Program 1 · 25.9% of program spending · $4.1M in grants $62.0M
Park and schoolyard - we completed 13 new schoolyards and 2 new parks.
The 990 read · EIN 23-7222333 · CA · Fiscal year FY ending Jun 2025
The Trust for Public Land
The Trust for Public Land: CEO salary, finances and where donations go
In its own words
“Creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities.”
Data only Figures straight from the filing, screened by our rules. Not yet reviewed in depth by a CPA.
Methodology by Amir Arani, CPA, CA · Updated
- Top pay
- $525K Diane C Regas, 0.2% of spending
- Revenue
- $301.2M 81.5% from donations and grants
- Spent
- $282.5M 84.6% on programs, as reported
- Net assets
- $263.4M end of FY ending Jun 2025
- Savings
- 11.2 months of spending, net assets ÷ spending
- People
- 437 employees, 331 volunteers
01 · Red flags
No red flags in its latest filing.
We screen every filing against twelve rules. A flag is a prompt for a closer look, not a finding of wrongdoing.
No reported asset diversions, no insider transactions, no fundraisers keeping most of the money, and the governance policies we check for are in place.
02 · Where $1 goes · FY ending Jun 2025
Of each dollar it spent, 84.6¢ went to programs, as reported.
The split the charity filed.
84.6¢
Programs, $239.0M
6.9¢
Fundraising, $19.5M
8.5¢
Admin, $24.0M
Cost to raise $1
8¢
as reported
For each dollar donated, The Trust for Public Land spent 8¢ on fundraising.
Fundraising ÷ $245.6M contributions · Form 990 Parts VIII, IX03 · What it does
What it told the IRS it spent on.
The charity's own description of its largest programs, with what each cost.
Program 2 · 1.2% of program spending · $1.5M in grants $2.9M
Fund - we helped pass 24 state and local ballot measures--a 100 percent success rate-- that generated $16,110,864,240 in public funds for parks and natural spaces.
04 · The savings
Net assets: $196.3M to $263.4M in 11 years.
Net assets at each fiscal year end, 2014 to 2025.
196
179
190
183
170
166
145
133
170
179
187
263
05 · Who gets paid
The 8 highest-paid people.
Reportable pay in FY ending Jun 2025, from the charity and related organizations.
Diane C Regas
President (thru 9/30/24)
$525,365
Patricia Watson
SVP/Chief Philanthropy Officer
$440,518
Kenneth J Danter
Exec VP/ Chief Program Officer
$317,086
James H Obendorf
SVP/Chief Financial & Admin Officer
$316,658
Howard Frumkin
Svp, Land and People Lab
$296,825
Luis Benitez
Chief Impact Officer (thru 9/30/24)
$261,420
David M Carson
Svp, General Counsel/Corp Secretary
$259,068
William Lee
Svp, Policy, Advocacy, & Gov't Relations
$255,061
Largest outside contractors
| Contractor | Service | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Msm Empire Construction | Construction services | $9,264,577 |
| Doyle-Baldante Inc | Construction services | $6,180,026 |
| Fredante Construction | Construction services | $4,111,115 |
| Suarez & Munoz | Construction services | $3,657,633 |
| Gessler Constructin | Construction services | $2,728,837 |
06 · Questions
The questions people ask about the The Trust for Public Land.
Short, sourced answers. Each one stands on its own.
How much does the The Trust for Public Land CEO make?
Diane C Regas, President (thru 9/30/24), received $525,365 in reportable compensation in FY ending Jun 2025, 0.2% of The Trust for Public Land's $282.5M in spending.
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part VIIWhat percentage of The Trust for Public Land donations go to programs?
The Trust for Public Land reported 84.6% of FY ending Jun 2025 spending as programs, 6.9% as fundraising and 8.5% as management.
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part IXHow much money does The Trust for Public Land have?
Net assets were $263.4M at the end of FY ending Jun 2025, about 11.2 months of spending.
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part XDoes The Trust for Public Land have any red flags in its filing?
Its latest Form 990 triggered none of our twelve screening rules, which cover reported asset diversions, insider transactions, fundraiser costs, governance policies and spending patterns.
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025)07 · Sources and citing
Every number, traced.
- The Trust for Public Land Form 990, FY ending Jun 2025 (IRS e-file)
- The Trust for Public Land Form 990 history (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer)
Cite this page
Amir Arani, “The Trust for Public Land: CEO salary, finances and where your dollar goes,” Charity Math, updated 2026-11-07. https://charitymath.com/charities/the-trust-for-public-land/