VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC

As filed

Subsection

03

Classification

1000

Street

27 FORT MISSOULA RD STE 2

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2025

• 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.2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:CONSERVATION EASEMENTS - ACQUIRED FOUR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN MONTANA TOTALING 5,220 ACRES TO PROTECT HIGHLY THREATENED GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT WITHIN AND BETWEEN THE NORTHERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE, CABINET-YAAK AND BITTERROOT GRIZZLY BEAR RECOVERY AREAS.- MONITORED 23 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 ONE PROPERTY TOTALING 50 ACRES IN FEE-TITLE IN MONTANA TO PROTECT WILDLIFE HABITAT AND SCENIC VALUES, AND TO SPECIFICALLY CONSERVE KEY GRIZZLY BEAR LINKAGE HABITAT AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE NORTHERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE ECOSYSTEM.- ACQUIRED ONE PROPERTY TOTALING 200 ACRES IN FEE-TITLE IN IDAHO TO PROTECT WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND TO SPECIFICALLY CONSERVE KEY GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT IN THE SELKIRK ECOSYSTEM.- 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 $5,535,054

• 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. 2025 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 11,000 UNIQUE RECIPIENTS (430,239 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 1-2 TIMES PER MONTH (18 TOTAL POSTS IN 2025), 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 99,881 USERS AND 121,552 SESSIONS DURING 2025.- PRODUCED DAILY FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM UPDATES PROMOTING WILDLIFE HABITAT PROTECTION, GRIZZLY BEAR NATURAL HISTORY AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION TOPICS TO AN AUDIENCE OF OVER 55,000 FOLLOWERS ON FACEBOOK (UP 5 PERCENT IN 2025) AND 10,000 FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM (UP 10 PERCENT IN 2025). PRODUCED THREE NEW VIDEOS AND GREW VITAL GROUND'S YOUTUBE AUDIENCE TO A TOTAL OF 28,400 SUBSCRIBERS.

  Expenses $799,400 · Grants $4,699

• 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 2025 CONSERVATION PARTNERS PROGRAM, VITAL GROUND AWARDED $75,000 IN SMALL GRANTS TO 17 COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES WORKING TO PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE IN 16 HIGH PRIORITY LANDSCAPES. THESE INVESTMENTS HELPED:- INSTALL 25 ELECTRIC FENCES AROUND A TRACK FIELD, FRUIT ORCHARDS, CALVING PASTURES, GOAT PASTURE, AND CHICKEN COOPS.- PROTECT 28,000 ACRES BY RETIRING A FEDERAL GRAZING ALLOTMENT- REACH 86,000 PEOPLE AT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EVENTS- MONITOR 7,000 ACRES THROUGH RANGE RIDING ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE STATE- SECURE WILDLIFE ATTRACTANTS IN FIVE PUBLIC CAMPGROUNDS - GLEAN 225 POUNDS OF FRUIT THAT COULD OTHERWISE ATTRACT BEARS INTO PROXIMITY OF HUMANS- DEPLOY 33 BEAR RESISTANT TRASH CANS - REMOVE 500 DOMESTIC LIVESTOCK CARCASSES FROM HIGH CONFLICT AREAS- PURCHASE TWO DRONES FOR STATE AGENCY USE IN MANAGING BEARS - REFURBISH TWO GRIZZLY BEAR TRACKING COLLARS- PURCHASE 5,000 PIECES OF EDUCATION AND OUTREACH MATERIAL TO DISTRIBUTE TO THE PUBLICPROACTIVE 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 $75,000 · Grants $75,000

As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2025

As listed in Part VII of the 2025 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2025

  Revenue

  $10,218,738

  Expenses

  $7,203,720

  Contributions

  $9,594,366

  Grants paid

  $79,699

• 2024

  Revenue

  $5,067,558

  Expenses

  $2,370,250

  Contributions

  $4,424,173

  Grants paid

  $70,400

• 2023

  Revenue

  $6,685,566

  Expenses

  $2,219,074

  Contributions

  $6,329,416

  Grants paid

  $51,541

• 2022

  Revenue

  $5,489,727

  Expenses

  $2,374,135

  Contributions

  $5,362,254

  Grants paid

  $75,500

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $7,544,506

  Expenses

  $3,486,395

  Assets (EOY)

  $13,941,782

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $2,654,450

  Expenses

  $1,371,694

  Assets (EOY)

  $9,746,782

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $2,200,400

  Expenses

  $1,952,246

  Assets (EOY)

  $8,206,385

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $2,788,920

  Expenses

  $968,364

  Assets (EOY)

  $7,826,580

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $2,024,697

  Expenses

  $1,070,819

  Assets (EOY)

  $6,074,046

• 2016 · 990

  Revenue

  $701,262

  Expenses

  $855,643

  Assets (EOY)

  $4,884,618

• 2015 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,397,915

  Expenses

  $858,831

  Assets (EOY)

  $4,989,826

• 2014 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,689,209

  Expenses

  $890,713

  Assets (EOY)

  $4,458,098

• 2013 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,511,118

  Expenses

  $1,706,250

  Assets (EOY)

  $3,640,284

• 2012 · 990

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  $731,765

  Assets (EOY)

  $3,790,222

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

• LOLO SCHOOL DISTRICT

  $12,500

  2022 · CONSERVATION PARTNER GRANT

• METHOW VALLEY BEAR AWARE

  $11,210

  2024 · CONSERVATION PARTNER GRANT

• MONTANA FISH WILDLIFE AND PARKS

  $10,699

  2025 · $5,000 GRANT - SECURING STORE GRAIN ON PRIVATE LANDS$5,699 GRANT - DRONE PURCHASE FOR BEAR CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

• NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION

  $10,000

  2022 · CONSERVATION PARTNER GRANT

• TETON REGIONAL LAND TRUST

  $10,000

  2024 · CONSERVATION PARTNER GRANT

• NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION

  $10,000

  2025 · RETIRE THE BADGER TWO MEDICINE GRAZING ALLOTMENT

• HEART OF THE ROCKIES

  $7,000

  2022 · CONSERVATION PARTNER GRANT

• BLACKFOOT CHALLENGE

  $5,500

  2024 · CONSERVATION PARTNER GRANT

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

• THE HUMANE SOCIETY WILDLIFE LAND TR

  $678,000

  2023 · Funding for a Montana conservation habitat that will provide a wildlife stronghold where hunting and trapping are prohibited.

• HEART OF THE ROCKIES FOUNDATION

  $212,300

  2023 · PROTECT LANDS OF HIGH CONSERV VALUE

• HEART OF THE ROCKIES FOUNDATION

  $162,209

  2024 · PROTECT LANDS OF HIGH CONSERV VALUE

• DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

  $136,000

  2024 · PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $93,260

  2024 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

  $76,300

  2022 · PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT

• GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

  $62,500

  2024 · ENVIRONMENTAL

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $62,225

  2023 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

  $52,975

  2023 · PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT

• MARIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

  $50,000

  2023 · PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

California fundraising campaigns

Campaigns run by paid fundraisers, commercial coventurers and thrift stores naming this organization, as California published them. Both figures are as filed, and what the first one counts depends on the campaign type — a coventurer or a thrift store files its own sales rather than money collected for the charity. The 990 reports this only as a yearly total, never per campaign.

• KODIAK CAKES LLC

  $115,510 in sales

  2022 · Commercial Coventurer

  $115,510 to charity

• CONOPCO INC. D/B/A UNILEVER ITSELF AND ACTING THROUGH ITS SUBSIDIARIES

  $48,204 in sales

  2022 · Commercial Coventurer

  $48,204 to charity

• CONOPCO INC. D/B/A UNILEVER ITSELF AND ACTING THROUGH ITS SUBSIDIARIES

  $113,005 in sales

  2021 · Commercial Coventurer

  $56,503 to charity

Amounts are as filed and do not add up: a commercial coventurer reports one promotion's whole gross once for each charity that shared in it. A campaign may also name more than one registered charity, in which case it appears on each.

Other IRS files