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ARIZONA LAND AND WATER TRUST INC
TUCSON, AZ · EIN 866148507 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE C340 · Environment · Large ($10M-$50M) · www.alwt.org
revenue
$18.1M
expenses
$16.1M
net assets
$14.3M
employees
10
volunteers
20
program ratio
98%
mission · from form 990

PROTECT ARIZONA'S LANDSCAPES, WORKING RANCHES, WATER AND WILDLIFE HABITAT.

profile · synthesized from sources

Arizona Land and Water Trust protects western landscapes, farms, ranches, wildlife habitat, and water resources in Southern Arizona. The organization works with private landowners and public entities to secure conservation easements and acquire land, aiming to preserve biological, cultural, and agricultural heritage. Since 1978, it has protected over 73,250 acres.

named programs · 9 · from sources

what they call their work

Conservation Easements
Voluntary agreements with landowners to restrict development and uses of property to protect natural resources, ensuring lands are protected in perpetuity.
Desert Rivers Program
Tailors solutions for farmers, ranchers, and the environment to protect Arizona's streams and rivers through incentive-driven agreements.
Family Ranchland Protection Fund
Provides services and tools to landowners who wish to protect their farms and ranches.
Fee Simple Acquisition
Acquisition of land directly from landowners to protect and manage it for conservation purposes.
Historic Preservation Easement
Easements aimed at preserving historic or cultural properties, landscapes, battlefields, or archaeological sites.
Management Agreements
Mutual agreements between landowners and the Trust for long-term protection planning on large working farms and ranches.
Purchase Development Rights (PDR)
Acquisition of development rights from landowners, similar to conservation easements, to prevent future development.
Ranching Into the Future Workshops
Workshops for landowners on maintaining local and regional agricultural economies and preserving rural heritage and culture.
Virtual Happy Hours
Online events featuring guest speakers to engage the public on conservation topics.
activities · 9 groups

what they do

  • Private Land Conservation via Easements 6 activities
    • Land Conservation through Easements and Acquisition
      Protects land in Southern Arizona, including working farms and ranches, through various methods such as conservation easements, fee simple acquisition, and purchase of development rights. This work aims to restrict development, protect natural resources, and conserve biological, cultural, and agricultural heritage, with over 73,250 acres protected to date.
    • Land Conservation through Easements and Acquisition
      Protects land in Southern Arizona, including working farms and ranches, through conservation easements, fee simple acquisitions, and purchase of development rights. This work has resulted in the protection of over 73,250 acres, including specific properties like Red Wing Ranch, Pyeatt Ranch, Sopori Creek and Farm, and Tombstone Ranch.
    • Land Conservation through Easements and Acquisitions
      Protects land in Southern Arizona, including working farms and ranches, through various methods such as conservation easements, fee simple acquisitions, and purchase of development rights. These efforts aim to restrict development, protect natural resources, and conserve biological, cultural, and agricultural heritage. The organization has protected over 73,250 acres of land.
    • Land Protection through Conservation Easements
      Protects private lands in Southern Arizona by using conservation easements to restrict development, conserve natural resources, and preserve cultural, historical, and archaeological sites in perpetuity. This includes protecting working farms and ranches, native grasslands, and water resources, and has resulted in the protection of over 73,250 acres of land.
    • Land protection through conservation easements and fee acquisition
      Protects natural, cultural, and agricultural lands in Southern Arizona through conservation easements, fee simple acquisition, and donations. The organization has protected over 73,250 acres of land, including properties such as Red Wing Ranch, Pyeatt Ranch, and the 10,000-acre Santa Lucia Ranch, using legal tools that restrict development and ensure long-term stewardship.
    • Landowner partnership and working ranchland protection
      Works with willing landowners through management agreements, purchase of development rights, and incentive-based programs to protect working farms and ranches while maintaining agricultural productivity and heritage in Southern Arizona. The organization has partnered with ranchers and farmers for over 40 years.
  • Land & Water Conservation Advocacy 5 activities
    • Advocacy and policy leadership in land conservation
      Played a key role in advancing conservation policy, including helping pass 1985 Arizona legislation that enabled the use of conservation easements and supporting bond funding for conservation. Recognized with the Conservation Collaboration Award from the Sonoran Institute for these efforts.
    • Advocacy for Conservation Legislation
      Played a key role in passing 1985 Arizona legislation that enabled the use of conservation easements.
    • Advocacy for Conservation Policy
      Engages in advocacy efforts, including playing a key role in passing 1985 Arizona legislation enabling conservation easements and partnering with Pima County to secure bond funds and prioritize land preservation targets.
    • Advocacy for Conservation Policy
      Engages in advocacy efforts, including playing a key role in passing 1985 Arizona legislation enabling conservation easements and partnering with Pima County to secure conservation lands and bond funds for conservation.
    • Advocacy for Conservation Policy
      Engages in advocacy efforts, including playing a key role in passing 1985 Arizona legislation enabling conservation easements and partnering with Pima County to secure conservation lands and pass bond funds for conservation.
  • Ranchland Protection Support Services 5 activities
    • Capacity building for ranchland conservation
      Operates the Family Ranchland Protection Fund and organizes "Ranching Into the Future" workshops to provide landowners with tools, professional support, and training to protect their farms and ranches.
    • Family Ranchland Protection Fund
      Operates the Family Ranchland Protection Fund to provide professional support and tools to landowners for the protection of farms and ranches.
    • Landowner Support and Education
      Provides professional support and tools to landowners for protecting farms and ranches through the Family Ranchland Protection Fund and organizes "Ranching Into the Future" workshops.
    • Landowner Support and Management Agreements
      Enters into management agreements with landowners to ensure the long-term protection of working farms and ranches and provides professional support and tools for protecting these lands through the Family Ranchland Protection Fund.
    • Landowner Support for Conservation
      Operates the Family Ranchland Protection Fund to provide landowners with professional support and tools for protecting farms and ranches.
  • Water Offset & Incentive Programs 5 activities
    • Desert Rivers Program
      Implements water transactions and incentive-driven agreements through the Desert Rivers Program to protect streams and rivers in Southern Arizona, benefiting riparian systems and supporting water-dependent agricultural communities.
    • Desert Rivers Program
      Implements water transactions and incentive-driven agreements through the Desert Rivers Program to protect streams, rivers, and riparian systems in Southern Arizona, while also supporting the needs of water-dependent farmers and ranchers.
    • Water Resource Protection
      Implements water transactions through the Desert Rivers Program and enters into incentive-driven agreements to protect streams, rivers, and riparian systems in Southern Arizona, while also supporting agricultural needs and water-dependent farmers and ranchers.
    • Water Resource Protection
      Implements water transactions and incentive-driven agreements through the Desert Rivers Program to protect streams, rivers, and riparian systems in Southern Arizona, while also supporting agricultural needs and water-dependent farmers and ranchers.
    • Water and riparian system conservation
      Implements water transactions and incentive-driven agreements to protect desert rivers, streams, and rural agriculture in Southern Arizona. Through the Desert Rivers Program, the organization supports both ecological health of riparian systems and the water needs of farmers and ranchers.
  • Conservation Grantmaking & Direct Habitat Restoration 3 activities
    • Habitat Conservation
      Conserves habitat for multiple species of Greatest Conservation Need, such as the Lesser long-nosed bat, Chiricahua leopard frog, and Bald eagle.
    • Habitat Conservation for Endangered Species
      Conserves habitat for multiple species of Greatest Conservation Need, including the Lesser long-nosed bat, Chiricahua leopard frog, and Bald eagle.
    • Habitat conservation for species of Greatest Conservation Need
      Conserves critical habitat for imperiled species such as the Lesser long-nosed bat, Chiricahua leopard frog, and Bald eagle through targeted land protection efforts on working landscapes and natural areas.
  • Historic Site Recognition & Commemoration 2 activities
    • Historic Preservation through Easements
      Protects cultural, historical, and archaeological sites by utilizing historic preservation easements.
    • Protection of cultural, historical, and archaeological resources
      Uses historic preservation easements and other legal tools to protect sites of cultural, historical, and archaeological significance on private lands in Southern Arizona.
  • Land Acquisition and Permanent Protection 1 activity
    • Land Acquisition for Conservation
      Acquires land through fee simple acquisition, taking ownership and management responsibility for conservation purposes. This includes acquiring properties like 371 acres of Sopori Creek and Farm and partnering with entities like the Bureau of Land Management to protect ranches.
  • Land Acquisition and Preserve Management 1 activity
    • Purchase of Development Rights Programs
      Engages in purchase of development rights (PDR) programs to remove development potential from private lands for conservation purposes.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Partnerships for Regional Conservation
      Partners with Pima County to secure thousands of acres of top priority conservation lands and has received awards for ongoing work with the County in open space acquisitions and working ranchland protection.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$18.12M
Contributions & grants$17.47M96%
Program service revenue$506K3%
Investment income$149K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$16.12M
Program expenses98%
Admin / overhead1%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$515K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$14.39M
Cash$1.34M
Investments$3.02M
Liabilities$75K
Net assets$14.32M
Liquid reserves3.2 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +154.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
LIZ PETTERSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (THRU 04/22) 50 $102K
SCOTT MCDONALD INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 50 $84K
board members · 16
  • BEN BROPHY — VICE-PRESIDENT
  • BILL ROE — DIRECTOR
  • BILL SHAW — DIRECTOR
  • BRITTON SIMMONS — TREASURER
  • CHARLOTTE HANSON — DIRECTOR
  • CHUCK PETTIS — DIRECTOR
  • CLINT MABIE — DIRECTOR
  • DIANA FRESHWATER — PRESIDENT
  • FRED FRELINGHUYSEN — DIRECTOR
  • GEORGE RUYLE — SECRETARY
  • KAREN RIGGS — DIRECTOR
  • LAURA BROWN — DIRECTOR
  • LES COREY — DIRECTOR
  • NANETTE PAGEAU — DIRECTOR
  • PAT LOPEZ — DIRECTOR
  • PEGGY ROWLEY — DIRECTOR
relationships · 28

who they work with

  • Arizona Community Foundation of Cochise Partner — Supported the Tombstone Ranch conservation project through local foundation partnership.
  • Arizona Department of Forestry Partner — State agency partner in the Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape conservation initiative.
  • Arizona Game and Fish Department Partner — Partnered on the Tombstone Ranch conservation easement to protect wildlife habitat and secure public hunting access.
  • Bureau of Land Management Partner — Collaborated to permanently protect 477 acres of Hayhook Ranch using Land and Water Conservation Fund resources.
  • Department of Defense Partner — Partnered to fund and implement a conservation easement at Mustang Ranch through the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program.
  • Desert Rivers Program Partner — Program through which the Trust implements water transactions to protect streams and rivers.
  • Fish and Wildlife Service Partner — Part of a multi-agency partnership supporting working lands conservation around Fort Huachuca.
  • Fort Huachuca Partner — Collaborates with the Trust on conservation projects within the R-2303 Military Airspace to support military readiness and compatible land use.
  • Hayhook Ranch Partner — Partnered with the Trust to conserve land through conservation efforts.
  • KGVY Partner — Partnered with KGVY for the Around the Cracker Barrel Radio Show featuring the Trust's Executive Director.
  • Land Trust Alliance Network — Member of the national Land Trust Alliance, which represents over 1,100 land trusts nationwide.
  • Land and Water Conservation Fund Government — Provided funding for the permanent protection of 477 acres at Hayhook Ranch.
  • Mustang Ranch Partner — Partnered with the Trust to conserve land through conservation efforts.
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service Partner — Part of a multi-agency partnership supporting working lands conservation around Fort Huachuca.
  • Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever Partner — Collaborated on the first conservation easement with a clause allowing perpetual public hunting access.
  • Pima County Partner — Partnered with Pima County to secure thousands of acres of top priority conservation lands and in open space acquisitions and working ranchland protection.
  • Pima County Partner — Provided letters of support for the Hayhook Ranch conservation project.
  • Rocks and Ropes Partner — Provided letters of support for the Hayhook Ranch conservation project.
  • Sonoran Institute Partner — Recognized by the Sonoran Institute for collaborative conservation work, including helping pass bond funds and securing priority conservation lands.
  • Sopori Ranch Partner — Partnered with the Trust to protect 2,500 acres of land.
  • Southern Arizona Hiking Club Partner — Provided letters of support for the Hayhook Ranch conservation project.
  • The Nature Conservancy of Arizona Partner — Partnered with The Nature Conservancy on a multi-year project to prioritize the Conservation Land System in Pima County.
  • Tombstone Ranch Partner — Partnered with the Trust to conserve land through conservation efforts.
  • U.S. Forest Service Partner — Part of a multi-agency partnership supporting working lands conservation around Fort Huachuca.
  • USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service – Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Partner — Provided program support for the conservation easement on Tombstone Ranch.
  • Woods family Partner — Private landowners who partnered with the Trust to place a conservation easement on their historic ranch property.
  • municipalities Partner — Works with municipalities to protect natural resources through land transactions.
  • willing landowners Partner — Collaborates with willing landowners to protect land through conservation easements.