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Buffalo Field Campaign

EIN 36-3964401 · W Yellowstone, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROTECT THE NATURAL HABITAT OF WILD MIGRATORY BUFFALO AND NATIVE WILDLIFE, TO STOP THE SLAUGHTER AND HARASSMENT OF AMERICA'S LAST WILD BUFFALO AS WELL AS TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR LASTING PROTECTION,AND TO WORK WITH PEOPLE OF ALL NATIONS TO HONOR THE SACREDNESS OF THE WILD

Income
$403,022
Spending
$304,747
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
9.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
10
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$27,000, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 2025, 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 (3)
  1. $129,060 spent. FRONTLINES DEFENSE OF YELLOWSTONE BISON - BUFFALO FIELD CAMPAIGN'S CORE PROGRAM IS THE OPERATON OF THE DAILY FIELD PATROLS ALONG BISON MIGRATION CORRIDORS NEAR THE BOUNDRIES OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. PATROLS OPERATE DURING THE TIMES OF YEAR WHEN BISON ARE IN MONTANA. VOLUNTEERS EQUIPPED WITH STILL AND VIDEO CAMERAS DOCUMENT EVERY ACTION TAKEN AGAINST BUFFALO AND THE TOLL THESE OPERATIONS TAKE ON WILD SPECIES IN THE ECOSYSTEM. BUFFALO FIELD CAMPAIGN PROVIDED TRAINING, ROOM, BOARD, WINTER CLOTHING, AND EQUIPMENT TO EACH OF THESE VOLUNTEERS OUTFITTING THEM FOR SOME OF THE MOST EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE COUNTRY. TIME SPENT IN THE PRESENCE OF WILD BISON - BOTH IN THEIR NATURAL GRACE AND THROUGH THE CHAOS OF HAZING , CAPTURE, AND SLAUGHTER OPERATIONS - INSPIRES BUFFALO FIELD CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEERS AND COORIDONATORS TO VISUALIZE, ORGANIZE, AND ACTUALIZE A WIDE RANGE OF INITIATIVES AIMED AT BRINGING PERMANENT PROTECTION TO THIS LAST WILD BISON POPULATION. A GOAL OF THE FRONTLINES BISON DEFENSE PROJECT IS TO PERMANENTLY PROTECT BISON MIGRATION ROUTES AND THE BISON'S RIGHT TO ACCESS THEM. THE ORGANIZATION CONVEY INFORMATION AND IMAGES GAINED THROUGH FIELD PATROLS, PUBLIC MEETINGS, AND RESEARCH TO CITIZENS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE GLOBE.
  2. $77,436 spent. POLICY WORK, RESEARCH AND LEGAL PROGRAM - THE BFC RESEARCHERS INFORMATION RELATED TO THE YELLOWSTONE BUFFALO, BRUCELLOSIS AND WILDLIFE IN THE GREATER YELLOWSTONE AREA. COORDINATORS CONDUCT EXTENSIVE RESEARCH INTO LAND USE ISSUES AND PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND ATTEND PUBLIC MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES AND SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS OF MANAGEMENT DECISIONS AFFECTING THE YELLOWSTONE BISON.
  3. $28,158 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH - THE BUFFALO FIELD CAMPIAGN'S EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS CONVEY INFORMATION AND IMAGES GAINED THROUGH FIELD PATROLS, PUBLIC MEETINGS AND RESEARCH TO CITIZENS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE GLOBE. BFC CONVEYS BUFFALO-RELATED NEWS AND INFORMATION THROUGH A MULTI-MEDIA WEBSITE, WEEKLY EMAIL UPDATES, COVERAGE IN MAINSTREAM AND ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPERS, TELEVISION, AND RADIO ON A VARIETY OF WEBSITES, ON ANNUAL ROAD SHOWS, AND THROUGH THE PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF AN ANNUAL NEWSLETTER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.