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← CATAWBA LANDS CONSERVANCY

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by CATAWBA LANDS CONSERVANCY.

What the amendment changed

Compared with the return it replaced , filed 22 October 2024. matched by us Only the Part I totals and the names listed in Part VII are compared. We relate returns by organization, tax year and form, and order them by each return's own timestamp; the filer's own "amended return" checkbox is a separate fact.

Total expenses
$5,361,931 changed to $5,744,961
Grants paid
$162,375 changed to $545,405
Total liabilities, end of year
$751,113 changed to $1,453,193
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$50,355,288 changed to $49,653,208
Program services expenses
$4,946,832 changed to $5,329,862
Program service expenses (Part III)
$4,946,832 changed to $5,329,862

Totals

Total revenue
$5,758,196
Total expenses
$5,744,961
Contributions and grants received
$5,233,933
Grants paid
$545,405
Program service revenue
$142,480
Investment income
$341,410
Other revenue
$40,373
Total assets, end of year
$51,106,401
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,453,193
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$49,653,208
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$5,329,862
Management and general expenses
$179,670
Fundraising expenses
$235,429
Program service expenses (Part III)
$5,329,862

Program services were 92.8% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $149,755

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $649,365

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $4,434,813

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $2,226,298

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Fees for Services

    total $142,480 · related or exempt $142,480

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $341,410 · excluded $341,410

  • 4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds

    total $0

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $0

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $0

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $42,274

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $149,755

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $82,425

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$40,151

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $0

  • 11a · Other revenue: Other

    total $80,524 · related or exempt $80,524

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $80,524

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $545,405 · program services $545,405

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $0

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $0

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $188,230 · program services $141,173 · management and general $18,823 · fundraising $28,234

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $0

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,380,445 · program services $1,135,261 · management and general $101,578 · fundraising $143,606

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $0

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $0

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $0

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $0

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $0

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $0

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $0

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $288,349 · program services $278,921 · management and general $9,274 · fundraising $154

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $53,905 · program services $31,637 · management and general $639 · fundraising $21,629

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $124,881 · program services $98,894 · management and general $15,684 · fundraising $10,303

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $77,251 · program services $54,155 · management and general $6,619 · fundraising $16,477

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $138,531 · program services $112,579 · management and general $19,657 · fundraising $6,295

  • 17 · Travel

    total $18,298 · program services $16,725 · management and general $426 · fundraising $1,147

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $0

  • 20 · Interest

    total $9,685 · program services $9,685

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $0

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $117,591 · program services $109,441 · management and general $3,923 · fundraising $4,227

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $34,325 · program services $30,359 · management and general $2,562 · fundraising $1,404

  • 24a · Other expenses: Easements written off

    total $2,630,047 · program services $2,630,047

  • 24b · Other expenses: Trail and land costs

    total $127,101 · program services $126,176 · management and general $14 · fundraising $911

  • 24c · Other expenses: Training

    total $10,917 · program services $9,404 · management and general $471 · fundraising $1,042

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $0

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $5,934,372 · end of year $429,383

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $84,623 · end of year $6,179,968

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,426,573 · end of year $1,027,592

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    end of year $0

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $170,431 · end of year $24,095

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $1,477,285

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $778,093

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $816,783 · end of year $699,192

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    end of year $0

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $7,559,836 · end of year $8,507,641

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    end of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $34,212,817 · end of year $34,238,530

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $156,912 · end of year $24,410

  • 18 · Grants payable

    beginning of year $319,050 · end of year $702,080

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $193,703

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $789,411 · end of year $726,703

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $38,276,766 · end of year $39,185,338

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $10,469,593 · end of year $10,467,870

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

As a nationally accredited land trust, we conserve and manage land for public benefit in North Carolinas Southern Piedmont. We have conserved 235 properties, totaling 17,786 acres of land. We also facilitate the creation of 1600 mile network of greenways, trails and blueways.

  • Land Stewardship: The Conservancy intentionally stewards its conservation assets. Staff monitors activities on fee owned land through site visits. Current conditions are evaluated against the reference conditions established by the Baseline Documentation Report. Photographs may be taken and a monitoring report is generated and archived or the site visit is documented on a site visit report. As part of perpetual due diligence, the Conservancy ensures the plant, wildlife, and other conservation values remain undisturbed and protected. Where appropriate on fee owned property, the Conservancy provides public access opportunities, including both blueways and hiking trails, independently and through Carolina Thread Trail. Facilities for public access include a canoe/kayak launch (Spencer Mt. River Access and Pharr Family Preserve access), the Adam Springs Portage Trail, and canoe/kayak take-out (R.Y. McAden Access); and natural surface or paved hiking trails at the South Fork Trail, South Fork Rail Trail, Long Creek Preserve, Seven Oaks Preserve, Pharr Family Preserve, Buffalo Creek Preserve, Sallys Y Preserve, Catawba Springs Preserve, Girl Scouts, and Eastover Ridge Preserve. The Conservancy also monitors conservation easements using the same protocols as fee owned land. On private property protected by conservation easements, the Conservancy works with willing land owners to further enhance the conservation values already protected.

    Expenses $3,257,184

  • The Carolina Thread Trail is an initiative to develop a regional network of greenways, trails and blueways (river paddling trails) that covers 1,600 miles and reaches 15 counties in both North and South Carolina,centered on the Greater Charlotte metropolitan area. It is a unique collaboration that will connect communities and conserved land via a network of trails developed through the implementation of locally adopted trail master plans. The development of the network is predicated on cultivating partnerships with a variety of entities such as local governments, other non-profits and foundations, and private landowners.This long-term project will permanently protect the region's history, natural beauty, and social diversity, while conserving local lands and fostering free and equitable accessibility for residents and visitors. This includes enhancing bicycle and pedestrian transportation as a viable and convenient choice. The Thread Trail will connect more than 2.5 million citizens in North and South Carolina. It will connect points of regional and local significance. It provides multiple public benefits including economic development, conservation of land, enhancement of water quality, cleaner air, non-motorized transportation, and healthy recreation activities. At the end of 2023, there were 1,630 planned trail miles, of which approximately 420 trail miles and 70 designated blueway miles are complete.Previously, Carolina Thread Trail was a separate corporation that was a supporting organization of Foundation for the Carolinas. As of December 31, 2022, Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail merged. The merger eliminated the separate corporate entity for Carolina Thread Trail but otherwise did not affect its goals, objectives, personnel or plans.

    Expenses $1,802,611 · Grants $545,405

  • Land Acquisition: Catawba Lands Conservancy (Conservancy) protected six (6) new properties in 2023, totaling 203 acres in four (4) counties. The Conservancy works with willing landowners and communities to conserve land in perpetuity by placing voluntary conservation easements on land, accepting donations of land, and occasionally purchasing land. CLC serves a seven-county region in North Carolina that includes: Catawba, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Union, and parts of Cabarrus counties. Our conservation efforts focus on four areas: local farms, wildlife/plant habitat, water quality and connecting people to nature. Additionally, many of our properties have important species and habitat that the state of North Carolina designated as Natural Heritage Areas. Further, some of the properties provide critical habitat for state or federally listed threatened or endangered plants or animals.

    Expenses $225,845

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Bart Landess

    Executive Dir.

    Total calculated
    $188,230
    From this org
    $178,564
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,666
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $171,064
    Bonus
    $7,500
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,666
    Filer's total
    $188,230

  • Nathan Clark

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Steve Scruggs

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Dave Priester

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • May Barger

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Allan Baucom

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Bill Carstarphen

    Executive Comm.

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Leslie Johnson

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Lat Purser

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Phil Kuttner

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Chris Walker

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Jarred Cochran

    Chairman

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Shawn Wilkerson

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Compie Newman

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Chris Thomas

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Kacey Thompson

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Tom Gates

    Chairman

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Len Botkin

    Executive Comm.

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Janet Hanson

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Michael Lucente

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Lisa Phocas

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Tommy Lee

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Blair Boggs

    Executive Comm.

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • William Blair

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Delane Clark

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Jennifer DeWitt

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Jon Morris

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Harris Morrison

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
30 October 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202523039349300407

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