONE THAT IS BETTER SUITED TO HANDLE EXTREME WATER EVENTS. OVLC HAS ENGAGED WITH SEVERAL PRIVATE LANDOWNERS ON THE RESTORATION OF THEIR LANDS.HABITATS & BIODIVERSITY:OVLC HAS BECOME THE OJAI VALLEY'S LEADER IN RESTORING OUR RIVER AND CREEK HABITATS. OVLC HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING TO LEAD EFFORTS TO ERADICATE NON-NATIVE GIANT REED AND OTHER INVASIVE PLANTS FROM THE VENTURA RIVER WATERSHED. AS PART OF THIS EFFORT, OVLC HAS RECEIVED FIRST-OF-THEIR-KIND STATE GRANTS TO EXPEDITE RESTORATION PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. REMOVING NON-NATIVE GIANT REED AND RESTORING NATIVE RIPARIAN VEGETATION RESTORES WATER TO OUR CREEKS, PROVIDES VITAL HABITAT, AND ENHANCES NATURAL FIREBREAKS. OVLC INTENDS TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND ITS ROLE AS THE LEADING ORGANIZATION FOR ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION IN THE OJAI VALLEY.FIRE:OVLC CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF PRESCRIBED FIRE TECHNIQUES IN THE OJAI VALLEY. OVLC HOSTED A 20-ACRE TRAINING AND RESEARCH BROADCAST PRESCRIBED FIRE AT ITS VENTURA RIVER STEELHEAD PRESERVE.OVLC PRESERVESOJAI MEADOWS PRESERVE - ESTABLISHED IN 1999/2000, THIS 58-ACRE PRESERVE CONSISTS OF OAK WOODLAND, GRASSLANDS, AND WETLANDS. THE MEADOWS HAD BEEN HEAVILY DISTURBED BY FARMING, BUT THE OVLC HAS DONE EXTENSIVE RESTORATION TO THE WETLAND AND SURROUNDING LAND. WALKING TRAILS ARE OPEN DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, THUS CREATING AN IN-TOWN PARKLAND FOR THE PUBLIC. FOUR SCHOOLS ARE ADJACENT TO OR WITHIN A SHORT WALKING DISTANCE OF THE PRESERVE AND TEACHERS USE THE AREA FOR OUTDOOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. SAN ANTONIO CREEK PRESERVE THIS CONSISTS OF TWO SEPARATE PARCELS. A NINE-ACRE PRESERVE ALONG SAN ANTONIO CREEK THAT BOASTS DRAMATIC VIEWS OF SULPHUR MOUNTAIN. THE PROPERTY IS VISITED BY WRITTEN PERMISSION.THE SECOND PARCEL IS A 9.55-ACRE TRACT OF LAND 2.5 MILES DOWNSTREAM ON SAN ANTONIO CREEK. THIS PROPERTY FURTHER PROTECTS THE CREEK FROM INCOMPATIBLE USES. ACCESS IS ALSO LIMITED TO "BY PERMISSION ONLY."VENTURA RIVER-CONFLUENCE PRESERVE - THE VENTURA RIVER CONFLUENCE PRESERVE IS A 13-ACRE PARCEL NAMED FOR ITS LOCATION AT THE MERGING OF THE VENTURA RIVER AND SAN ANTONIO CREEK. LARGE STATURE COTTONWOOD AND SYCAMORES TOWER OVER LUSH UNDERGROWTH, PROVIDING ONE OF THE BEST LOCAL EXAMPLES OF RIPARIAN FOREST. THE RICH RIPARIAN HABITAT IS HOME TO A WIDE VARIETY OF WILDLIFE SUCH AS THE FEDERALLY ENDANGERED CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROG AND SOUTHERN STEELHEAD TROUT. WHILE THIS PRESERVE DOES NOT HAVE AN OFFICIAL TRAIL NETWORK, IT CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE OJAI VALLEY TRAIL/VENTURA RIVER TRAIL.RIO VISTA PRESERVE - THE 54-ACRE RIO VISTA PRESERVE IS LESS THAN A HALF MILE FROM THE CONFLUENCE PRESERVE ON THE VENTURA RIVER. THE PRESERVE IS THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE LONG AND ABUTS THE OJAI VALLEY TRAIL/VENTURA RIVER TRAIL. THE OVLC HAS SUCCESSFULLY REMOVED NON-NATIVE INVASIVE GIANT REED TO RESTORE NATIVE HABITAT.VENTURA RIVER PRESERVE - LOCATED IN THE WESTERN OJAI VALLEY, THE VENTURA RIVER PRESERVE PROTECTS 1,516 ACRES INCLUDING THREE MILES OF THE VENTURA RIVER AND SURROUNDING CANYONS. DIVERSE TOPOGRAPHY CREATES IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR A VARIETY OF PLANT COMMUNITIES. STEEP NORTH-FACING SLOPES IN WILLS CANYON AND MATURE OAK CANOPY OFFER REFUGE FOR SHADE-LOVING PLANTS, WHILE SOUTH-FACING, CHAPARRAL-COVERED HILLSIDES ARE EXPOSED TO SUMMER SUN. POCKETS OF GRASSLANDS AND MEADOWS SUPPORT A COLORFUL VARIETY OF SPRING WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES. THIS LAND IS A HAVEN FOR OVER 300 PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES. THE PRESERVATION OF THIS PROPERTY IS MADE EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT BY ITS LOCATION ADJACENT TO THE LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST AND THE VENTURA RIVER WATERSHED. OVLC HAS RESTORED A 40-ACRE ORANGE GROVE BACK TO NATIVE OAK WOODLANDS. THIS PRESERVE IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS AND OFFERS OVER TWELVE MILES OF MIXED-USE TRAILS FOR HIKERS, MOUNTAIN BIKERS, AND EQUESTRIANS TO ENJOY. OVLC ESTIMATES THAT THERE ARE OVER 120,000 VISITS TO THE PRESERVE EACH YEAR. ILVENTO PRESERVE - THE 77-ACRE ILVENTO PRESERVE WAS DONATED TO OVLC AND WAS ITS FIRST ACQUISITION. THE PARCEL MAINLY CONSISTS OF A CHAPARRAL RIDGE LOCATED NEAR THE THACHER SCHOOL IN THE EAST END OF THE OJAI VALLEY. THE PRESERVE HAS DIVERSE NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES DUE TO ITS DISTINCTLY NORTH- AND SOUTH-FACING SLOPES.VENTURA RIVER STEELHEAD PRESERVE - THIS 63-ACRE PRESERVE OFFERS WHAT IS PERHAPS THE RIVER'S BEST REFUGE FOR THE ENDANGERED SOUTHERN STEELHEAD TROUT, AS WELL AS A HOME FOR SEVERAL OTHER RARE, THREATENED, OR ENDANGERED SPECIES. THE VENTURA RIVER STEELHEAD PRESERVE ALSO HAS A HISTORIC RANCH HOUSE AND OUTBUILDINGS WHICH ARE CURRENTLY OCCUPIED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UNDER A LEASE AGREEMENT. THIS ARRANGEMENT HAS ENABLED FREQUENT USE OF THE STRUCTURE AND GROUNDS FOR DONOR EVENTS, OUTREACH, AND MEETINGS.OVLC HAS ACQUIRED THE NEIGHBORING 20.55-ACRE PARCEL WITH STATE FUNDING. THE ACQUISITION INCREASES THE CONTIGUOUS PROTECTED OPEN SPACE BY 30%, AND THE PROPERTY INCLUDES A LARGE BARN SPACE WHICH HAS BEEN RENOVATED TO ACCOMMODATE EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, AND MEETINGS, IN ADDITION TO STORAGE FOR OVLC'S RESTORATION WORK. ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY IS LIMITED TO INVITEES AND GUESTS.VALLEY VIEW PRESERVE - A 195-ACRE PRESERVE NEAR DOWNTOWN OJAI. THE SOUTH FACING CHAPARRAL COVERED HILLS OF THE VALLEY VIEW PRESERVE SERVE AS THE NATURAL SCENIC BACKDROP TO THE CITY. THIS PRESERVE PROVIDES HIKING TRAILS WITH SPECTACULAR VIEWS LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM DOWNTOWN OJAI AND
    Expenses $2,144,238 · revenue $1,887,760

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 yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025June 30, 2026November 16, 2026Not due yet
2024June 30, 2025November 17, 2025990 on file
2023June 30, 2024November 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
77-0169682
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
1988
Accounting year ends
June
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Environment (C340)
Assets (IRS master file)
$32,078,238
Income (IRS master file)
$10,663,973

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990June 2025–––IRS
990June 2024–––IRS
990June 2023$2,069,101$2,137,565$25,865,614IRS
990June 2022$8,116,207$1,551,569$24,536,585IRS
990September 2019–––IRS

990-N: the IRS publishes only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years appear here as 990.tax collects the monthly files. 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.

Questions about THE OJAI VALLEY LAND CONSERVANCY

What is the EIN of THE OJAI VALLEY LAND CONSERVANCY?
The employer identification number (EIN) of THE OJAI VALLEY LAND CONSERVANCY is 77-0169682.
Is THE OJAI VALLEY LAND CONSERVANCY tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1988.
Are donations to THE OJAI VALLEY LAND CONSERVANCY tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does THE OJAI VALLEY 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 OJAI VALLEY 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 OJAI VALLEY 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 OJAI VALLEY LAND CONSERVANCY?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names TOM MALONEY.
Who are the officers and directors of THE OJAI VALLEY LAND CONSERVANCY?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 14 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $124,819 (TOM MALONEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
How much revenue does THE OJAI VALLEY LAND CONSERVANCY have?
On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $5,578,983, expenses of $3,164,612 and total assets of $32,078,238 at year end.

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