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Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Foundation

EIN 32-0320146 · Red Lodge, MT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ABSAROKA-BEARTOOTH WILDERNESS FOUNDATION SUPPORTS STEWARDSHIP OF THE ABSAROKA-BEARTOOTH WILDERNESS AND FOSTERS APPRECIATION OF ALL WILD LANDS THROUGH WILDERNESS STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT.

Income
$258,977
Spending
$295,803
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
6
Volunteers
115

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $165,872 spent. IN 2024, THE ABSAROKA BEARTOOTH WILDERNESS FOUNDATION (ABWF) ADVANCED ITS MISSION THROUGH A ROBUST SLATE OF STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ACROSS THE ABSAROKA-BEARTOOTH WILDERNESS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. MORE THAN 150 VOLUNTEERS AND INTERNS CONTRIBUTED TO TRAIL MAINTENANCE, HABITAT RESTORATION, SOLITUDE MONITORING, AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES.TRAIL STEWARDSHIP REMAINED CORE TO ABWF'S WORK: OUR INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS HELPED CLEAR, REPAIR, OR IMPROVE 595 MILES OF TRAIL, INCLUDING HIGH-PROFILE PROJECTS NEAR COOKE CITY, EAST ROSEBUD, AND THE STILLWATER RIVER. HABITAT RESTORATION CREWS REMOVED OVER 3,000 POUNDS OF INVASIVE WEEDS FROM PRIORITY SITES INCLUDING LIVINGSTON PEAK, MEATRACK CREEK AND THE WEST BOULDER RIVER.ABWF'S TRAILHEAD AMBASSADOR PROGRAM EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY, ENGAGING OVER 2,900 VISITORS ON TOPICS LIKE LEAVE NO TRACE, BEAR SAFETY, AND TRAIL CONDITIONS. A PILOT SOLITUDE MONITORING PROGRAM LAUNCHED WITH TWO SUCCESSFUL BACKCOUNTRY TRIPS COLLECTING WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP PERFORMANCE (WSP) DATA FOR THE FOREST SERVICE.ABWF ALSO HIRED THREE SEASONAL INTERNS TO SUPPORT BACKCOUNTRY PROJECTS AND USFS TRAIL CREWS. THROUGH 18 COMMUNITY EVENTS AND VOLUNTEER PROJECTS, ABWF ENGAGED OVER 5,000 PEOPLE IN WILDERNESS OUTREACH AND EDUCATION INCLUDING A CELEBRATION OF THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WILDERNESS ACT. THESE PROGRAMS WERE DELIVERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH USFS, BEARTOOTH BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN, PARK COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL, BEARTOOTH TRAILS AND OTHERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2010.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.