Form 990 for tax year 2024
Filed by NORTHERN PLAINS RESOURCE COUNCIL.
Totals
- Total revenue
- $2,387,522
- Total expenses
- $1,971,426
- Contributions and grants received
- $1,896,495
- Grants paid
- $0
- Program service revenue
- $278,945
- Investment income
- $164,134
- Other revenue
- $47,948
- Total assets, end of year
- $6,806,449
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $153,265
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $6,653,184
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $1,582,520
- Management and general expenses
- $225,125
- Fundraising expenses
- $163,781
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $1,582,520
Program services were 80.3% 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
$0
-
1b · Membership dues
$394,237
-
1c · Fundraising events
$14,530
-
1d · Related organizations
$0
-
1e · Government grants (contributions)
$0
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$1,487,728
-
1g · Noncash contributions included above
$30,145
-
2a · Program service revenue: Consulting
total $100 · related or exempt $100 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
2b · Program service revenue: Building Share
total $66,135 · related or exempt $66,135 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
2c · Program service revenue: Reimbursements
total $212,710 · related or exempt $212,710 · 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 $161,839 · related or exempt $161,839 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds
total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
5 · Royalties
total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
6a · Gross rents
real property $2,400 · personal property $0
-
6b · Less rental expenses
real property $0 · personal property $0
-
6c · Rental income or loss
real property $2,400 · personal property $0
-
6d · Net rental income or loss
total $2,400 · related or exempt $2,400 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory
securities $19,285 · other assets $7,000
-
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses
securities $19,565 · other assets $4,425
-
7c · Gain or loss
securities -$280 · other assets $2,575
-
7d · Net gain or loss
total $2,295 · related or exempt $2,295 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
8a · Fundraising events: gross income
$45,975
-
8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c
$14,530
-
8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses
$460
-
8c · Net income from fundraising events
total $45,515 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $45,515
-
9a · Gaming: gross income
$0
-
9b · Gaming: direct expenses
$0
-
9c · Net income from gaming
total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
10a · Gross sales of inventory
$1,091
-
10b · Cost of goods sold
$1,058
-
10c · Net income from sales of inventory
total $33 · related or exempt $33 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
11e · Other revenue, total
$0
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 $94,433 · program services $77,070 · management and general $10,898 · fundraising $6,465
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $1,060,697 · program services $889,318 · management and general $107,282 · fundraising $64,097
-
8 · Pension plan contributions
total $62,530 · program services $51,474 · management and general $6,939 · fundraising $4,117
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $80,147 · program services $66,804 · management and general $8,375 · fundraising $4,968
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $90,919 · program services $76,254 · management and general $9,183 · fundraising $5,482
-
11a · Fees: management
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $29,020 · program services $20,100 · management and general $8,920 · fundraising $0
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $12,000 · program services $0 · management and general $12,000 · fundraising $0
-
11d · Fees: lobbying
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
11e · Fees: professional fundraising services
total $0 · fundraising $0
-
11f · Fees: investment management
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
11g · Fees: other
total $68,319 · program services $39,680 · management and general $2,085 · fundraising $26,554
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $59,955 · program services $47,358 · management and general $12,547 · fundraising $50
-
13 · Office expenses
total $125,414 · program services $83,484 · management and general $11,580 · fundraising $30,350
-
14 · Information technology
total $22,132 · program services $18,938 · management and general $2,005 · fundraising $1,189
-
15 · Royalties
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
16 · Occupancy
total $93,369 · program services $76,202 · management and general $10,775 · fundraising $6,392
-
17 · Travel
total $49,515 · program services $43,369 · management and general $1,334 · fundraising $4,812
-
18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $56,267 · program services $41,446 · management and general $8,851 · fundraising $5,970
-
20 · Interest
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
21 · Payments to affiliates
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $29,000 · program services $23,899 · management and general $3,202 · fundraising $1,899
-
23 · Insurance
total $7,164 · program services $0 · management and general $7,164 · fundraising $0
-
24a · Other expenses: Public Outreach Events
total $13,018 · program services $12,892 · management and general $0 · fundraising $126
-
24b · Other expenses: Hospitality
total $1,409 · program services $1,043 · management and general $147 · fundraising $219
-
24c · Other expenses: Contributions
total $15,929 · program services $13,000 · management and general $1,838 · fundraising $1,091
-
24d · Other expenses: Lobbying
total $189 · program services $189 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $232,753 · end of year $287,156
-
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments
beginning of year $2,203,290 · end of year $3,737,111
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
4 · Accounts receivable
beginning of year $8,661 · end of year $34,100
-
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 $0 · end of year $0
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $21,604 · end of year $20,916
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$980,486
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$517,825
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $477,377 · end of year $462,661
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
beginning of year $3,162,565 · end of year $2,264,505
-
12 · Investments: other securities
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
13 · Investments: program-related
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
14 · Intangible assets
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
15 · Other assets
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $31,496 · end of year $45,305
-
18 · Grants payable
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
19 · Deferred revenue
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
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 $0 · end of year $0
-
24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
25 · Other liabilities
beginning of year $80,790 · end of year $107,960
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $5,482,136 · end of year $6,087,290
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $511,828 · end of year $565,894
Mission and programs · 2024
Mission
Northern Plains believes people working together can make a difference. Our mission is to organize Montanans to protect our water, land, air, and working landscapes; support a healthy, localized, and sustainable economy in farm and ranch country and in our towns; and build strong grassroots leaders, always considering the next generation.
Activities or mission (Part I)
Northern Plains Resource Council organizes Montanans to protect our water, land, air, and working landscapes; support a healthy, localized, and sustainable economy; and build strong grassroots leaders, always considering the next generation.
-
Oil & Gas: We stood with Carter County farmers, ranchers, and residents to oppose a proposed project that would inject 150 million tons of carbon dioxide into wells across pristine BLM rangeland. We educated local residents, mobilized over 450 public comments, submitted a 30-page technical analysis, and elevated the issue with BLM leadership in Montana and Washington D.C. Our efforts helped pause the Snowy River carbon sequestration project pending further environmental review. In Laurel, we challenged NorthWestern Energy's proposed methane plant by organizing public testimony and continued legal and technical work to hold the company accountable to air quality laws. Additionally, we supported the Board of Oil and Gas Conservation in utilizing $25 million in federal funding to plug orphaned oil and gas wells across the state resulting in almost 100% of identified wells being plugged by the end of 2024.
Expenses $335,426
-
Clean Energy: Through a five-month door-to-door and phone canvass, we reached over 13,000 households and had more than 2,000 conversations about Inflation Reduction Act benefits and energy affordability, helping Montanans access tax credit and rebates. Our "Solarize" campaigns grew with the launch of Sweetgrass Solar near Big Timber, bringing total program impact to over 340 solar assessments and 130 installations, including more than one megawatt of local solar in Livingston alone. We strengthened the movement for community solar by energizing the Montana Community Solar Coalition ahead of the 2025 legislative session. Our members worked with Rural Electric Co-op leaders to promote transparency, integration of renewable energy production, and energy efficiency. We hosted a co-op member training to build grassroots power and promote accountability. We defended public participation and climate analysis under the Montana Environmental Policy Act, urging the Department of Environmental Quality to uphold its authority and constitutional responsibilities. We provided Montana energy ratepayers with information on pending interim rate hike applications from NorthWestern Energy and Montana Dakota Utilities and our members worked with the Public Service Commission to secure rejections of those rate hikes.
Expenses $274,503
-
Coal Transition: In the Bull Mountains, our members raised awareness for the importance of protecting land, water, and ranching operations from damage caused by a longwall mine. We raised opposition for a dangerous state legislative bill that would have allowed coal companies to contaminate nearby water sources with limited accountability. When federal legislation was introduced to allow Signal Peak Energy to expand operation without completing an Environment Impact Statement, we mobilized to defend the EIS process, public land access, and agricultural livelihoods. We also secured a critical oversight win when the Office of Surface Mining found "reason to believe" that Montana's Department of Environmental Quality violated federal law by approving major coal mine expansions under the guise of "minor" permit revisions.
Expenses $262,346
-
Agriculture: After years of work by Northern Plains, the USDA finalized a long-overdue rule to ensure that meat labelled "Product of the USA" must come from animals born, raised, and processed in the United States - closing a loophole that misled consumers and harmed domestic producers. We celebrated this win while continuing to push for mandatory Country-Of-Origin-Labeling (COOL) for beef and pork. We helped amplify Montana ranchers' voices on a proposed rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act that would make it easier for independent producers to challenge unfair market practices, generating 25 detailed submissions from producers to the USDA, urging them to support the rule. To build momentum for stronger reforms in the next Farm Bill, we collected over 1,000 signatures backing COOL and livestock market protections - laying the groundwork for a powerful grassroots push in 2025. Healthy Soils: We deepened our commitment to soil stewardship by expanding our community engagement and policy impact. Our affiliate group, the Golden Triangle Resource Council, hosted two soil crawls in the Great Falls area, bringing together more than 50 attendees to build local knowledge and grow our statewide soil health network. In Glendive, we led a two-day Soil Crawl in partnership with Dawson Community College and experts from Montana State University, giving 40 participants hands-on experience in regenerative practices. We also helped launch Montana's first-ever Soil Health Week and Day, coordinating with partners across the state to honor agricultural producers and raise awareness of soil as one of Montana's most vital natural resources. This recognition, which we helped pass in the 2023 legislature, laid the foundation for broader cultural and policy change. We also played a key role in shaping Montana's Climate Pollution Reduction Act proposal for soil health, helping secure $50 million in federal funding to support long-term investment in this resource. Good Neighbor Agreement: We upheld the Good Neighbor Agreement with Sibanye-Stillwater Mining Company to ensure community oversight and water protections remain strong even as plummeting palladium prices added pressure to to the mine to curtail spending and cut production. We underscored the GNA's role in safeguarding water quality regardless of the mine's economic future and secured a commitment from the company to increase financial bonding, ensuring long-term accountability for environmental standards in the midst of these uncertainties. Our members met with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Land and Minerals Management to bring local concerns into national discussions about critical mineral mining. DEI: We deepened our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by supporting our ally and sister organization, Western Native Voice, and continuing our "Lessons from Indigenous Organizing" speaker series. In partnership with Western Native Voice, we helped coordinate meetings, organize allies, and engage Montanans in support of legislation to establish Indigenous Peoples' Day in Montana in 2025. Through our speaker series, we welcomed Montana Poet Laureate Chris LaTray and Crow-Cheyenne artist Ben Pease, both of whom offered powerful reflections on land, identity, and community-led organizing in Indian Country. Protecting Montana's Constitution: We defended Montanans' constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment by holding the Montana DEQ accountable through public participation in environmental decision-making. We developed a strategy for defending the rights of Montanans in the face of efforts to amend our State Constitution and create a partisan judiciary in Montana.
Expenses $710,245
As filed on the 2024 return.
Listed in Part VII
-
Margaret Gordon
Executive Director
- Total calculated
- $94,746
- From this org
- $94,746
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Hours/week
- 50
-
Jeanie Alderson
At-Large Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 4
-
Kristin Aus
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Steve Charter
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 8
-
Diann DeRosier
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Jeff Dibenedetto
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Charlie French
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Barbara Gulick
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Linda Iverson
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 7
-
George Kelly
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Jasmine Krotkov
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1.5
-
Kyran Kunkel
At-Large Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Clint McRae
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Peter Mickelsen
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Jane Moses
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Kirk Panasuk
At Large Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1.5
-
Rae Peppers
At-Large
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
June Peterson
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Ellen Pfister
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Barbara Ulrich O'Grady
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Nathan Varley
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Eleanor Wend
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Gordon Whirry
Affiliate Representative
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Janet Zimmerman
Affiliate Director
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Edward Barta
Chair of the Board
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 6
-
Norane Freistadt
Vice Chair
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 6
-
Roxa Reller
Secretary
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 4
-
Scott Hancock
Treasurer
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Kristine Glenn
Assistant Secretary
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 5
-
Craig McClure
Assistant Treasurer
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Joan Kresich
Past Chair
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 20
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.
Grants on this return
No itemized grants to organizations on this return.
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2024
- Filed
- 14 May 2025
- IRS schema version
- 2024v5.0
- Source object
- 202531349349306063
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