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Ecological Insights

EIN 46-2111011 · Hazelton, ND

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceWeak31 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 91 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

WE BELIEVE IN A HEALTHIER, HAPPIER WORLD WHERE GRAZERS HELP US SAVE CRITICAL GRASSLAND HABITAT, STORE SOIL CARBON AND SUPPORT RANCHING COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS. OUR MISSION IS TO LEAD EFFORTS THAT HOW SCIENCE CAN BE APPLIED TO UNDERSTAND REGENERATIVE GRAZING CONCEPTS TO BENEFIT MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITIES.

Income
$350,741
Spending
$182,685
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
9.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
3
Highest pay
$49,000, executive di

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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 48% of income.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 91 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

Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    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. $146,358 spent. A.WORKED WITH TURTLE MOUNTAIN AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT ON DEVELOPING RESEARCH INTO INDUSTRIAL HEMP AS PART OF A COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. LED MEETING ON SOIL HEALTH AND SOIL TESTING AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION. B.SET UP A RANGELAND CARBON EXPERIMENT ON A WORKING RANCH IN MCKENZIE, ND FOR THE PURPOSE OF QUANTIFYING HOW GRAZING MANAGEMENT ALTERS THE CARBON CYCLE. ORGANIZED 4 MEETINGS AND 2 FIELD TOURS FOR PRODUCERS, CONSERVATIONISTS, AND POLICY MAKERS HIGHLIGHTING CARBON AS A COMMODITY AND THE SCIENCE NECESSARY TO BETTER NAVIGATE CARBON MARKETS. COLLECTED AND PRESENTED DATA TO THE PUBLIC INDICATING HOW RANGELANDS SERVE AS CARBON SINKS. C.COLLABORATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ON A WATERSHED RESTORATION PROJECT AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES MODEL IN PEMBINA, ND SPONSORED BY THE USDA NRCS. SET UP MODEL PARAMETERS, SAMPLED SOILS, AND EVALUATED WATERSHED LAND USE/LAND COVER MAPS. A.WORKED WITH TURTLE MOUNTAIN AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT ON DEVELOPING RESEARCH INTO INDUSTRIAL HEMP AS PART OF A COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. LED MEETING ON SOIL HEALTH AND SOIL TESTING AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION. B.SET UP A RANGELAND CARBON EXPERIMENT ON A WORKING RANCH IN MCKENZIE, ND FOR THE PURPOSE OF QUANTIFYING HOW GRAZING MANAGEMENT ALTERS THE CARBON CYCLE. ORGANIZED 4 MEETINGS AND 2 FIELD TOURS FOR PRODUCERS, CONSERVATIONISTS, AND POLICY MAKERS HIGHLIGHTING CARBON AS A COMMODITY AND THE SCIENCE NECESSARY TO BETTER NAVIGATE CARBON MARKETS. COLLECTED AND PRESENTED DATA TO THE PUBLIC INDICATING HOW RANGELANDS SERVE AS CARBON SINKS. C.COLLABORATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ON A WATERSHED RESTORATION PROJECT AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES MODEL IN PEMBINA, ND SPONSORED BY THE USDA NRCS. SET UP MODEL PARAMETERS, SAMPLED SOILS, AND EVALUATED WATERSHED LAND USE/LAND COVER MAPS.

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 October 13, 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 July 2014.

    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 October 21, 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.