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← RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY.

Totals

Total revenue
$6,824,713
Total expenses
$7,124,140
Contributions and grants received
$4,606,367
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$255,961
Other revenue
$1,962,385
Total assets, end of year
$13,405,561
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,291,164
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$11,114,397
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$6,348,859
Management and general expenses
$538,743
Fundraising expenses
$236,538
Program service expenses (Part III)
$6,348,859

Program services were 89.1% 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.

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $754,130

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $3,852,237

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $269,661 · excluded $269,661

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $1,322,144 · other assets $396

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $1,336,240 · other assets $0

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities -$14,096 · other assets $396

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$13,700 · excluded -$13,700

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $1,772,755

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $0

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $1,772,755 · excluded $1,772,755

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $141,056

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $141,056 · related or exempt $141,056

  • 11a · Other revenue: ADVERTISING INCOME

    total $39,830 · unrelated business $39,830

  • 11b · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS INCOME

    total $8,744 · related or exempt $8,744

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $48,574

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $317,255 · program services $270,428 · management and general $32,804 · fundraising $14,023

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $3,169,562 · program services $2,701,734 · management and general $327,733 · fundraising $140,095

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $623 · management and general $623

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $31,073 · management and general $31,073

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $34,258 · management and general $34,258

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $58,250 · program services $58,250

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $12,570 · program services $10,714 · management and general $1,300 · fundraising $556

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $224,714 · program services $191,545 · management and general $23,236 · fundraising $9,933

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $84,122 · program services $71,706 · management and general $8,698 · fundraising $3,718

  • 17 · Travel

    total $275,491 · program services $234,828 · management and general $28,486 · fundraising $12,177

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $7,262 · program services $6,190 · management and general $751 · fundraising $321

  • 20 · Interest

    total $3,715 · management and general $3,715

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $44,375 · program services $37,826 · management and general $4,588 · fundraising $1,961

  • 24a · Other expenses: HABITAT PROGRAMS

    total $1,393,812 · program services $1,393,812 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 24b · Other expenses: CHAPTER ACTIVITIES EXPE

    total $805,911 · program services $783,912 · management and general $0 · fundraising $21,999

  • 24c · Other expenses: MEMBERSHIP EXPENSES

    total $252,981 · program services $229,430 · management and general $14,493 · fundraising $9,058

  • 24d · Other expenses: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $171,201 · program services $136,804 · management and general $16,277 · fundraising $18,120

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $236,965 · program services $221,680 · management and general $10,708 · fundraising $4,577

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $4,588,563 · end of year $4,106,705

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $2,438,284 · end of year $2,197,244

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $28,806 · end of year $363,310

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $160,739 · end of year $233,368

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $29,610 · end of year $83,089

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

    $938,419

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

    $344,883

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $592,698 · end of year $593,536

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $4,897,269 · end of year $5,193,955

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $719,358 · end of year $634,354

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $391,386 · end of year $410,289

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $678,138 · end of year $397,016

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $1,253,012 · end of year $1,058,245

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $179,844 · end of year $425,614

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $8,386,552 · end of year $8,599,737

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,566,395 · end of year $2,514,660

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

1. ESTABLISHED IN 1961, THE RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY UNITES CONSERVATIONISTS TO IMPROVE WILDLIFE HABITAT AND FOREST HEALTH AND PROMOTE A CONSERVATION ETHIC, ALL GROUNDED IN THE TENETS OF SCIENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.

Activities or mission (Part I)

ESTABLISHED IN 1961, THE RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY (RGS) IS NORTH AMERICA'S FOREMOST (CONT'D - SCH O)

  • CHAPTER OPERATIONS: RGS CHAPTERS UNDERSTAND AND FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO IMPROVE WILDLIFE HABITAT, FOREST HEALTH AND PROMOTE CONSERVATION ETHICS. WITH THE HELP OF RGS ENGAGEMENT STAFF, CHAPTERS ORGANIZE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS, HABITAT DAYS, YOUTH OUTINGS, SOCIAL EVENTS, UPLAND HUNTS, AND MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS.

    Expenses $783,912

  • HABITAT PROJECTS: RGS WORKS WITH VARIOUS LANDOWNERS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ENHANCE FOREST HABITAT FOR RUFFED GROUSE AND ALL FOREST WILDLIFE USING SCIENCE-SUPPORTED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, AND GUIDED BY FOREST CONSERVATION DIRECTORS AND OTHER CONSERVATION DELIVERY STAFF EMPLOYED TO CARRY OUT THE ORGANIZATION'S HABITAT MISSION.

    Expenses $1,452,062

  • MEMBERSHIP SERVICES: RGS COMMUNICATES AND EDUCATES MEMBERS ON HABITAT, FOREST MANAGEMENT AND UPLAND HUNTING THROUGH THE RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY MAGAZINE, WEBSITE (WWW.RUFFEDGROUSESOCIETY.ORG), EMAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATION.

    Expenses $229,430

  • GENERAL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: THE RGS RECRUITMENT PROGRAMS RECRUIT, RETAIN AND REACTIVATE CONSERVATIONISTS TO ENSURE CURRENT AND FUTURE FOREST STEWARDSHIP WORK THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO CREATING, PROTECTING AND RESTORING FOREST HEALTH AND FOREST DIVERSITY FOR RUFFED GROUSE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, AND ALL FOREST WILDLIFE.

    Expenses $3,883,455

  • RESEARCH; RGS PROVIDES FUNDING TO DEVELOP SOUND SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT FOSTER DIVERSE, HEALTHY FORESTS FOR RUFFED GROUSE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK AND ALL FOREST WILDLIFE.

  • ADVOCACY: RGS ADVOCATES FOR THE APPLICATION OF SOUND SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT, AND RECRUITMENT, REACTIVATION, AND RETENTION OF HUNTER CONSERVATIONISTS.

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Julie Sandstrom

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Seth E Dizard Esq

    VICE CHAIR & SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Brian W Smith

    PAST CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Joseph Lehmann

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • David Kuritzky

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5

  • David Moore

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5

  • Bruce A Bennett

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5

  • George Rich

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5

  • Ed Shuford

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5

  • Joseph M Byers Jr

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5

  • Nelson Freeman

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5

  • Robert Unkovic

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5

  • Roy Smith

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5

  • Terry Wilson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5

  • Tracy Lee

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5

  • W Stephen Maritz

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5

  • Benjamin C Jones

    PRESIDENT AND CEO

    Total calculated
    $256,577
    From this org
    $227,454
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,123
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $227,454
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $29,123
    Filer's total
    $256,577

  • Kimberly D Swisher

    FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION D

    Total calculated
    $109,984
    From this org
    $89,801
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,183
    Hours/week
    40

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

  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 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

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
4 September 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202412929349300731

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