Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION (RMEF) IS TO ENSURE THE FUTURE OF ELK, OTHER WILDLIFE, THEIR HABITAT AND OUR HUNTING HERITAGE. OUR MISSION INCLUDES FOUR CORE PROGRAMS; LAND PROTECTION AND ACCESS, HUNTING HERITAGE, HABITAT STEWARDSHIP AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT.
- Income
- $100.1 million
- Spending
- $90.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 9.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 168
- Volunteers
- 8,400
- Highest pay
- $639,108, president & 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
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $30.9 million spent. LAND PROTECTION AND ACCESS: REPRESENTS LAND ACQUISITIONS, CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, LAND EXCHANGES AND DONATIONS, AND HUNTER AND PUBLIC ACCESS RELATED PROJECTS. RMEF IDENTIFIES AND PRIORITIZES THE MOST CRUCIAL ELK WINTER AND SUMMER RANGES, MIGRATION CORRIDORS, AND CALVING AREAS USING GIS MAPPING, INTERNAL CRITERIA AND PRIORITIES, PARTNERSHIPS, AND FIELD-BASED PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE. THE HIGHEST PRIORITY HABITAT OR ACCESS AREAS ARE PROTECTED THROUGH ACQUISITION OR EASEMENT. ACQUISITIONS ARE THEN USUALLY CONVEYED INTO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ALLOW PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO PROTECT THEIR LAND IN PERPETUITY FROM DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER USES THAT COULD DIMINISH THE HABITAT VALUE.
- $13.0 million spent. HUNTING HERITAGE: REPRESENTS GRANTS AND OTHER COSTS TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN HUNTING AND OTHER OUTDOOR PURSUITS THROUGH SKILLS INSTRUCTION, MENTORING, CONSERVATION OUTREACH AND HUNTING RELATED PRODUCT.
- $19.9 million spent. HABITAT STEWARDSHIP: REPRESENTS PROJECTS TO IMPROVE THE ESSENTIAL FORAGE, WATER, AND COVER COMPONENTS OF WILDLIFE HABITAT. TYPES OF PROJECTS INCLUDE RESTORING ASPEN COMMUNITIES, FIGHTING THE SPREAD OF NOXIOUS WEEDS, BOOSTING LAND PRODUCTIVITY WITH PRESCRIBED BURNING, AND THINNING OF FORESTS. RMEF FUNDS WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AS WELL AS FENCING PROJECTS TO PROVIDE BETTER DISTRIBUTION OF WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK.
- $3.3 million spent. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT: REPRESENTS ENGAGEMENT THROUGH ADVOCACY, COLLABORATION, RESEARCH AND MANAGAMENT WITH A FOCUS ON KEY MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES SUCH AS WILDLIFE DISEASE, POPULATION DYNAMICS, MIGRATION CORRIDORS, ELK ECOLOGY AND PREDATOR MANAGEMENT.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1984.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.