Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by PHEASANTS FOREVER INC.

Totals

Total revenue: $118,599,546
Total expenses: $116,416,519
Contributions and grants received: $97,950,187
Grants paid: $0
Program service revenue: $4,775,772
Investment income: $3,694,755
Other revenue: $12,178,832
Total assets, end of year: $83,380,132
Total liabilities, end of year: $18,996,389
Net assets or fund balances, end of year: $64,383,743
Program services expenses (Part IX): $100,351,918
Management and general expenses: $4,564,286
Fundraising expenses: $11,500,315
Program service expenses (Part III): $100,351,918

Program services were 86.2% 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.

1a · Federated campaigns

$4,864
1b · Membership dues

$6,214,765
1c · Fundraising events

$0
1d · Related organizations

$0
1e · Government grants (contributions)

$77,595,773
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

$14,134,785
1g · Noncash contributions included above

$1,270,677
2a · Program service revenue: Habitat Program Revenue

total $3,185,418 · related or exempt $3,185,418 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
2b · Program service revenue: Membership Dues

total $1,590,354 · related or exempt $1,590,354 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
2f · All other program service revenue

total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
3 · Investment income

total $840,881 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $840,881
4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds

total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
5 · Royalties

total $727,555 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $727,555
6a · Gross rents

real property $167,479 · personal property $0
6b · Less rental expenses

real property $42,696 · personal property $0
6c · Rental income or loss

real property $124,783 · personal property $0
6d · Net rental income or loss

total $124,783 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $124,783
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

securities $12,849,526 · other assets $2,963,981
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

securities $12,955,633 · other assets $4,000
7c · Gain or loss

securities -$106,107 · other assets $2,959,981
7d · Net gain or loss

total $2,853,874 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $2,853,874
8a · Fundraising events: gross income

$17,839,688
8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

$0
8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

$12,418,571
8c · Net income from fundraising events

total $5,421,117 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $5,421,117
9a · Gaming: gross income

$11,154,631
9b · Gaming: direct expenses

$7,734,483
9c · Net income from gaming

total $3,420,148 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $3,420,148
10a · Gross sales of inventory

$4,486,765
10b · Cost of goods sold

$3,310,656
10c · Net income from sales of inventory

total $1,176,109 · related or exempt $1,176,109 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
11a · Other revenue: Advertising Publications

total $1,094,217 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $1,094,217 · excluded $0
11b · Other revenue: Digital Advertising

total $115,790 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $115,790 · excluded $0
11d · All other revenue

total $99,113 · related or exempt $99,113 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
11e · Other revenue, total

$1,309,120

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

total $0 · program services $0
2 · Grants to domestic individuals

total $0 · program services $0
3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

total $0 · program services $0
4 · Benefits paid to or for members

total $0 · program services $0
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

total $1,491,964 · program services $674,735 · management and general $390,012 · fundraising $427,217
6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
7 · Other salaries and wages

total $37,004,780 · program services $30,802,870 · management and general $2,359,225 · fundraising $3,842,685
8 · Pension plan contributions

total $1,665,451 · program services $1,345,457 · management and general $141,383 · fundraising $178,611
9 · Other employee benefits

total $3,516,417 · program services $3,002,661 · management and general $186,057 · fundraising $327,699
10 · Payroll taxes

total $2,753,609 · program services $2,271,099 · management and general $185,160 · fundraising $297,350
11a · Fees: management

total $369,016 · program services $165,779 · management and general $145,767 · fundraising $57,470
11b · Fees: legal

total $71,688 · management and general $71,688
11c · Fees: accounting

total $293,921 · management and general $293,921
11d · Fees: lobbying

total $197,540 · program services $197,540
12 · Advertising and promotion

total $1,073,943 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $1,073,943
13 · Office expenses

total $3,150,161 · program services $1,836,940 · management and general $190,174 · fundraising $1,123,047
14 · Information technology

total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
15 · Royalties

total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
16 · Occupancy

total $49,795 · program services $13,519 · management and general $15,582 · fundraising $20,694
17 · Travel

total $3,281,944 · program services $2,505,979 · management and general $44,331 · fundraising $731,634
18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

total $325,861 · program services $242,482 · management and general $64,293 · fundraising $19,086
20 · Interest

total $4,252 · program services $0 · management and general $4,252 · fundraising $0
21 · Payments to affiliates

total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

total $613,229 · program services $483,487 · management and general $37,203 · fundraising $92,539
23 · Insurance

total $636,605 · program services $544,724 · management and general $60,171 · fundraising $31,710
24a · Other expenses: Habitat Conservation Projects

total $50,134,799 · program services $50,134,799 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
24b · Other expenses: Conservation Education

total $4,103,377 · program services $4,103,377 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
24c · Other expenses: Direct Mail Expenses

total $1,863,887 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $1,863,887
24d · Other expenses: Equipment Rental and Maintenance

total $1,404,415 · program services $1,036,817 · management and general $279,064 · fundraising $88,534
24e · All other expenses

total $2,409,865 · program services $989,653 · management and general $96,003 · fundraising $1,324,209

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

beginning of year $3,194,897 · end of year $3,141,847
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

beginning of year $11,657,010 · end of year $16,276,474
3 · Pledges and grants receivable

beginning of year $3,113,241 · end of year $4,137,853
4 · Accounts receivable

beginning of year $21,137,683 · end of year $18,940,937
5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
7 · Other notes and loans receivable

beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
8 · Inventories for sale or use

beginning of year $40,032 · end of year $17,101
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

beginning of year $1,012,908 · end of year $1,128,320
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

$6,849,685
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

$4,031,944
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

beginning of year $2,329,068 · end of year $2,817,741
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

beginning of year $20,684,868 · end of year $15,984,123
12 · Investments: other securities

beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
13 · Investments: program-related

beginning of year $15,001,370 · end of year $16,918,085
14 · Intangible assets

end of year $0
15 · Other assets

beginning of year $2,800,237 · end of year $4,017,651
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

beginning of year $11,475,031 · end of year $10,942,534
18 · Grants payable

beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
19 · Deferred revenue

beginning of year $1,434,417 · end of year $1,756,855
20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

beginning of year $49,947 · end of year $37,687
24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
25 · Other liabilities

beginning of year $6,758,079 · end of year $6,259,313
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

beginning of year $38,534,943 · end of year $40,111,573
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

beginning of year $22,718,897 · end of year $24,272,170

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's mission is to conserve pheasants, quail, and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public access, education, and conservation advocacy.

Wildlife Habitat Initiatives: During the 2025 fiscal year, Pheasants Forever, Inc. completed over 2,500 habitat projects impacting 88,600 acres. Since its inception in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent $1.34 billion and completed 589,000 habitat projects. These projects include land acquisitions, shelterbelts, wetlands, food plots, nesting cover, tree planting, maintenance and include the purchase of habitat equipment. Following are current year highlights of the various projects completed by Pheasants Forever: Land Acquisitions-Land acquired by, or with the help of, Pheasants Forever is generally donated to state and federal wildlife agencies for public wildlife management areas. During the year, Pheasants Forever spent $16.9 million to help purchase 941 acres of land, including conservation easements Since inception, Pheasants Forever has helped purchase, and put into public domain, more than 205,000 acres of land at a cost of $341 million. Shelterbelts- A well designed shelterbelt can effectively protect wildlife from exposure to harsh weather conditions. Shelterbelts also provide loafing, feeding, roosting and escape cover for pheasants and other upland wildlife throughout the year. In harsh winters, shelterbelts become rescue cover, allowing a nucleus of breeding individuals to survive the winter and repopulate the rural landscape the next spring. During the year, Pheasants Forever expended $4.8 million to plant trees and has spent $32.7 million on planted trees since 1982. Wetlands - Wetlands provide an excellent source of winter cover and provide the best overall survival rates for pheasants. A wetland's dense network of stems provides effective insulation from cold temperatures and wind chill and provides shelter from blowing and drifting snow. Pheasants Forever restored 410 acres of wetlands during the year and 89,751 acres of wetlands since inception. Food Plots- Winter cover is much more effective with a high energy food source nearby. Well-placed food plots establish safe foraging patterns, restrict unnecessary movements, and provide a dependable food source. A dependable high energy food source is needed to carry female birds through harsh winters in good condition and leads to a reduction in mortality rate during the following spring nesting season. During the year, Pheasants Forever planted 53,223 acres of food plots and has planted 2,351,900 acres of food plots since 1982. Nesting Cover - Throughout the pheasant range, nesting cover is the single most important limiting factor for wildlife populations. Establishing the right vegetation and managing it properly will provide pheasants with concealment from predators and protection from various weather conditions. Additionally, our nesting and brood-rearing projects that plant prairie grasses and forbs (flowering plants) also improve habitat for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Pheasants Forever established or improved 18,162 acres of nesting cover during the year, and more than 3,245,000 acres since 1982. Maintenance - During fiscal year 2025 Pheasants Forever completed 452 projects to maintain quality habitat on over 15,000 acres. Since 1999 the organization has completed more than 59,000 maintenance projects covering more than 3,763,000 acres. Equipment - Pheasants Forever chapters purchase specialized habitat equipment which is either donated to local wildlife agencies or made available to local landowners to aid in establishing and/or maintaining their own habitat projects. During the year, Pheasants Forever expended $985,000 to purchase habitat equipment and has spent $23.3 million on habitat equipment since inception. Farm Bill Biologist Program - Pheasants Forever has developed a network of more than 350 trained biologists that work directly with local landowners, state and federal agencies and others around the country. These Farm Bill Biologists, Coordinating Wildlife Biologists, Habitat Specialists and others assist landowners and property managers in designing, developing, and funding habitat improvements on private lands and public lands. PF Biologists and other trained field staff possess the knowledge of federal, state, and local programs to assist landowners in finding the right program to meet their personal habitat and land use goals. Through a unique partnership, Farm Bill Biologists are located in local USDA service centers in priority habitat areas throughout the pheasant and quail range. During fiscal year 2025, Pheasants Forever biologists worked with more than 43,600 landowners to improve wildlife habitat on more than 2.04 million acres.

Expenses $87,975,572 · Revenue $3,185,418
Public Awareness, Education and Outreach: The education and outreach component of Pheasants Forever provides year-round youth programs that offer a pathway of activities that cultivate and grow land stewards and hunting conservationists of all ages. The focus is on hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation. This initiative is carried on in part through the No Child Left Indoors(R) Initiative and other outreach activities. The organization's publications, The Pheasants Forever Journal of Upland Conservation (published four times a year) and The Quail Forever Journal of Quail Conservation (published four times a year) and the joint Upland Hunting SUPER issue (published once for both PF and QF audiences) are distributed to members along with a variety of printed and electronic communications disseminated to educators, chapter leaders, and other stakeholders. These periodicals contain information pertaining to the need for wildlife habitat development and restoration, the benefits of water and soil conservation, current issues and policies affecting conservation and the tradition of hunting, chapter activities and other special features. During the 2025 fiscal year, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever hosted over 2,000 outreach events that introduced habitat education, our hunting heritage, shooting sports and conservation engagement to 44,253 youth and 45,876 adult participants across the country. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever outreach events include events, workshops, educational materials and resources. Education & Outreach efforts support PF and QF chapters in community activities that engage youth and their families in outdoor, hands-on activities aimed at recruiting, retaining & reactivating hunter conservationists and engaged advocates for wildlife habitat. Such events include hunter safety classes, learn to hunt events, pollinator habitat projects, summer camps, shooting programs and outdoor field days. Youth 17 or younger can become Ringnecks and/or Whistler members. Over 11,000 youth members receive the youth publication Upland Tales four times a year. Youth leadership is encouraged at the local level and through state youth leadership councils. Educational brochures also are available on subjects such as habitat and pheasant population dynamics.

Expenses $8,188,505
Chapter, Volunteer and Member Services: Pheasants Forever's regional field representatives provide support, information, hands-on education to the public, and work on implementation of wildlife habitat development and restoration. PF's representatives also assist members and chapter volunteers to improve wildlife habitat in the most efficient and effective way. In addition, Pheasants Forever provides support for and informs and updates, the more than 165,000 members and nearly 750 chapters, as to the need for ongoing work in wildlife conservation and provides assistance to accomplish that goal.

Expenses $3,233,433 · Revenue $1,590,354
Pheasants Forever's governmental affairs function provides policy advice on and advocates for issues impacting wildlife habitat throughout the United States.

Expenses $954,408

As filed on the 2024 return.

Listed in Part VII

Marilyn Vetter

President and CEO

Total calculated

$398,075

From this org

$366,374

From related orgs

$0

Other

$31,701

Hours/week

50

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$310,783

Bonus

$46,670

Other

$8,920

Deferred

$13,748

Nontaxable benefits

$17,953

Filer's total

$398,074
James M Koerber

Chief Financial Officer & Asst. Secretary

Total calculated

$330,301

From this org

$307,380

From related orgs

$0

Other

$22,921

Hours/week

50

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$263,201

Bonus

$24,000

Other

$20,179

Deferred

$14,053

Nontaxable benefits

$8,867

Filer's total

$330,300
David Bue

Chief Development Officer

Total calculated

$295,150

From this org

$265,026

From related orgs

$0

Other

$30,124

Hours/week

50

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$215,926

Bonus

$23,000

Other

$26,100

Deferred

$10,719

Nontaxable benefits

$19,405

Filer's total

$295,150
Ron Leathers

Chief Conservation Officer

Total calculated

$249,179

From this org

$228,141

From related orgs

$0

Other

$21,038

Hours/week

50

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$197,009

Bonus

$20,000

Other

$11,131

Deferred

$11,011

Nontaxable benefits

$10,027

Filer's total

$249,178
Robert St Pierre

Chief Marketing & Communications Officer

Total calculated

$219,260

From this org

$199,696

From related orgs

$0

Other

$19,564

Hours/week

50

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$178,577

Bonus

$18,000

Other

$3,119

Deferred

$9,966

Nontaxable benefits

$9,598

Filer's total

$219,260
Ariel Wiegard

Vice President of Government Affairs

Total calculated

$213,507

From this org

$203,897

From related orgs

$0

Other

$9,610

Hours/week

50
Mark Curwick

Director of IT

Total calculated

$198,036

From this org

$162,710

From related orgs

$0

Other

$35,326

Hours/week

50
Richard Wissink

Vice President of Conservation Programs

Total calculated

$182,888

From this org

$155,540

From related orgs

$0

Other

$27,348

Hours/week

50
Joseph Eisenmenger

Director of Application Development

Total calculated

$173,927

From this org

$165,743

From related orgs

$0

Other

$8,184

Hours/week

50
Andrew Schmidt

Director of Government Affairs

Total calculated

$155,930

From this org

$148,601

From related orgs

$0

Other

$7,329

Hours/week

50
Jerrod Burke

Chairman

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
Keith Schopp

Secretary

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
Brett Reber

Treasurer

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
Daniel Forster

Vice-Chairman

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
Ashley Langen

Director

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

3
Jon Kohler

Director

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

3
John Beall

Director

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

3
Dax Hayden

Director

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

3
Susan Felege

Director

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

3
Douglas Spale

Director

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

3
Evan Carruthers

Director

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

3
Thomas Harris

Director

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

3
Owen Stockdale

Director

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

3
Larry Voyles

Director

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

3
David Zellmer

Director

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

3
Lynn Tjeerdsma

Director

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

3

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

3 · Compensation committee
3 · Form 990 of other organizations
3 · Compensation survey or study
3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan

Answered no

4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
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

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Schedule J, Part I, Line 3: Compensation for the President/CEO is set by the executive committee and is based on the review of compensation data from other nonprofit organizations of similar size and scope as well as data from several published compensation surveys. The Committee reviews the President/CEOs achievement of goals for the year along with the compensation data described above to determine salary adjustments as well as any inventive compensation to be awarded. This review process takes place annually. Compensation for other officers and key employees is set by the President/CEO and is performed using the same compensation data sources described above for the applicable positions.
Schedule J, Part I, Line 4: Pheasants Forever has a split dollar life insurance benefit that is available to executive leadership. Pheasants Forever contributes to the premium costs of the policies. For calendar year 2024 the following amounts were included in the employees' compensation: Marilyn Vetter - $1,536; James Koerber - $20,179; David Bue - $26,100; Ronald Leathers - $11,131 & Bob St. Pierre - $3,119.

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.

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.

Habitat Forever LLC

Wildlife Habitat Development and Improvement · DE · income $0 · assets $0
The Forever Land Trust LLC

Long-term Land Protection · DE · income $16,380 · assets $275,998

Provenance

Return type: form_990
Tax year: 2024
Filed: 11 May 2026
IRS schema version: 2024v5.0
Source object: 202611319349300441

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