EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST

Financials

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 December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

250 N FOWLER ST, BISHOP, CA 93514-2733

Principal officer (990 for 2025)

Mark Drew, 250 North Fowler St, BISHOP, CA 93514

Signed the 990

Mark Drew, Executive Dir.

Phone

(760) 873-4554

Website

WWW.ESLT.ORG

Return prepared by

HEALY AND ASSOCIATES

California records

California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 77-0566099 or by the name EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST.

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

ESTABLISHED IN 2001, EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST (ESLT) WORKS WITH WILLING LANDOWNERSTO PRESERVE VITAL LANDS IN THE EASTERN SIERRA REGION FOR THEIR SCENIC, AGRICULTURAL,NATURAL, RECREATIONAL, HISTORICAL, AND WATERSHED VALUES. ESLT RECOGNIZES THAT THELAND WE SHARE HAS LONG BEEN USED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, AND WE WORK TO PRESERVE AHEALTHY BALANCE OF USES FROM RANCHING TO HIKING, WILDLIFE HABITATS TO FAVORITEFISHING SPOTS THAT CAN BE SUSTAINED FOREVER, ENSURING A STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY ANDHEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. ESLT WORKS TO HELP FAMILIES IN THE FACEOF PRESSURES TO SUBDIVIDE THEIR WORKING FARMS AND RANCHES. WE WORK WITH LANDOWNERSTO PROTECT THE REGIONS CRITICAL HABITATS. WE WORK TO OFFER THE ENTIRE EASTERN SIERRA COMMUNITY, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH OUR TREASURED LANDS, WILDLIFE AND A RURAL HERITAGE.AS A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED LAND TRUST, ESLT MEETS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR EXCELLENCE, TRUST AND PERMANENCE.

Program accomplishments

• Founded in 2001 and nationally accredited as a land trust in 2010with accreditation renewed in 2022the Eastern Sierra Land Trust (ESLT) upholds rigorous standards of excellence to ensure lasting conservation and public trust. ESLT works to permanently protect the Eastern Sierras iconic landscapes through voluntary partnerships with landowners, preserving lands for their scenic, agricultural, ecological, recreational, historic, and watershed values. To date, ESLT has safeguarded over 23,000 acres of vital wildlife habitat, working farms and ranches, and other irreplaceable resources from the threat of development through its conservation easements and stewardship programs.
  Expenses $1,211,042 · grants $17,938
• Land Conservation: In 2025, Eastern Sierra Land Trusts Land Conservation Program continued to advance its mission in close partnership with federal, state, local, and Tribal conservation partners to protect private lands with significant agricultural, ecological, historical, and cultural value.This year, ESLT completed two major conservation projects: the protection of a 240-acre conservation easement safeguarding important wetlands and wildlife habitat, and a fee title land return to the Mono Lake Kootzadukaa Tribe, supporting Tribal stewardship and cultural reconnection to ancestral lands.In addition, ESLT developed its Priority Investment Areas framework, a key planning tool that identifies the highest-value landscapes within our service area for conservation and agricultural protection. This science-based framework will guide future conservation investments and help ensure that limited resources are directed toward the most impactful opportunities.Together, these accomplishments reflect ESLTs continued commitment to protecting working lands, strengthening partnerships, and supporting long-term ecological and community resilience across the Eastern Sierra.
• Stewardship: In 2025, Eastern Sierra Land Trusts Stewardship Program continued to provide long-term care and oversight for its growing portfolio of conserved lands, monitoring 23,470 acres in accordance with Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices. Through ongoing site visits, landowner engagement, and data collection, ESLT ensured that conservation values across its easements and fee properties are upheld in perpetuity.The organization engaged community members through volunteer Stewardship Days at Conway Ranch, supporting invasive weed removal and habitat restoration. ESLT also built upon prior efforts in Swall Meadows by continuing to map and assess noxious weed populations on conservation easements to improve habitat conditions for the Round Valley mule deer herd.In 2025, ESLT advanced the Huntoon Meadow Restoration Project on the Ullman Ranch Conservation Easement by completing an existing conditions report, collecting baseline pre-restoration data, and developing restoration designs to 30%. The project aims to restore hydrologic function, reduce erosion and sedimentation, improve water quality, and enhance meadow and riparian habitatsupporting long-term, climate-resilient landscape health.ESLT also expanded partnerships to support science-based land management. At Desert Creek Ranch, ESLT collaborated with the Nevada Conservation District, USDAs Agricultural Research Service, and the landowner to conduct vegetation surveys, generating critical data to inform a landscape-scale noxious weed treatment strategy.Internally, ESLT progressed implementation of its Strategic Stewardship Plan, strengthening long-term land management, prioritization, and funding strategies for perpetual stewardship.Finally, ESLT completed its third season of the Summer Conservation Internship with the University of Redlands, providing students with hands-on experience in land stewardship and restoration while supporting ESLTs field-based work.Together, these efforts reflect ESLTs continued commitment to active stewardship and the long-term care of conserved lands across the Eastern Sierra.
• Community Connections: ESLTs Community Connections Program provides people of all ages with opportunities to connect with the land and cultivate a spirit of stewardship. In 2025, the program hosted 38 events and reached 2,480 people across Inyo and Mono Counties, including more than 300 youth participants. Nearly 1,000 people were reached through community events and outreach efforts, while more than 1,200 people participated in ESLT-hosted events and field trips. Programming also reached youth through participation in Ag Days in Dyer, Nevada.Public events included GardenFest, World Migratory Bird Day, the annual Mule Deer Migration Corridor Field Trip, and a variety of educational workshops, tours, and volunteer opportunities. A major highlight of the year was the expansion of GardenFest into a larger community celebration featuring live music, food, educational booths, and native plant sales. The event was highly successful and demonstrated growing community enthusiasm for native plants, pollinator habitat, and stewardship initiatives. ESLT also collaborated with numerous partner organizations and nonprofits throughout the year to broaden community engagement and expand program reach.The Eastside Pollinator Garden Project continued to grow in 2025 with 7 new pollinator gardens certified, bringing the total number of certified gardens to 184 since the program began. ESLT also conducted 23 garden consultations for community members interested in creating pollinator habitat at home. Sunflower Kids a program that educates Bishop Elementary third-graders about pollinators, native plants, and gardening continued in 2025 and contributed to youth engagement efforts throughout the year.Additional program capacity was made possible through the support of a seasonal staff member who worked across both the Community Connections and Stewardship programs, helping expand outreach, volunteer coordination, and event support. Volunteer engagement also increased in 2025, with 8 volunteer workdays hosted, involving 50 volunteers who contributed more than 120 volunteer hours in support of stewardship and community projects.
• Tribal Partnership: ESLTs Tribal Partnership Program aims to build long-term partnerships between ESLT and Tribal Nations throughout the Eastern Sierra by advancing meaningful collaboration, capacity-building, and inclusion of traditional ecological knowledge in ESLTs conservation and stewardship efforts. In 2025, a major milestone of the program was the development of the Commitment to Tribal Engagement and Collaboration guidelines, which established a framework for respectful, consistent, and culturally informed engagement with Tribal governments, leadership, staff, and community members. These guidelines have helped institute best practices and support long-term relationship building across ESLT's conservation efforts.The program also successfully launched three Tribal Subgrants, providing resources directly to Tribal partners to support projects that align with cultural stewardship, conservation, education, and community priorities. Through ongoing coordination, technical assistance, and project support, the subgrants have fostered Tribal-led initiatives and strengthened partnerships between ESLT and Tribal communities and supported Californias broader 30x30 and climate initiatives. Throughout the year, the Tribal Partnership Program engaged with Tribal Council leadership, Tribal staff, and program representatives to identify opportunities for collaboration, address community priorities, and ensure Tribal perspectives are incorporated into ESLT programs and projects. The program further expanded its reach through stakeholder engagement efforts with local, regional, state, and nonprofit partners to build support for both ESLT and Tribal initiatives, creating opportunities for shared learning and collaboration.In addition, the program facilitated and participated in numerous outreach, educational, and community engagement opportunities, including presentations, meetings, field visits, workshops, and partnership-building activities. These efforts aim to increase awareness of Tribal stewardship practices, strengthen community relationships, and promote greater understanding of the importance of Indigenous leadership and participation in land conservation and natural resource management throughout the Eastern Sierra.

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 December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

77-0566099

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

2001

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Environment (C34)

Assets (IRS master file)

$15,952,331

Income (IRS master file)

$2,079,924

Filing history

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 77-0566099).

Questions about EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST

What is the EIN of EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST?

The employer identification number (EIN) of EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST is 77-0566099.

Is EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2001.

Are donations to EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST 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 EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST due?

The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.

Who is the principal officer of EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Mark Drew.

Who are the officers and directors of EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 19 people; 4 received compensation from the organization, the highest $153,240 (Mark Drew, Executive Dir.).

How much revenue does EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST have?

On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $2,057,407, expenses of $1,608,202 and total assets of $15,952,331 at year end.

Other nonprofits in BISHOP

• EASTERN SIERRA INTERPRETIVE ASSOCIATION
  EIN 23-7253530 · last filed 990 for 2024
• EASTERN SIERRA CONSERVATION CORPS
  EIN 81-2456264 · last filed 990 for 2024
• FRIENDS OF THE INYO
  EIN 77-0389436 · last filed 990 for 2025
• EASTERN SIERRA INSTITUTE FOR COLLABORATIVE EDUCATION
  EIN 91-1834171 · last filed 990-N for 2025
• EASTERN SIERRA AUDOBON SOCIENTY
  EIN 95-3791369 · last filed 990-N for 2025
• THE OWENS VALLEY COMMITTEE
  EIN 77-0071894 · last filed 990-N for 2025
• ADVOCATES FOR ACCESS TO PUBLICLANDS
  EIN 26-0779820 · last filed 990-N for 2023
• VALLEY OUTDOORS
  EIN 92-3070400 · last filed 990-N for 2025

All nonprofits in BISHOP · California · Environment