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Ruffed Grouse Society

EIN 54-0846925 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

1. ESTABLISHED IN 1961, THE RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY UNITES CONSERVATIONISTS TO IMPROVE WILDLIFE HABITAT AND FOREST HEALTH AND PROMOTE A CONSERVATION ETHIC, ALL GROUNDED IN THE TENETS OF SCIENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.

Income
$7.2 million
Spending
$7.4 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
12.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
54
Volunteers
18,000
Highest pay
$268,040, president and ceo

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

    16 of 16 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 (6)
  1. $2.1 million spent. CHAPTER OPERATIONS: RGS CHAPTERS UNDERSTAND AND FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO IMPROVE WILDLIFE HABITAT, FOREST HEALTH AND PROMOTE CONSERVATION ETHICS. WITH THE HELP OF RGS ENGAGEMENT STAFF, CHAPTERS ORGANIZE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS, HABITAT DAYS, YOUTH OUTINGS, SOCIAL EVENTS, UPLAND HUNTS, AND MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS.
  2. $2.9 million spent. HABITAT PROJECTS: RGS WORKS WITH VARIOUS LANDOWNERS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ENHANCE FOREST HABITAT FOR RUFFED GROUSE AND ALL FOREST WILDLIFE USING SCIENCE-SUPPORTED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, AND GUIDED BY FOREST CONSERVATION DIRECTORS AND OTHER CONSERVATION DELIVERY STAFF EMPLOYED TO CARRY OUT THE ORGANIZATION'S HABITAT MISSION.
  3. $956,727 spent. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES: RGS COMMUNICATES AND EDUCATES MEMBERS ON HABITAT, FOREST MANAGEMENT AND UPLAND HUNTING THROUGH THE RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY MAGAZINE, WEBSITE (WWW.RUFFEDGROUSESOCIETY.ORG), EMAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATION.
  4. $555,011 spent. GENERAL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: THE RGS RECRUITMENT PROGRAMS RECRUIT, RETAIN AND REACTIVATE CONSERVATIONISTS TO ENSURE CURRENT AND FUTURE FOREST STEWARDSHIP WORK THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO CREATING, PROTECTING AND RESTORING FOREST HEALTH AND FOREST DIVERSITY FOR RUFFED GROUSE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, AND ALL FOREST WILDLIFE.
  5. RESEARCH; RGS PROVIDES FUNDING TO DEVELOP SOUND SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT FOSTER DIVERSE, HEALTHY FORESTS FOR RUFFED GROUSE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK AND ALL FOREST WILDLIFE.
  6. ADVOCACY: RGS ADVOCATES FOR THE APPLICATION OF SOUND SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT, AND RECRUITMENT, REACTIVATION, AND RETENTION OF HUNTER CONSERVATIONISTS.

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 December 1989.

    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.