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Greater Yellowstone Coalition Inc

EIN 81-0414042 · Bozeman, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GREATER YELLOWSTONE COALITION WORKS WITH ALL PEOPLE TO PROTECT THE LANDS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE OF THE GREATER YELLOWSTONE ECOSYSTEM, NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$7.0 million
Spending
$6.4 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
30.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
35
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$229,933, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 30.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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

    17 of 17 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 September 30, 2025, 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. $4.0 million spent. LAND & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION GREATER YELLOWSTONE'S PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS STITCHTOGETHER A STUNNING TAPESTRY OF HABITAT FOR THE REGIONS CELEBRATED WILDLIFE. GYCCONSERVES THE MOST CRITICAL PARTS OF THIS LANDSCAPE THROUGH ON-THE-GROUND PROJECTSAND BUILDING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR POLICIES THAT PROTECT KEY LANDS. CURRENT PRIORITIESINCLUDE PROTECTING LANDS FROM A PROPOSED GOLD MINE, SECURING NEW PROTECTIONS FORWILDLIFE MIGRATION ROUTES, AND SAFEGUARDING CORE GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT. GYC ALSO PLAYS A LEAD ROLE IN PROTECTING THE REGIONS ICONIC WILDLIFE, WITH A FOCUS ON GRIZZLY BEARS,BISON, AND MIGRATING UNGULATES LIKE ELK, MULE DEER, AND PRONGHORN. GYC SECURES FUNDING FOR NEW WILDLIFE HIGHWAY CROSSINGS, PREVENTS CONFLICTS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE, ADVOCATES FOR SCIENCE-BASED WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, AND RESTORES BISON TO THEIR ANCESTRAL HOMELANDS ON TRIBAL AND SELECT PUBLIC LANDS.
  2. $729,412 spent. CLIMATE CHANGE & WATER PROTECTION AS THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ACCELERATE ACROSS THE REGION, THE COLD CLEAN WATER THAT BRINGS LIFE TO GREATER YELLOWSTONE ARE UNDER THREAT. TO BUILD REGIONAL RESILIENCY AND PROTECT WILDLIFE AND HABITAT FROM THEMOUNTING CHALLENGES OF A RAPIDLY CHANGING CLIMATE, GYC FOCUSES ON ADVANCING POLICIESAND PROJECTS THAT PROTECT AND RESTORE KEY WATERWAYS AROUND THE GREATER YELLOWSTONEECOSYSTEM. CURRENT PRIORITIES INCLUDING PROTECTING 100 MILES OF RIVERS IN MONTANATHROUGH FEDERAL LEGISLATION, AND PARTNERING WITH SCIENTISTS, GOVERNMENT, TRIBES, ANDLANDOWNERS ACROSS THE REGION TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AND POLICIES THAT BUILD RESILIENCY TO CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS, WITH A FOCUS ON RIVERS.
  3. $662,809 spent. TRIBAL CONSERVATION PRIORITIES & PARTNERSHIPS GYC RECOGNIZES THE WESTERNCONSERVATION MOVEMENT HAS HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED AND IGNORED DIVERSE VOICES ANDPERSPECTIVES, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. GYC SEEKS TO CHANGE THISPARADIGM BY WORKING WITHIN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND TRIBAL-CENTERED PROGRAMS TOHONOR INDIGENOUS CONSERVATION PRIORITIES, ADVANCE TRIBAL RIGHTS, AND RETURNINDIGENOUS ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO THE LANDSCAPE. THIS INCLUDESREVITALIZING THE BIG WIND RIVER, BUILDING CAPACITY WITHIN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES BYINVESTING IN INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP, AND EXPANDING THE CULTURAL AND ECOLOGICALRESTORATION OF BUFFALO. GYCS INDIGENOUS STAFF MEMBERS LEAD THIS WORK FROM THEORGANIZATIONS OFFICE ON THE WIND RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION IN WYOMING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 September 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 April 1984.

    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.