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Nonprofiteer
← VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$5,067,558
Total expenses
$2,370,250
Contributions and grants received
$4,424,173
Grants paid
$70,400
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$573,600
Other revenue
$69,785
Total assets, end of year
$24,380,269
Total liabilities, end of year
$109,249
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$24,271,020
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$1,835,913
Management and general expenses
$244,315
Fundraising expenses
$290,022
Program service expenses (Part III)
$1,835,913

Program services were 77.5% 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

    $121,771

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $610,444

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $3,691,958

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $86,000

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $573,405 · excluded $573,405

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $44,240

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $44,240

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $44,240 · excluded $44,240

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $140,942

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

    securities $140,747

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $195

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $195 · excluded $195

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $4,500

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $1,730

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $2,770 · excluded $2,770

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $17,568

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $15,105

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $2,463 · excluded $2,463

  • 11a · Other revenue: KNIGHT INLET, NET

    total $20,312 · related or exempt $20,312

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $20,312

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $70,400 · program services $70,400

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $190,400 · program services $125,664 · management and general $28,560 · fundraising $36,176

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $725,516 · program services $478,841 · management and general $108,828 · fundraising $137,847

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $52,001 · program services $34,320 · management and general $7,800 · fundraising $9,881

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $9,354 · program services $6,174 · management and general $1,403 · fundraising $1,777

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $79,140 · program services $52,234 · management and general $11,871 · fundraising $15,035

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $11,709 · program services $11,034 · management and general $675

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $625,879 · program services $603,867 · management and general $12,446 · fundraising $9,566

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $48,543 · program services $48,404 · management and general $139

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $194,476 · program services $135,696 · management and general $17,934 · fundraising $40,846

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $36,651 · program services $20,065 · management and general $8,293 · fundraising $8,293

  • 17 · Travel

    total $43,504 · program services $29,500 · management and general $6,595 · fundraising $7,409

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $9,377 · program services $4,688 · management and general $2,345 · fundraising $2,344

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $21,046 · program services $17,971 · management and general $2,784 · fundraising $291

  • 24a · Other expenses: CONSERVATION EASEMENT A

    total $79,999 · program services $79,999

  • 24b · Other expenses: LICENSES AND TAXES

    total $44,170 · program services $39,716 · management and general $2,504 · fundraising $1,950

  • 24c · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $38,097 · program services $27,277 · management and general $9,475 · fundraising $1,345

  • 24d · Other expenses: MAILING LIST RENTAL

    total $21,974 · program services $16,494 · fundraising $5,480

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $68,014 · program services $33,569 · management and general $22,663 · fundraising $11,782

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $4,178,222 · end of year $3,539,961

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $3,349,593 · end of year $5,209,030

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $8,734

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $19,515 · end of year $12,409

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $5,091 · end of year $5,091

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

    $12,127,508

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

    $35,790

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $11,414,902 · end of year $12,091,718

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $3,023,114 · end of year $3,464,469

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $104,656 · end of year $57,591

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $73,200 · end of year $88,838

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $600,000

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $48,029 · end of year $20,411

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $7,232,747 · end of year $10,094,007

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $14,149,851 · end of year $14,177,013

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

VITAL GROUND WORKS TO ENSURE THE RECOVERY AND LONG-TERM SURVIVAL OF GRIZZLY BEARS AND THE MANY NATIVE SPECIES THAT SHARE THEIR RANGE THROUGH THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF WILDLIFE HABITAT AND LANDSCAPE LINKAGES, AND BY SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS THAT PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE.

Activities or mission (Part I)

PROTECT AND RESTORE NORTH AMERICA'S GRIZZLY BEAR POPULATIONS BY CONSERVING WILDLIFE HABITAT.

  • LAND CONSERVATION: VITAL GROUND IDENTIFIES CRUCIAL GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT ON PRIVATELY OWNED LAND AND WORKS WITH WILLING LANDOWNERS TO PROTECT THE LAND'S CONSERVATION VALUES. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY ACQUIRING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THROUGH DONATION OR BARGAIN PURCHASE, OR BY PURCHASING LAND IN FEE TITLE THEN MANAGING IT TO BENEFIT WILDLIFE AND THE PUBLIC. VITAL GROUND HAS A PERPETUAL RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR THE LANDS ON WHICH IT HOLDS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. VITAL GROUND ALSO MANAGES AND WORKS TO RESTORE THE LAND IT OWNS TO PROVIDE QUALITY HABITAT FOR THE BENEFIT OF GRIZZLY BEARS AND OTHER WILDLIFE. IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING AND MANAGING ITS OWN PROJECTS, VITAL GROUND STRATEGICALLY PROVIDES GRANTS TO AGENCIES, GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND OTHER NONPROFIT CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS TO ASSIST THEIR EFFORTS TO CONSERVE AND RESTORE IMPORTANT WILDLIFE HABITAT AND PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE.2024 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:CONSERVATION EASEMENTS - ACQUIRED ONE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN MONTANA TOTALING 160 ACRES TO PROTECT HIGHLY THREATENED GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT IN A KEY LINKAGE AREA BETWEEN THE NORTHERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE AND BITTERROOT GRIZZLY BEAR RECOVERY AREAS.- MONITORED TWENTY-THREE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY VITAL GROUND IN MONTANA, THREE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY VITAL GROUND IN IDAHO, AND FOUR U.S. FOREST SERVICE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LANDS IN IDAHO. LAND ACQUISITION AND MANAGEMENT- ACQUIRED TWO PROPERTIES TOTALING 60 ACRES IN FEE-TITLE IN MONTANA TO PROTECT WILDLIFE HABITAT AND SCENIC VALUES, AND TO SPECIFICALLY CONSERVE KEY GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT IN THE CABINET-YAAK AND NORTHERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE ECOSYSTEMS.- CONTINUED PROMOTING THE GOALS OF THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE'S COMMUNITY FOREST AND OPEN SPACE PROGRAM THROUGH FOREST STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES AT VITAL GROUND'S ALVORD LAKE COMMUNITY FOREST, CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS' COMMITTEE THAT GUIDES MANAGEMENT OF THE FOREST.- MONITORED AND MANAGED FIVE FEE-TITLE CONSERVATION PROPERTIES IN IDAHO AND SEVEN FEE-TITLE CONSERVATION PROPERTIES IN MONTANA.- CONDUCTED WILDLIFE HABITAT ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES ON PROPERTIES IN BONNER COUNTY, IDAHO, AND IN LINCOLN AND SANDERS COUNTIES, MONTANA.

    Expenses $1,004,017 · Grants $400

  • CONSERVATION EDUCATION: VITAL GROUND PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT GRIZZLY BEAR AND ASSOCIATED WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION THROUGH ITS PRINT AND DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS, SPECIAL MAILINGS, WEBSITE, EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS, SOCIAL MEDIA, IN-PERSON AND ONLINE EVENTS, VIDEOS AND OTHER MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PARTICIPATES IN COLLABORATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION OF GRIZZLY BEARS AND THEIR HABITAT, PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND HUMANS AND ENHANCE THE SURVIVAL OF GRIZZLY BEARS. 2024 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:- PRODUCED ROUGHLY 12,000 COPIES OF VITAL NEWS, THE ORGANIZATION'S BIANNUAL 16-PAGE PRINT NEWSLETTER THAT REPORTS ON GRIZZLY BEAR AND WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION ISSUES AS WELL AS PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.- PRODUCED 12 MONTHLY EMAIL NEWSLETTERS ("VITAL ENEWS") PLUS 1-2 OTHER EMAIL CAMPAIGNS PER MONTH, EACH DISTRIBUTED TO APPROXIMATELY 10,000 UNIQUE RECIPIENTS (289,421 TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS). THESE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS REPORTED ON GRIZZLY BEAR AND WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION ISSUES, EMERGING PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES, CONSERVATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CONSERVATION AND BUSINESS PARTNERS, FUNDING NEEDS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT VITAL GROUND'S MISSION.- PRODUCED OTHER ASSORTED PRINT POSTCARDS, BROCHURES AND PROMOTIONS THAT REPORTED ON GRIZZLY BEAR AND WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION ISSUES, EMERGING PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES, CONSERVATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CONSERVATION AND BUSINESS PARTNERS, FUNDING NEEDS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT VITAL GROUND'S MISSION.- MAINTAINED A WEBSITE (WWW.VITALGROUND.ORG), INCLUDING A BLOG TYPICALLY UPDATED MULTIPLE TIMES PER MONTH (20 TOTAL POSTS IN 2024), THAT PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT GRIZZLY BEARS AND ASSOCIATED WILDLIFE, NEWS AND SCIENCE UPDATES ON WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ISSUES, CURRENT GRIZZLY BEAR CONSERVATION PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES, AND VITAL GROUND CONSERVATION PROJECT AND PARTNER ACCOMPLISHMENTS. VITAL GROUND'S WEBSITE EXPERIENCED 101,121 USERS AND 184,947 SESSIONS DURING 2024.- PRODUCED DAILY FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM UPDATES PROMOTING WILDLIFE HABITAT PROTECTION, GRIZZLY BEAR NATURAL HISTORY AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION TOPICS TO AN AUDIENCE OF OVER 53,000 FOLLOWERS ON FACEBOOK (UP 5 PERCENT IN 2024) AND OVER 8,800 FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM (UP 16 PERCENT IN 2024). PRODUCED TWO NEW VIDEOS AND GREW VITAL GROUND'S YOUTUBE AUDIENCE TO A TOTAL OF 28,200 SUBSCRIBERS.

    Expenses $761,896

  • OTHER: IN ADDITION TO ITS HABITAT CONSERVATION AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION ALSO PARTNERS WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND TRIBAL AGENCIES, OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS PREVENTING CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE. THROUGH ITS 2024 CONSERVATION PARTNERS PROGRAM, VITAL GROUND AWARDED $70,000 IN SMALL GRANTS TO 16 COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES WORKING TO PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE IN 15 HIGH PRIORITY LANDSCAPES. THESE INVESTMENTS HELPED:- PROTECT 48,000 ACRES OF LIVESTOCK RANGE USING RANGE RIDERS- CONSTRUCT 33 ELECTRIC FENCES TO SECURE CHICKEN COOPS, ORCHARDS, AND LIVESTOCK- DISTRIBUTE 69 BEAR PROOF CONTAINERS - REMOVE 336 LIVESTOCK CARCASSES IN AREAS PRONE TO WILDLIFE CONFLICT- PROVIDE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO MORE THAN 8,000 PEOPLE AT EVENTS, MAILINGS, AND BEAR SPRAY TRAINING SESSIONS - GLEAN 13,700 POUNDS OF FRUIT- PURCHASE 4700 CONFLICT PREVENTION MATERIALS- PURCHASE 24 CONFLICT PREVENTION TOOLS PROACTIVE PREVENTION OF AVOIDABLE CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE IS CRITICAL TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THE BROADER PUBLIC ACCEPTING THE PRESENCE OF GRIZZLIES AS THE SPECIES RECOVERS AND EXPANDS BACK INTO HABITAT WHERE IT HAS BEEN ABSENT - IN SOME CASES FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.

    Expenses $70,000 · Grants $70,000

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Kelly Johnson

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    20

  • Matthew Dusek

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Theresa Young

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Tim Polich

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    9

  • Dale Becker

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Doug Chadwick

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Scott Birmingham

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Tom Fey

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Russell Fox

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • John Hechtel

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Jo Lowe

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Maureen Mayer

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Andrea Nasi

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Lynne Seus

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Stuart Strahl

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Meggen Wilson

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Cheri Cooley-Hick

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Ken Hick

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Danielle Feidler

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Ryan Lutey

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $204,728
    From this org
    $191,400
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,328
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $183,400
    Bonus
    $8,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $13,328
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $204,728

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 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 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

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 3
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S COMPENSATION IS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES USING CURRENT COMPENSATION SURVEY INFORMATION FROM THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE AND CONSIDERATION OF FORM 990 RETURNS FROM SIMILARLY SITUATED ORGANIZATIONS.

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

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
30 May 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.1
Source object
202511559349300441

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