Flathead Land Trust

What it reported doing in 2024

Conservation: a. In january, we partnered with charles and renate jaquette to place their 497-acre farm just east of kalispell under conservation easement. Containing some of the richest topsoil in the valley, the easement adds to a growing network of conserved farms in the highly productive creston area. Encompassing over a mile of egan slough, the property provides excellent bird habitat and is strategically located for both birds and wildlife at a landscape scale.b. In february, we completed a conservation easement with Montana dnrc to permanently protect the 405-acre owen sowerwine property east of kalispell. This beloved block of school trust land, with its intact forested river bottom and riparian habitat, has been a community treasure enjoyed by the public for decades. C. In april, we partnered with luci yeats to permanently protect 76-acres of her family's agricultural land near the bad rock canyon wildlife management area east of columbia falls. The "heart rock ridge" conservation easement safeguards a vital wildlife corridor as well as scenic open space and a long legacy of working farmland.d. Also in april, a 122-acre ranch and wildlife haven in the mission valley, once platted for subdivision, was protected in perpetuity with a conservation easement. John weaver, distinguished retired conservation biologist and land steward, partnered with flt by added this parcel along mission creek just east of the national bison range to his conservation portfolio which is adjacent to another 159-acres of protected land. E. In august, a 51-acre prime parcel of forested land was protected along swan lake. Flt partnered with paul johnson and candice greene to place the ecological gem under a conservation easement, forever protecting habitat for birds, wildlife and scenic views as well as the exceptional water quality of swan lake. F. In november, flt partnered with two landowners to protect a total of 66-acres of important riverfront land near whitefish. Sally ericsson and tom garwin placed their 36 acres along the stillwater river under conservation easement, followed by mark schmidt, who conserved his 30-acre parcel along the whitefish river. Both properties protect prime agricultural lands and riparian habitats, providing wildlife habitat security and connectivity.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 98.4%; rating input score 98
• Fundraising efficiency: $237.25 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 93; 93rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.8%; rating input score 94; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -4.5%; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.18; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 86; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0.7%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 28.7% per year; rating input score 100; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 24.1% per year; rating input score 100; 91st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 14.3% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings