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Nonprofiteer
← THE FOUNDATION FOR NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY LAW

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by THE FOUNDATION FOR NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY LAW.

Totals

Total revenue
$5,211,030
Total expenses
$3,230,140
Contributions and grants received
$133,325
Grants paid
$343,415
Program service revenue
$2,407,832
Investment income
$2,611,740
Other revenue
$58,133
Total assets, end of year
$26,387,971
Total liabilities, end of year
$0
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$26,387,971
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$2,497,507
Management and general expenses
$732,633
Fundraising expenses
$0
Program service expenses (Part III)
$2,497,507

Program services were 77.3% 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.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $133,325

  • 2a · Program service revenue: INSTITUTES

    total $1,397,573 · related or exempt $1,397,573

  • 2b · Program service revenue: MEMBERSHIPS

    total $783,452 · related or exempt $783,452

  • 2c · Program service revenue: PUBLICATIONS

    total $226,807 · related or exempt $226,807

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $509,038 · excluded $509,038

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $9,027,547

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

    securities $6,924,845

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $2,102,702

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $2,102,702 · excluded $2,102,702

  • 11a · Other revenue: REBATES

    total $34,095 · excluded $34,095

  • 11b · Other revenue: PARTNERSHIP PASSTHROUGH INCOME/LO

    total $6,113 · unrelated business $6,113

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $17,925 · excluded $17,925

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $58,133

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $1,750 · program services $1,750

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $293,614 · program services $293,614

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $48,051 · program services $48,051

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $338,381 · program services $253,786 · management and general $84,595

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $847,050 · program services $631,056 · management and general $215,994

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $42,352 · program services $31,537 · management and general $10,815

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $109,943 · program services $81,909 · management and general $28,034

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $81,287 · program services $57,194 · management and general $24,093

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $28,000 · management and general $28,000

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $129,437 · management and general $129,437

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $26,052 · program services $25,010 · management and general $1,042

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $29,744 · program services $29,744

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $16,164 · program services $12,319 · management and general $3,845

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $207,986 · program services $200,174 · management and general $7,812

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $3,150 · program services $3,150

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $123,206 · program services $98,565 · management and general $24,641

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $709,775 · program services $584,397 · management and general $125,378

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $17,425 · program services $13,940 · management and general $3,485

  • 24a · Other expenses: PUBLICATIONS

    total $61,236 · program services $58,974 · management and general $2,262

  • 24b · Other expenses: MERCHANT CREDIT CARD FE

    total $56,595 · program services $42,818 · management and general $13,777

  • 24c · Other expenses: LICENSES AND FEES

    total $27,806 · program services $166 · management and general $27,640

  • 24d · Other expenses: SHIPPING/MAILING/DISTRI

    total $17,976 · program services $17,919 · management and general $57

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $13,160 · program services $11,434 · management and general $1,726

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $309,488 · end of year $546,415

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $120,188

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $23,010,330 · end of year $25,841,556

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $22,002,062 · end of year $24,699,840

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,437,944 · end of year $1,688,131

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

DEDICATION TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF COLLABORATIVE SCHOLARLY AND PRACTICAL EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ON THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS RELATING TO MINING, OIL AND GAS, PUBLIC LANDS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND OTHER RELATED AREAS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

COLLABORATIVE SCHOLARLY AND PRACTICAL NATURAL RESOURCES LEGAL EDUCATION.

  • INSTITUTES. 5-DAY SEMINARS (THREE), 3-DAY SEMINARS (TWO), 2-DAY SEMINARS (SIX), 1-DAY SEMINARS (ONE), FOUR-HOUR SEMINARS (TWO), ON SPECIALIZED AREAS OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW. (APPROXIMATELY 3,006 CLIENTS SERVED)

    Expenses $1,766,196 · Revenue $1,397,573

  • PUBLICATIONS, PERIODICALS, CDS, AND ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION LIBRARY. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ON NATURAL RESOURCES LAW AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW TOPICS (APPROXIMATELY 9,667 CLIENTS SERVED.)

    Expenses $131,900 · Revenue $226,807

  • OUTREACH. A PROGRAM INITIATED TO SUPPORT MINERAL LAW SCHOLARSHIP, RESEARCH, WRITING, TEACHING AND STUDY. PROGRAM ALSO SUPPORTS LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ATTENDING FOUNDATION INSTITUTES AND CLASSES (153 INDIVIDUALS AND SCHOOLS SUPPORTED.) ALSO SUPPORTS A LAW STUDENT NETWORKING PROGRAM FACILITATING COLLABORATION OF STUDENTS AND FACULTY IN MINERAL LAW TOPICS (1 SCHOOL SUPPORTED.) SCHOLARSHIPS ARE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS ATTENDING LAW SCHOOL (34 STUDENTS RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS), GRANTS ARE PROVIDED TO CERTAIN LAW SCHOOLS (2 GRANTS GIVEN.)

    Expenses $599,411 · Grants $343,415

  • MEMBERSHIP. A GROWING NETWORK OF INDIVIDUALS, LAW FIRMS, COMPANIES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP IN THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY LAW COMMUNITY. MEMBERS NOT ONLY ARE ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS AND PUBLICATIONS DESCRIBED BELOW, BUT ALSO ALLOWS THE FOUNDATION, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY OIL & GAS, MINING, RENEWABLE ENERGY, PUBLIC LANDS, WATER, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LAW PROGRAMS, PUBLICATIONS, AND LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE. (APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MEMBERS)

    Revenue $783,452

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Michael J Bourassa

    VP (THRU 7/20/24), PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jolisa M Dobbs

    PRESIDENT (THRU 7/20/24), PAST PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Joel O Benson

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jana L Grauberger

    SECRETARY (THRU 7/20/24)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Robert C Mathes

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kathleen C Schroder

    TREASURER (THRU 7/20/24)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Amy E Seneshen

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Scot W Anderson

    PAST PRESIDENT (THRU 7/20/24)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Oscar R Benavides

    MEMBER-AT-LARGE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Robin Kundis Craig

    MEMBER-AT-LARGE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Ramona L Monroe

    MEMBER-AT-LARGE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Patricia Nunez

    MEMBER-AT-LARGE (THRU 7/20/24)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Michelle Phillips

    MEMBER-AT-LARGE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Bruce F Rudoy

    MEMBER-AT-LARGE (THRU 7/20/24)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Elizabeth A Ryan

    MEMBER-AT-LARGE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Rachael E Salcido

    PAST PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Pilar M Thomas

    MEMBER-AT-LARGE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • David A Ritchie

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $338,381
    From this org
    $310,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,381
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $300,000
    Bonus
    $10,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $15,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,881
    Filer's total
    $338,381

  • Jaleen W Edwards

    ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $158,814
    From this org
    $139,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,814
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $128,000
    Bonus
    $11,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,950
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,864
    Filer's total
    $158,814

  • Melissa L Magee

    ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $163,556
    From this org
    $143,500
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,056
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $130,000
    Bonus
    $13,500
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,175
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,881
    Filer's total
    $163,556

  • Ryan A Minton

    DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS

    Total calculated
    $140,269
    From this org
    $121,500
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,769
    Hours/week
    40

  • Surbhi Chavda

    CONTROLLER

    Total calculated
    $121,032
    From this org
    $103,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,032
    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

  • 1a · Travel for companions
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 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
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 1A
THE FOUNDATION TRADITIONALLY PAYS THE EXPENSE OF TRAVEL FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S SPOUSE/DOMESTIC PARTNER TO THE ANNUAL INSTITUTE, HELD ONCE A YEAR.
PART I, LINE 3
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONFIRM THAT THEY HAVE NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND DETERMINING COMPENSATION. THEY OBTAIN INDEPENDENT INFORMATION, REVIEW COMPENSATION SURVEYS OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, COMPARE COMPENSATION LISTED FOR KEY STAFF IN OTHER COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS USING A DETAILED SURVEY, EVALUATE THE PERFORMANCE, AND VOTE ON COMPENSATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
PART I, LINE 7
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BONUS IS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BASED ON AN ANNUAL REVIEW. STAFF BONUSES ARE DETERMINED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ARE DISCRETIONARY BASED ON MERIT.

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
2024
Filed
29 October 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202513049349302821

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