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Heart of the Rockies Initiative

EIN 46-3635624 · Missoula, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Heart of the Rockies Initiative is a partnership of 29 local, regional, and national land trusts in the Central Rockies of North America. Our mission is to ensure connected habitat and working lands for people and wildlife by increasing the pace of durable conservation. We work from common ground to find lasting, locally-driven solutions to the social and ecological challenges across the region. Together, we help land trusts, landowners, and communities share ideas, connections, and technologies across boundaries. We believe that conservation is rooted in local actions and needs. We bring a community-based approach, founded upon concern and respect for all people and communities of our region.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
13
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$138,390, managing dir.

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    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. $640,020 spent. AS A LAND TRUST PARTNERSHIP, OUR PRIMARY PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE WORK OF OUR LAND TRUST MEMBERS. IN 2024, WE OPERATED A PROGRAM TO ACCELERATE THE PACE OF CONSERVATION OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIVATE LANDS FOR WILDLIFE CONNECTIVITY. WE HELPED INCREASE THE PROFILE OF LOCAL, PRIVATE LAND CONSERVATIONS ROLE IN SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES, ECONOMIES, NATURAL SYSTEMS, AND WILDLIFE POPULATIONS AT A LARGE SCALE. WE DELIVERED THE LATEST SCIENCE TO ON-THE-GROUND PRIVATE LAND CONSERVATION PRACTITIONERS ON LARGE LANDSCAPE ISSUES LIKE CONNECTIVITY, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, AND PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURALLANDS AT SCALES NEEDED FOR LOCAL DECISIONS.
  2. $286,378 spent. IN 2023, THE CONFLICT REDUCTION PROGRAM GREW OUT OF THE HIGH DIVIDE COLLABORATIVE INTO ITS OWN PROGRAM. IT ENSURES AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES HAVE RELIABLE AND PREDICTABLE ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT PREVENT CONFLICTS WITH CARNIVORES, BENEFITING WILDLIFE AND WORKING LANDS. UNIQUE AMONG OTHER REGIONAL EFFORTS, HEART OF THE ROCKIES INITIATIVE SERVES AS A COORDINATOR AND CONVENOR OF LOCAL, STATE, AND TRIBAL GROUPS COMMITTED TO CARNIVORE CONFLICT REDUCTION, CREATING A RIPPLE EFFECT THAT ALLOWS OUR CONSERVATION COMMUNITY TO ACHIEVE MORE TOGETHER THAN ANY OF US COULD ALONE.
  3. $121,628 spent. OUR RURAL INITIATIVES PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED FROM THE PREMISE THAT THRIVING RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO THRIVING CONSERVATION. THE PROGRAM SERVES RURAL AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH A COMMUNITY-LED PROCESS TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY VITALITY PROJECTS THAT DEEPEN A SENSE OF PLACE, SUPPORT THRIVING ECONOMIES, AND ENSURE THE OUTDOORS IS ACCESSIBLE AND SUPPORTS COMMUNITY WELL-BEING.
  4. $58,322 spent. COORDINATED AND CONVENED THE HIGH DIVIDE COLLABORATIVE A PARTNERSHIP OF RANCHERS, LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS, PUBLIC LAND MANAGERS, STATE WILDLIFE MANAGERS, SCIENTISTS, AND CONSERVATION GROUPS IN A PORTION OF IDAHO AND MONTANA FOR PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING, NETWORKING, FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES, AND CONSERVATION DELIVERY. WE SUPPORTED AND HELPED EXPAND LANDOWNER-LED WILDLIFE CONFLICT REDUCTION EFFORTS.

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 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 January 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.