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American Prairie Foundation

EIN 81-0541893 · Bozeman, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE THE LARGEST NATURE RESERVE IN THE CONTIGUOUS UNITED STATES, A REFUGE FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE PRESERVED FOREVER AS PART OF AMERICA'S HERITAGE.

Income
$44.7 million
Spending
$15.4 million
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
27.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
72
Volunteers
34
Highest pay
$357,245, 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. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 27.6 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 66% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 79% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    54% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 19 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 (3)
  1. $5.0 million spent. REWILDING AND HABITAT STEWARDSHIP: AMERICAN PRAIRIE IS REWILDING A VAST GRASSLAND TO SUPPORT ECOLOGICALLY MEANINGFUL WILDLIFE POPULATIONS. SINCE 2004, WE HAVE COMPLETED 43 TRANSACTIONS TO CONSERVE 526,959 ACRES OF PRAIRIE HABITAT ADJACENT TO THE 1.1 MILLION-ACRE CHARLES M. RUSSELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE - TOGETHER FORMING THE LARGEST PROTECTED AREA IN THE GREAT PLAINS. OUR BISON HERD, ESTABLISHED IN 2005, NOW NUMBERS AROUND 850 ANIMALS AND CONTRIBUTES TO RIPARIAN AND RANGELAND HEALTH AND GREATER WILDLIFE DIVERSITY.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O . . .WE ARE ALSO WORKING TO RESTORE OTHER KEYSTONE AND EXTIRPATED SPECIES, INCLUDING BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOGS, BEAVERS, SWIFT FOXES, AND BLACK-FOOTED FERRETS. REWILDING EFFORTS ALSO INCLUDE HABITAT RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT, AS WELL AS PROMOTING WILDLIFE TOLERANCE BEYOND OUR LANDS THROUGH ECONOMIC INCENTIVES AND COEXISTENCE TOOLS.
  2. $1.8 million spent. EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS: AMERICAN PRAIRIE STRIVES TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY AND TO MAKE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITIES AROUND US, BOTH ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL, BY BUILDING MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL GROUPS AND LEADERS IN AND AROUND THE SEVEN-COUNTY REGION WHERE AMERICAN PRAIRIE OPERATES. THE NATIONAL DISCOVERY CENTER IN LEWISTOWN IS A SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL HUB PROVIDING MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND CONNECTIONS IN CENTRAL MONTANA.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O . . .SHARING STORIES FROM THE PRAIRIE IS A PRIORITY, AND OUR MARKETING EFFORTS HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON SHOWCASING THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND ELEVATING OUR PUBLIC ACCESS MODEL, INCLUDING THROUGH FEATURES IN 60 MINUTES, OUTSIDE MAGAZINE, FAST COMPANY, AND LOCAL PUBLICATIONS. BY RAISING GENERAL AWARENESS IN MONTANA, OUR WEB TRAFFIC, LODGING BOOKINGS AND VISITATION INQUIRIES HAVE ALL INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY.
  3. $1.5 million spent. VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: AMERICAN PRAIRIE PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCESS TO MORE THAN 140,000 ACRES OF DEEDED LAND, ALONG WITH SEAMLESS ACCESS TO AN ADDITIONAL 386,000 ACRES OF ADJACENT PUBLIC LAND. THIS EXPANSIVE LANDSCAPE SUPPORTS THRIVING WILDLIFE HABITAT AND OFFERS OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIKING, HUNTING, AND WILDLIFE VIEWING. BY ENSURING PUBLIC ACCESS TO THESE LANDS, AMERICAN PRAIRIE INVITES PEOPLE TO EXPLORE AND CONNECT WITH THE PRAIRIE ECOSYSTEM, WITH THE PROMISE THAT EACH VISIT WILL REVEAL A WILDER, MORE VIBRANT LANDSCAPE. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O . . . IN ADDITION TO LAND ACCESS, AMERICAN PRAIRIE OPERATES THE AMERICAN PRAIRIE FIELD SCHOOL, A K12 EDUCATION PROGRAM OFFERING FREE DAY AND OVERNIGHT EXPERIENCES FOR MONTANA PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO FOSTER CURIOSITY AND A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE REGION'S NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE THROUGH IMMERSIVE, HANDS-ON OUTDOOR LEARNING. TOGETHER, THESE EFFORTS SUPPORT CONSERVATION, RECREATION, AND EDUCATION ACROSS ONE OF NORTH AMERICA'S MOST ICONIC AND ECOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT LANDSCAPES.

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 November 2001.

    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.