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Nonprofiteer
← LAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by LAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT.

Totals

Total revenue
$3,396,470
Total expenses
$4,143,126
Contributions and grants received
$2,881,867
Grants paid
$1,675
Program service revenue
$376,806
Investment income
$75,851
Other revenue
$61,946
Total assets, end of year
$5,562,106
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,650,445
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$3,911,661
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$3,464,338
Management and general expenses
$433,005
Fundraising expenses
$245,783
Program service expenses (Part III)
$3,464,338

Program services were 83.6% 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.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $347,715

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $2,534,152

  • 2a · Program service revenue: MEMBERSHIP DUES

    total $276,797 · related or exempt $276,797

  • 2b · Program service revenue: SALES/SERVICE REVENUE

    total $100,009 · related or exempt $100,009

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $75,851 · excluded $75,851

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $37,811

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $17,943

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $19,868

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $19,868 · unrelated business $19,868

  • 11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $42,078 · related or exempt $42,078

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $42,078

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $1,675 · program services $1,675

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $203,808 · program services $165,084 · management and general $24,457 · fundraising $14,267

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,743,112 · program services $1,411,921 · management and general $209,173 · fundraising $122,018

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $51,550 · program services $43,101 · management and general $4,877 · fundraising $3,572

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $882,635 · program services $737,971 · management and general $83,497 · fundraising $61,167

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $142,992 · program services $119,556 · management and general $13,527 · fundraising $9,909

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $20,504 · program services $20,504

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $10,450 · program services $10,450

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $419,010 · program services $419,010

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $7,169 · program services $6,991 · management and general $28 · fundraising $150

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $165,167 · program services $136,097 · management and general $18,664 · fundraising $10,406

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $81,453 · program services $59,827 · management and general $17,032 · fundraising $4,594

  • 17 · Travel

    total $103,264 · program services $88,538 · management and general $11,225 · fundraising $3,501

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $77,948 · program services $74,051 · fundraising $3,897

  • 20 · Interest

    total $14,513 · program services $10,605 · management and general $3,441 · fundraising $467

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $17,318 · program services $10,391 · management and general $6,927

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $11,969 · program services $3,042 · management and general $8,618 · fundraising $309

  • 24a · Other expenses: EQUIPMENT SERVICE/PURCH

    total $119,638 · program services $87,874 · management and general $25,016 · fundraising $6,748

  • 24b · Other expenses: FARMER STIPENDS

    total $68,951 · program services $57,650 · management and general $6,523 · fundraising $4,778

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $345,206 · end of year $396,210

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $2,509,776 · end of year $2,688,548

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,188,683 · end of year $524,025

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $58,147 · end of year $22,527

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $45,035 · end of year $51,283

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

    $1,319,342

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

    $446,067

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $894,671 · end of year $873,275

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $919,626 · end of year $1,006,238

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $140,389 · end of year $281,311

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $38,019 · end of year $33,675

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $1,213,952 · end of year $1,335,459

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,108,781 · end of year $975,900

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $3,460,003 · end of year $2,935,761

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE LAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT (LSP) WAS ORGANIZED ON JUNE 1, 1982, AS A DIVISION OF THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC RURAL LIFE CONFERENCE AND IN 1983 WAS INCORPORATED UNDER THE MINNESOTA (MN) NONPROFIT CORPORATION ACT. LSP IS SUPPORTED PRIMARILY BY CONTRIBUTIONS AND GRANTS FROM INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS, GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AND MEMBERSHIP REVENUE. LSP WHOLLY OWNS LAND STEWARDSHIP LEGACY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (LLC). THE PURPOSE OF THE LLC IS TO OWN AND OPERATE THE BUILDING IN MINNEAPOLIS WHERE LSP CURRENTLY LEASES OFFICE SPACE. TO SUPPORT OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE MISSIONS SUPPORT THE BROADER WORK OF LSP, WE FISCALLY SPONSOR THE MIDWEST FARMERS OF COLOR COLLECTIVE.LSP FOSTERS AN ETHIC OF STEWARDSHIP TOWARD FARMLAND IN THE UNITED STATES, PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, AND DEVELOPS HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. LSP IS DEDICATED TO CREATING TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE IN OUR FOOD

Activities or mission (Part I)

SEE SCHEDULE O THE LAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT (LSP) WORKS TO FOSTER AN ETHIC OF STEWARDSHIP TOWARD FARMLAND IN THE UNITED STATES, PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND DEVELOP HEALTHY COMMUNIIES. LSP IS DEDICATED TO CREATING TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE IN OUR FOOD AND FARMING SYSTEM BASED ON VALUES OF STEWARDSHIP, JUSTICE, DEMOCRACY AND HEALTH.

  • POLICY AND ORGANIZINGTHE LAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT'S POLICY ORGANIZING STARTS FROM VALUES LIKE STEWARDSHIP AND JUSTICE AND THEN ORGANIZES PEOPLE, RESOURCES, AND IDEAS TO BUILD THE POWER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. LSP WORKS AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS TO CHANGE CORPORATE, GOVERNMENTAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES. KEY HIGHLIGHTS GRASSROOTS ENGAGEMENT: ENGAGED 897 FARMERS AND THEIR RURAL NEIGHBORS IN POLICY AND ORGANIZING CAMPAIGNS THAT ADVANCE OUR COMMUNITY'S VALUES OF STEWARDSHIP AND JUSTICE. STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS: DROVE A NARRATIVE EXPOSING THE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS OF INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE AND THE BENEFITS OF A REGENERATIVE FOOD SYSTEM CENTERED ON SMALL AND MID-SIZED FARMERS THROUGH LSP COMMUNICATIONS AND EARNED MEDIA. LSP WAS FEATURED IN LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL NEWS OUTLETS 48 TIMESRAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF OUR ISSUE AREAS AND PERSPECTIVESAND GENERATED DOZENS OF COMMUNICATIONS PIECES INCLUDING 33 PODCASTS AND 2 ISSUES OF THE LAND STEWARDSHIP LETTER.

    Expenses $995,701 · Revenue $239,487

  • MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION THE MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, WHICH CONDUCTS ONGOING OUTREACH, RECRUITMENT, RENEWAL, FUNDRAISING, AND ENGAGEMENT OF LSP'S MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS. KEY HIGHLIGHTS SUPPORT FOR FARMERS: SUPPORTED 757 FARMERS AT ALL STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS THROUGH WORKSHOPS, FIELD DAY EVENTS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THIS INCLUDED PROVIDING SUPPORT AND EDUCATION TO 299 ESTABLISHED FARMERS AND LANDOWNERS TO HELP THEM TRANSITION LAND, IMPLEMENT SOIL HEALTH PRACTICES, AND DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS. WE ALSO HELPED 458 NEW FARMERS, INCLUDING 24 BIPOC PARTICIPANTS, REACH THEIR FARMING GOALS INCLUDING ACCESSING LAND AND ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE. BASE BUILDING & LEADERSHIP: WELCOMED 529 NEW SUPPORTERSFARMERS, RURAL RESIDENTS, AND FOOD SYSTEM ADVOCATES. MANY BECAME ACTIVE CAMPAIGN LEADERS: 214 TESTIFIED AT THE CAPITOL, SPOKE TO MEDIA, LED LOCAL MEETINGS, AND SHARED THEIR STORIES TO SPOTLIGHT ISSUES. WE SUPPORTED 52 EMERGING FARMER SPOKESPEOPLE TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS.

    Expenses $777,340 · Revenue $179,397

  • SOIL HEALTHTHE SOIL HEALTH PROGRAM WORKS WITH FARMERS, LANDOWNERS, NATURAL RESOURCE PROFESSIONALS, AND SCIENTISTS TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS THAT TREAT SOIL AS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT THAT CAN RESULT IN A MORE RESILIENT LANDSCAPE, THRIVING FARMS, AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES. LSP'S FARMER-LED MODEL SUPPORTS LANDSCAPE-LEVEL CHANGE BY DIRECTLY SUPPORTING THE ADOPTION OF REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES THAT REDUCE RUNOFF, REDUCE EMISSIONS, IMPROVE SOIL FERTILITY AND FARM VIABILITY, AND INCREASE THE LAND'S RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF THE EXISTING IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. KEY HIGHLIGHTS FARMER-TO-FARMER LEARNING: FOSTERED PEER LEARNING NETWORKS WHERE REGENERATIVE PRACTICES GROW OUT OF LIVED EXPERIENCE AND MUTUAL TRUST. THESE GROUPS BRING FARMERS TOGETHER TO VISIT EACH OTHER'S OPERATIONS, TROUBLESHOOT CHALLENGES, AND SHARE PRACTICAL, HANDS-ON INSIGHTS. WE SUPPORT FIVE GROUPS, WITH A NEW SMALL GRAINS GROUP LAUNCHING IN FY26. FARMERS REPORT THESE CONVERSATIONS WOULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT LSP'S FACILITATION. RESEARCH CONFIRMS PEER NETWORKS ARE ONE OF THE STRONGEST PREDICTORS OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE ADOPTION.

    Expenses $736,142

  • Expenses $955,155

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Scott Elkins

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $158,136
    From this org
    $118,598
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $39,538
    Hours/week
    52 + 1 related

  • Beth Slocum

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • Laura Cullip

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • Sara Morrison

    SECRETARY/TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Laurie Driessen

    FOURTH OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Dan McGrath

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Paula Williams

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Les Macare

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Aleta Borrud

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Josh Bryceson

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Hannah Bernhardt

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Olivia Blanchflower

    DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $101,673
    From this org
    $90,420
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,253
    Hours/week
    40

  • Timothy Kenney

    DIR OF ADMIN AND FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $119,734
    From this org
    $90,637
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,097
    Hours/week
    41 + 1 related

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.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

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.

  • LAND STEWARDSHIP LEGACY LLC

    OWNERSHIP OF BUILDING/LAND · MN · income $37,813 · assets $634,825

    Directly controlled by LAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
27 January 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.5
Source object
202640309349300924

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