Vital Ground Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
VITAL GROUND WORKS TO ENSURE THE RECOVERY AND LONG-TERM SURVIVAL OF GRIZZLY BEARS AND THE MANY NATIVE SPECIES THAT SHARE THEIR RANGE THROUGH THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF WILDLIFE HABITAT AND LANDSCAPE LINKAGES, AND BY SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS THAT PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE.
- Income
- $10.2 million
- Spending
- $7.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -4.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $234,223, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 102% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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, 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)
- $5.5 million spent. LAND CONSERVATION: VITAL GROUND IDENTIFIES CRUCIAL GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT ON PRIVATELY OWNED LAND AND WORKS WITH WILLING LANDOWNERS TO PROTECT THE LAND'S CONSERVATION VALUES. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY ACQUIRING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THROUGH DONATION OR BARGAIN PURCHASE, OR BY PURCHASING LAND IN FEE TITLE THEN MANAGING IT TO BENEFIT WILDLIFE AND THE PUBLIC. VITAL GROUND HAS A PERPETUAL RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR THE LANDS ON WHICH IT HOLDS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. VITAL GROUND ALSO MANAGES AND WORKS TO RESTORE THE LAND IT OWNS TO PROVIDE QUALITY HABITAT FOR THE BENEFIT OF GRIZZLY BEARS AND OTHER WILDLIFE. IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING AND MANAGING ITS OWN PROJECTS, VITAL GROUND STRATEGICALLY PROVIDES GRANTS TO AGENCIES, GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND OTHER NONPROFIT CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS TO ASSIST THEIR EFFORTS TO CONSERVE AND RESTORE IMPORTANT WILDLIFE HABITAT AND PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE.2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:CONSERVATION EASEMENTS - ACQUIRED FOUR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN MONTANA TOTALING 5,220 ACRES TO PROTECT HIGHLY THREATENED GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT WITHIN AND BETWEEN THE NORTHERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE, CABINET-YAAK AND BITTERROOT GRIZZLY BEAR RECOVERY AREAS.- MONITORED 23 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY VITAL GROUND IN MONTANA, THREE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY VITAL GROUND IN IDAHO, AND FOUR U.S. FOREST SERVICE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LANDS IN IDAHO. LAND ACQUISITION AND MANAGEMENT- ACQUIRED ONE PROPERTY TOTALING 50 ACRES IN FEE-TITLE IN MONTANA TO PROTECT WILDLIFE HABITAT AND SCENIC VALUES, AND TO SPECIFICALLY CONSERVE KEY GRIZZLY BEAR LINKAGE HABITAT AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE NORTHERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE ECOSYSTEM.- ACQUIRED ONE PROPERTY TOTALING 200 ACRES IN FEE-TITLE IN IDAHO TO PROTECT WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND TO SPECIFICALLY CONSERVE KEY GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT IN THE SELKIRK ECOSYSTEM.- CONTINUED PROMOTING THE GOALS OF THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE'S COMMUNITY FOREST AND OPEN SPACE PROGRAM THROUGH FOREST STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES AT VITAL GROUND'S ALVORD LAKE COMMUNITY FOREST, CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS' COMMITTEE THAT GUIDES MANAGEMENT OF THE FOREST.- MONITORED AND MANAGED FIVE FEE-TITLE CONSERVATION PROPERTIES IN IDAHO AND SEVEN FEE-TITLE CONSERVATION PROPERTIES IN MONTANA.- CONDUCTED WILDLIFE HABITAT ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES ON PROPERTIES IN BONNER COUNTY, IDAHO, AND IN LINCOLN AND SANDERS COUNTIES, MONTANA.
- $799,400 spent. CONSERVATION EDUCATION: VITAL GROUND PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT GRIZZLY BEAR AND ASSOCIATED WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION THROUGH ITS PRINT AND DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS, SPECIAL MAILINGS, WEBSITE, EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS, SOCIAL MEDIA, IN-PERSON AND ONLINE EVENTS, VIDEOS AND OTHER MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PARTICIPATES IN COLLABORATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION OF GRIZZLY BEARS AND THEIR HABITAT, PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND HUMANS AND ENHANCE THE SURVIVAL OF GRIZZLY BEARS. 2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:- PRODUCED ROUGHLY 12,000 COPIES OF VITAL NEWS, THE ORGANIZATION'S BIANNUAL 16-PAGE PRINT NEWSLETTER THAT REPORTS ON GRIZZLY BEAR AND WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION ISSUES AS WELL AS PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.- PRODUCED 12 MONTHLY EMAIL NEWSLETTERS ("VITAL ENEWS") PLUS 1-2 OTHER EMAIL CAMPAIGNS PER MONTH, EACH DISTRIBUTED TO APPROXIMATELY 11,000 UNIQUE RECIPIENTS (430,239 TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS). THESE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS REPORTED ON GRIZZLY BEAR AND WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION ISSUES, EMERGING PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES, CONSERVATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CONSERVATION AND BUSINESS PARTNERS, FUNDING NEEDS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT VITAL GROUND'S MISSION.- PRODUCED OTHER ASSORTED PRINT POSTCARDS, BROCHURES AND PROMOTIONS THAT REPORTED ON GRIZZLY BEAR AND WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION ISSUES, EMERGING PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES, CONSERVATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CONSERVATION AND BUSINESS PARTNERS, FUNDING NEEDS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT VITAL GROUND'S MISSION.- MAINTAINED A WEBSITE (WWW.VITALGROUND.ORG), INCLUDING A BLOG TYPICALLY UPDATED 1-2 TIMES PER MONTH (18 TOTAL POSTS IN 2025), THAT PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT GRIZZLY BEARS AND ASSOCIATED WILDLIFE, NEWS AND SCIENCE UPDATES ON WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ISSUES, CURRENT GRIZZLY BEAR CONSERVATION PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES, AND VITAL GROUND CONSERVATION PROJECT AND PARTNER ACCOMPLISHMENTS. VITAL GROUND'S WEBSITE EXPERIENCED 99,881 USERS AND 121,552 SESSIONS DURING 2025.- PRODUCED DAILY FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM UPDATES PROMOTING WILDLIFE HABITAT PROTECTION, GRIZZLY BEAR NATURAL HISTORY AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION TOPICS TO AN AUDIENCE OF OVER 55,000 FOLLOWERS ON FACEBOOK (UP 5 PERCENT IN 2025) AND 10,000 FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM (UP 10 PERCENT IN 2025). PRODUCED THREE NEW VIDEOS AND GREW VITAL GROUND'S YOUTUBE AUDIENCE TO A TOTAL OF 28,400 SUBSCRIBERS.
- $75,000 spent. OTHER: IN ADDITION TO ITS HABITAT CONSERVATION AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION ALSO PARTNERS WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND TRIBAL AGENCIES, OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS PREVENTING CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE. THROUGH ITS 2025 CONSERVATION PARTNERS PROGRAM, VITAL GROUND AWARDED $75,000 IN SMALL GRANTS TO 17 COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES WORKING TO PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE IN 16 HIGH PRIORITY LANDSCAPES. THESE INVESTMENTS HELPED:- INSTALL 25 ELECTRIC FENCES AROUND A TRACK FIELD, FRUIT ORCHARDS, CALVING PASTURES, GOAT PASTURE, AND CHICKEN COOPS.- PROTECT 28,000 ACRES BY RETIRING A FEDERAL GRAZING ALLOTMENT- REACH 86,000 PEOPLE AT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EVENTS- MONITOR 7,000 ACRES THROUGH RANGE RIDING ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE STATE- SECURE WILDLIFE ATTRACTANTS IN FIVE PUBLIC CAMPGROUNDS - GLEAN 225 POUNDS OF FRUIT THAT COULD OTHERWISE ATTRACT BEARS INTO PROXIMITY OF HUMANS- DEPLOY 33 BEAR RESISTANT TRASH CANS - REMOVE 500 DOMESTIC LIVESTOCK CARCASSES FROM HIGH CONFLICT AREAS- PURCHASE TWO DRONES FOR STATE AGENCY USE IN MANAGING BEARS - REFURBISH TWO GRIZZLY BEAR TRACKING COLLARS- PURCHASE 5,000 PIECES OF EDUCATION AND OUTREACH MATERIAL TO DISTRIBUTE TO THE PUBLICPROACTIVE PREVENTION OF AVOIDABLE CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE IS CRITICAL TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THE BROADER PUBLIC ACCEPTING THE PRESENCE OF GRIZZLIES AS THE SPECIES RECOVERS AND EXPANDS BACK INTO HABITAT WHERE IT HAS BEEN ABSENT - IN SOME CASES FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 2025.
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 June 1992.
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 November 4, 2026.
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