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Ruby Habitat Foundation

EIN 45-0487621 · Sheridan, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE RUBY HABITAT FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND ENHANCING THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MAKEUP OF THE RUBY VALLEY AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE, CONTINUATION OF AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS AND ASSOCIATED DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EDUCTION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$526,611
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-178.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 51%
Employees
1
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$147,203, vice chairman

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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 55% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 10 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (4)
  1. $243,138 spent. AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS - CONSISTENT WITH THE MISSION AND GOALS OF THE FOUNDATION, WE CONTINUED TO OPERATE THE RANCH FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES, INCLUDING HAY PRODUCTION AND CATTLE GRAZING. HAY AND PASTURE WERE SOLD AT MARKET RATES TO GENERATE INCOME AND OFFSET OPERATING EXPENSES. AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS WERE IMPLEMENTED FOLLOWING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES INCLUDING ROTATIONAL GRAZING, SOIL NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT AND IRRIGATION WATER MANAGEMENT, ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION TO DEMONSTRATE WISE USE OF RESOURCES.
  2. $61,475 spent. RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION IN LINE WITH OUR CONSERVATION DEMONSTRATION GOALS, WE IMPLEMENTED THE CATTAIL CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT. MONITORING AND MAINTENANCE CONTINUED ON EXISTING PROJECTS INCLUDING THE RESTORATION OF CLEAR CREEK, THE HERITAGE APPLE ORCHARD, POLLINATOR PLANTINGS, WETLAND DEVELOPMENTS AND SOIL HEALTH TRIALS. MULTIPLE GROUPS VISITED THE RANCH TO VIEW ONE OR MORE OF THE EXISTING RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS. STAFF TOURED THE PROJECTS AND GAVE PRESENTATIONS ON THESE EFFORTS AND RESULTS TO-DATE. PLANNING EFFORTS WERE COMPLETED FOR FUTURE RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN 2025 INCLUDING SEVERAL SOIL AMENDMENTS AND CROP FERTILITY EXPERIMENTS.
  3. $99,454 spent. OUTREACH AND EDUCATION - THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO CONTRACT WITH RANCH RESOURCES TO PROVIDE A FULL-TIME OUTREACH COORDINATOR. THE COORDINATOR MET WITH HUNDREDS OF GUESTS PROVIDING OUTREACH AND EDUCATION SERVICES INCLUDING RANCH TOURS, EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS, SCHOOL GROUP EVENTS AND MANAGED RECREATIONAL ACCESS FOR FISHING AND HUNTING. THE COORDINATOR ALSO DISSEMINATED AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE INFORMATION THROUGH PUBLICATION OF A BOOK, REGULAR NEWSLETTERS, A COLUMN IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER, AND WEEKLY EMAILS THAT WENT TO HUNDREDS OF SUBSCRIBERS. OUTREACH EFFORTS ALSO INCLUDE PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL CONSERVATION GROUPS, FIELD TOURS AND PROJECTS.
  4. IN JANUARY 2011, THE CRAIG WOODSON ENDOWMENT WAS FUNDED WITH THE TRANSFER OF RANCH AND PERSONAL PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF CRAIG WOODSON. WITH THE TRANSFER OF THESE ASSETS, THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE WOODSON RANCH NOW BELONGS TO THE RUBY HABITAT FOUNDATION. CONSISTENT WITH THE MISSION AND GOALS OF THE FOUNDATION, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO OPERATE THE RANCH FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PROVIDING FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT AND COMMUNITY RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITES.

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 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 2024.

    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 July 2004.

    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.