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Yellowstone Forever

EIN 47-5427975 · Bozeman, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

YELLOWSTONE FOREVER ("YF") SERVES AS THE OFFICIAL NON-PROFIT PARTNER FOR YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK ("PARK"). YF'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE GRANTS AND IN-KIND SUPPORT TO THE PARK THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES.

Income
$34.5 million
Spending
$25.8 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
9.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
150
Volunteers
99
Highest pay
$328,716, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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 February 28, 2026, 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. $13.1 million spent. YELLOWSTONE FOREVER FUNDS PRIORITY PROJECTS THAT PROTECT YELLOWSTONE'S ECOSYSTEM AND WILDLIFE, PRESERVE THE PARK'S HERITAGE, HISTORY, AND TRAILS AND ENHANCE VISITOR EXPERIENCES AND EDUCATION. WILDLIFE GRANT FUNDING SUPPORTED NATIVE FISH RESTORATION; GRIZZLY BEAR, WOLF AND COUGAR RESEARCH; AND A VARIETY OF SPECIES OF BIRDS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO YELLOWSTONE'S NATURAL ECOSYSTEM. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS) AND THROUGH TRIBAL CONSULTATION, YELLOWSTONE FOREVER (YF) LEADS THE OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMMING OF THE YELLOWSTONE TRIBAL HERITAGE CENTER. LOCATED AT OLD FAITHFUL, THE CENTER SERVES AS A VITAL SPACE WHERE INDIGENOUS ARTISTS, SCHOLARS, AND PRESENTERS FROM THE 27 ASSOCIATED TRIBES OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK DIRECTLY ENGAGE WITH VISITORS THROUGH EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT. DURING THE SUMMER, APPROXIMATELY 320,000 VISITORS EXPERIENCED THE CENTER. THE CENTER HOSTED 33 TRIBAL DEMONSTRATORS AND FEATURED A TOTAL OF 155 ARTIST DAYS. PRESENTERS REPRESENTED 19 OF THE 27 TRIBES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PARK. THROUGH DIVERSE DEMONSTRATIONS, THE CENTER PROVIDES A UNIQUE PLATFORM FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND ENHANCING VISITOR UNDERSTANDING.
  2. $2.7 million spent. YELLOWSTONE FOREVER (YF) OFFERS TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT FOSTERS A DEEP CONNECTION TO THE WILDLIFE, GEOLOGY, AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. OUR EXTENSIVE ARRAY OF PROGRAMS PROVIDES UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES TO EXPERIENCE AND APPRECIATE YELLOWSTONE. COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS), WE ENSURE THE HIGHEST QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES WITH THE INTENT TO CREATE FUTURE STEWARDS WHO ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THIS ICONIC NATIONAL TREASURE. THIS YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 4,273 VISITORS PARTICIPATED IN YF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, RESULTING IN A TOTAL OF 54,531 CONTACT HOURS, DEMONSTRATING OUR SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON ENHANCING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE GREATER YELLOWSTONE ECOSYSTEM.
  3. $2.9 million spent. YELLOWSTONE FOREVER (YF) HAD OVER 327,673 TRANSACTIONS AT 11 STORES (9 IN THE PARK, 1 IN GARDINER, MT AND 1 AT QUAKE LAKE VISITOR CENTER). VISITORS TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK AND THE SURROUNDING AREA PURCHASED TRIP PLANNING MATERIALS, EDUCATIONAL GAMES, ART, APPAREL, OUTDOOR GEAR, BOOKS, AND COLLECTIBLES. SEVERAL OF THE ITEMS SOLD ARE ONE-OF-A-KIND OR PRODUCED DIRECTLY BY YF. ALL ITEMS SOLD BY YF IN THE STORES ARE APPROVED BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND HELP FOSTER A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING, APPRECIATION, AND ENJOYMENT OF YELLOWSTONE AND ITS SURROUNDING ECOSYSTEM. EVERY PURCHASE SUPPORTS VITAL PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, 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 February 2026.

    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 2016.

    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.